Christina Metcalf

I wrote this blog post several years ago but as it deals with making time to follow your dreams, I figured it belonged here. Enjoy.

At the advice of a good friend, I recently rearranged my work schedule.

I’m a self-employed writer looking to take the “show on the road.” I’ve been writing for small business clients before it was COVID-chic to do so.

Working for myself, and working from home, is the perfect fit for an introvert like me. But I’ve recently decided that I need to do more than just writing.

After all, AI is coming for my job (and no, I don’t want an argument. You can try to romance me, convincing me a machine will never take my job but until people truly appreciate a good word pairing like they do overpriced charcuterie, being replaced by a machine is not a question of “will it happen?” but when.

I digress.

So, with AI nipping at my heels, it’s the perfect time to scout out more and I’ve written a self-help book for people who don’t like self-help. It’s a new genre I’m making up — Bestie Wisdom. It’s stories and suggestions from a person — who although a complete stranger — gives it to you like she’s your bestie.

So anyway, with this new book in mind, my friend offered me some advice:

Work more diligently Monday-Thursday so you can spend Friday on your passion project.

-Dr. G

Done and done.

Let the Four-Day Work Week Commence

So began the impassioned work week — four days of client work, one day of me work. It’s been over a decade since Google killed a similar program they had for their employees, but I decided I wasn’t Google, so off I went.

Last week I worked like a dog (but not my dog who lays around all day. I meant like a husky pulling sled in the arctic) to clear my Friday. I made a list of all the things I wanted to do for this new book, my website, and my professional development. I listed it all out because I didn’t want to lose a valuable moment wondering what I should do.

And guess what?

I froze.

Even though I had a list of everything I needed and wanted to do, I was overwhelmed by the idea that I could start living my dreams.

I couldn’t blame my kids for needing a ride somewhere.

I couldn’t blame my husband for one of the inane tasks he asks me to do as a favor to him because he doesn’t know how (and I’m on to him, by the way. He totally knows how.)

I couldn’t blame my dog who needs to go out for a walk as often as a YouTuber begging for follows.

It was all me and my laptop.

I looked at my to-do list and then back at the screen.

I opened the backend of my website and clicked on a few things.

The tasks seemed insurmountable and I was faced with — not for the first time — the idea that this lack of following my dreams was not caused by other people but by…

me.

Or to quote Taylor:

It’s Me, Hi, I’m the Problem, It’s Me

All me. So I took another look at the list and dove in.

I can’t make my career dreams come true by looking at a screen and wishing for it.

There’s no genie waiting for me to summon them.

No fairy godmother with a pumpkin waiting to be transformed into a best-selling book that will get me an invitation to Oprah’s podcast (where I would just have to share the fact that I loved her coverage of satanists and aliens in the beginning days of her show and hopefully she wouldn’t bring up my early writing about Duran Duran. We could chuckle about it, although I don’t think Oprah chuckles.).

Looking at that screen and my exhaustive list of things I needed to do before becoming the next Rachel Hollis, albeit a decade too late and a decade too old for the role, I dove in.

I worked for hours on my site to get the right words and images that encapsulate what I want to say to people who don’t know me.

Because I have to be honest here — the people who do know me are a little tired of buying my books. They would really appreciate your help with taking over their role. 

Yes, I feel a little like a poser writing a book and sharing what I’ve learned. It’s not like I’m Betty White or something. I’m just a regular girl with about thirty years of experience.

And I’ve done some things wrong.

But I’ve also done some things right.

I just got tired of making excuses for why I wasn’t following my dreams.

So, I stopped and I’m doing the work.

And maybe, just maybe, this book can be the first in a new genre of Bestie Wisdom.

What do you think?

Journal Prompt

What one change can you make to your schedule today that will help you pursue your dreams?

When I first started writing The Glinda Principal, I kept my day job. But…I worked really hard on client projects from Monday-Thursday so Friday could be solely mine for my then passion project.

What could you do? Be creative.

If you’re charged with making dinner every night and you institute a leftover night, you have just carved out 1-2 hours for yourself.

How can you alter your schedule or shift your responsibilities to find more time to pursue your dreams?