I've learned something new while working this 90-ish hour work week: I have time.

I had stopped going to the gym consistantly, reading, limited my volunteering activities because I didn't have a lot of free time.

Then I got a part time job. Working 50-60 hours during the week, I thought about all of the time I was now working I could have used. Now I really didn't have any free time.

Then I got freelancing work, 30 hours this week, on top of everything else, and am working 80-90 hours this week.

This week I also went to the gym, volunteered with the youth, spent last evening watching LOST with friends, spent time every evening with my wife, had a lunch date with my wife, and will be going on a date with my wife tonight, and won't be doing any work or freelancing on Sunday, just resting.

I had the time all along for the things that matter - I've proved it this week. If I'm working less than 90 hours (my dream - only working 12 hours a day or less!), it is no longer any kind of excuse for me to say I'm too busy to do any of the things mentioned above.

Here's what I think made the difference:

1. What I'm doing (that which has been added on top of my already busy schedule) is what I'm most interested in. My goal is to be doing business on my own, and that has given me so much more energy. And not just energy to do that, but energy and motivation to everything else as well.
2. There's a destination. I ran 16 miles one day in college. I got to a point where I stopped caring about speed, form, appearance, anything except for keeping my legs moving. If I didn't keep contracting my leg muscles, I'd fall over, and not be able to get back up. I ran 8 miles one direction, so the only way to stop was to finish the distance. If I didn't know there would be an end, I wouldn't have kept going. I would have stopped and taken long breaks or just stopped altogether and gotta frappaccino at the nearest starbucks.

Now I don't know what the timeline is for becoming self employed then starting my own business. But I know this is a temporary transition, there is an end. And it may be in sight. I've got a meeting in 20 minutes to discuss a work relationship with a company that has major website clients they need help with. I'll keep you posted.

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