In the past, I would be able to work around my own schedule. I would book appointments, answer emails, return phone calls, work late into the night, start early in the morning and do whatever it took in order to keep things running smoothly. Things have changed up a bit since becoming a father just 6 months ago!
My wife and I have been able to work out our schedules pretty good so far, but until we had a daughter, we both were able to work as much as possible! For me, things really haven’t slowed down, things just get rearranged on the priority list. Working til 10pm is a rare occasion these days (sometimes I simply have to in order to get the jobs done on time), time spent on careless wandering on the myriad of different forums has slowed way down and almost become non-existent since I work all day and want to come home and spend time with my wife and daughter, and more and more free time (read as non-business time) is spent hanging out doing activities with my daughter and helping out around the house. It’s a huge undertaking and is really a life changing event.
At the same time, having a child now forces me to become more efficient and effective with the business time I put in day in and day out. Sure I have to wake up earlier, stay up later, but the time spent with my family is well worth the loss of sleep. My daughter has shown me ways I can and should change the way I do things for the better each and every day! Instead of checking emails 10 times a day, I now check them four times a day – wake up, noontime, 4pm, and before I go to sleep. The detailing process gets more efficient so that I can get jobs done on time and the time spent on the car is used more efficiently.
Sometimes, I’ll let my mind wander and I’ll lose myself thinking about what else I could be doing right then and there, but then I remember my wife and daughter are the reasons I am grinding so hard and working so much. I want a better future for them, not just for myself anymore. In order to give that to them, I need to stay focused and nose to the ground. Whenever I forget that, I just have to look at my little girl and I am right back on track!
It’s one of the best feelings for me to work all day, get things done, only to come home and have her lay on my chest and fall asleep. No better feeling in the world!