Posts Tagged ‘sxsw’
SXSW Thoughts
Saturday, March 28th, 2009
So in the comments I was asked what was different about SXSW this year.
Why did I come back from it so different?
Why did I have an entirely changed outlook on my business, my priorities, my brain?
It may have been the fact that James wasn’t there and I was able to choose without consulting someone else.
It may have been my first trip anywhere alone since the baby was born.
It may have been the panels I saw. I enjoyed the panel from Behance thoroughly. Their lovely little Action Method has lots of sound project management tips. And although I shifted in my seat, Zeldman’s panel had me pumping my fist in the air, saying, “MY WORK IS WORTH MORE.”
And although I originally went to the panel called Quitter to support internet friends and heroes Freitas, Mason, Sacca and Mayes, I learned from Chris to define success for myself.
“Ask yourself what success is to you.”
Right up until this trip, I worked every awake minute, taking every job that crossed my path.
I worked endlessly, billing hours at all hours of the day and night, continually falling apart.
I completed tasks way outside the scope, allowing project scope creep to take time from my daughter, my husband and my sanity.
Thanks to that simple direction, I have a more realistic framework for what I want.
And since quality of daughter-time factors into my definition of success, it is important to work that into my plan.
Same with
money
house
love
time alone and
free time.
I’ve turned down three projects this week. There are people I really, really want to help out, but quite frankly, helping them gets me no closer to my goals. All it does is get my time to them indebted, in a way that just pisses them off, pisses ME off. This helpfulness gets me no closer to what’s really important to me. I’ve angered more people in the past three years by undercharging and over promising than even I’m aware of.
So instead, I’m saying
No.
I’m saying
I’m full up until June.
Because
1. I am.
2. It’s time.
What? This seems like such an easy decision to make. But I’ve really struggled with just wanting to help my friends out. I mean, they need a web site, right? They could use email newsletter design, a presence on Facebook, a logo, a…
That’s exactly it.
It never ends.
There’s always something else I could do for you.
But online, it’s never a second. It’s always.
And now it’s “Not until June.”
I’m finally valuing my time.
It feels great.
It’s entirely different over here.
Grace in Small Things 62
Friday, March 20th, 2009
1. My dear, dear Ye Olde Internet Friend Aubrey.
2. James returns tonight. We haven’t been away from each other this long since we were dating. (All five minutes that we dated.)
3. When Nora Lea claps her hands and giggles.
4. Making time to focus on my own projects.
5. Four days in Austin that have transformed me. Seriously, I’m different now.
Day Five
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008
Update:
Still at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Tonight’s our last night. I seem to have picked up all the same ailments of hoarseness, cough and fatigue I have during the previous years when I drank copious amounts of alcohol. I danced just as much, I talked just as much and I hugged only slightly less.
Learning:
It’s the people, silly, not the booze.
*
Update:
Speaking of the people, I am saddened to report that I didn’t meet many new folks. The conference has gotten so big and impressive, I stuck to the folks I’d met in years past. This is a new turn for me at this conference, and I hope that I don’t do this again.
Learning:
Billy Bob Thornton’s skin is much nicer in person than it is on television.
*
Update:
My belly is compact, hard, tight and high. I feel kicks and movements, and have become much less nimble over the past five days. Still, it’s hard to tell there’s a baby in there from the outside, especially when I wear black. The fetus loves it when people touch it, so who am I to argue? Touch my belly, yo.
Learning:
I have heretofore been very lucky with the relationship between fetal development and my body.
*
Update:
James has the camera, thus images from this trip won’t get uploaded for a few days.
Learning:
I need to carry around my own image taking device, it just doesn’t work at events like these to share.
*
Update:
Life had been divided into “I’ll handle it before SXSW” and “I’ll handle it after.” This week has helped me to prioritize what actually will be handled after. I’m preparing to do some major slashing of work, relationships and goals that don’t get me closer to what I really want. That’s scary, but also liberating.
Learning:
Pruning is just as important for growth as fertilizer.