Pro Bono Madness
I run my own business. I love running my own business and being my own boss, but lately, a funny thing has been happening. My pro bono hours are far outstripping my billable hours. Now, I work mainly with non-profits, so in some ways, some volunteer work is expected. But it has been out of control over the past month. And I made a conscious decision to just be on one Board at a time. But this one Board is taking over my life right now.
I am pretty good at saying 'No'. I have said it many times in my life (both business and socially) and have no qualms with it. I am simply not a "yes" girl. So this has been vexing me. I don't actually feel I'm a very good volunteer because of it. Grump, grump, grump. Shouldn't our volunteer work bring us pleasure?
Balance is a wonderful thing. I must go on a hunt for it. I know I put it around here somewhere...
I am pretty good at saying 'No'. I have said it many times in my life (both business and socially) and have no qualms with it. I am simply not a "yes" girl. So this has been vexing me. I don't actually feel I'm a very good volunteer because of it. Grump, grump, grump. Shouldn't our volunteer work bring us pleasure?
Balance is a wonderful thing. I must go on a hunt for it. I know I put it around here somewhere...
Comments
I found myself in a similar position a while back simply because I DID enjoy the pro-bono stuff more than the revenue-generating contracts. The key is, as I see it, finding a way to make the 'necessary' stuff fun again.
If I remember correctly, it was said:
"Keep interested in your own career, however humble. It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time."