When I picked up my camera I really had no idea what was about to happen.   This month I have started my 3rd year in business and my life is completely different.    COMPLETELY different.    Yes on the outside looking in everything is the same or better.   So maybe it is not so much my LIFE is different but I am different.    I’m going to share with you five major ways starting a business has changed my life.   Let me tell you most are good, but not all LOL.

1.  Fulfillment.  There is something amazing about getting out of something exactly what you put into it… or even more.    The harder I work, the more reward I get.    Yes this is true in life, sports, anything you can apply it to…. but to build something yourself from nothing…. there is something extremely gratifying about that.   And honestly it is not like I was not fulfilled before… but this is another level.  I think I would describe it like that feeling you have after a really busy productive day, and you are all proud of yourself for feeling accomplished…well that happens almost ever day now.       My heart is full, and I work everyday to fill my mind too.

2.  I don’t watch TV.  Yep, you read that right.   I mean I love to sit down and watch a movie with Mark, but I don’t personally sit down on the couch and watch tv…. like ever.    I’m not at all saying TV is bad, I still love me some Grey’s Anatomy (still need to watch the last season).   But it is just something about me that is different.    I used to watch every Law and Order, or CSI….. now that stuff won’t even hold my attention.     I’d much rather watch tutorials or read a book…..crazy right.    Who am I?

3. I surround myself with different people.  I find myself wanting to be around other business owners, entrepreneurs, POSITIVE THINKERS.   My free time is extremely limited, but when I make time to be social, I’m choosing people who inspire me.   I read recently how we are the people we hang out with…. I have always had great people in my life….but now I have even more, and anyone with negative energy is falling into the distance.

4.   I cook less.  Ok yes, here is the big fat CON on the list.   Ok and forealzies if you know me at all you know that I really don’t cook, so it is hard to believe that cooking less is even possible.    Maybe I can’t even blame this on my business….. but I’d like to.  But if I have to choose between cooking, business, yoga, …..well I’d pretty much pick anything over cooking…..  even if it means eating crackers and moving on.   Ugh…. such a struggle.    I could write a blog post in its self about how I constantly feel like a failure in my own house.    Balancing a business is hard, and that has been a major life change.   The benefits are worth it for sure…. but the already non domestic wife is even farther from it.

5. I crave more knowledge.   Before starting my business I didn’t read much other than a fictional novel every now and then, and I really (as horrible as it is to say out loud) just was not into learning for the sake of learning.    I mean of course I loved art classes, and anything fitness related, but I mean like REAL learning.   Now I’m obsessed with it.   I feel like everything I learn can help me run my business, even if it is not related.    And honestly, I love that about my self now.    If I had more hours in the day I would read even more.   I feel smarter.   That is pretty awesome.