Working parents around the world share the same general feeling about extended vacations from school: oh, crap.

How will we keep the kids entertained while still managing to work so that we can also keep them fed?

Summer breaks are especially difficult, I’ve found, because I’d rather be outside playing or taking the kids to the pool than working. (You’re never too old to appreciate that sunshine is better than the glow of a computer screen.) This year, however, I’m looking forward to my kids’ break from their school schedule and the added flexibility it provides our already loosey-goosey lives
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I’ve been writing online since 2005. I started with an alias and did many of the reckless things that one does when they are anonymous - like talk smack about their mother. When my mother found my thinly veiled musings, I realized there was no such thing as being truly anonymous online. I decided to embrace that and threw myself out into the world with my words - warts and all.

Well, I don’t have warts, but I do suffer from depression. I’ve also been to marriage counseling, have a brother who has been arrested, and have had more than my fair share of struggles with self doubt. It’s easy to say that now, because I’ve already said it numerous times in black and white on my blog or one of the numerous other websites I write for.

Yeah, I’m authentic, baby. I’m real and raw, and I have fan letters that say that is fantastic.

I wonder, however, if it was also very stupid, at least professionally speaking.
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I was reading Nataly’s post about conquering email and noticed a commenter said she’d gotten hers under control - well, her work email. Her personal email was admittedly still a mess. I found myself wondering not about the woman’s organizational skills, but about how many email addresses she had.
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Begin with the end in mind.

It means to live with intention, and to be clear on what that intention is. Successful entrepreneurs know that a clear picture of the end, the goal, is crucial. Whether opening a new store or starting out as a freelancer, a proper business plan tells where to invest your most precious resources: time and money.

It makes sense to begin with the end in mind, to decide where you’re going before you start.

What’s a little trickier is taking the time to stop and seek directions when you’re already flying down the highway.

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I’ve been working towards one significant professional goal for several months now:

Get published in print.

(I’m pretty sure that’s not cool to admit out loud, but whatever.)

In order to research that goal, I’ve invested hours and money on research and tools. I’ve pushed through the scary first steps and I’ve “put myself out there.” A lot.

Thus far, all of my bylines are still digital.

The last few days I’ve been struggling with the decision to quit. It’s hard to work with no feedback (which is pretty typical in publishing) and I’m cognizant of all the people who want to be published writers and never are. My family is planning a move and will be setting up a new home soon, which is going to require money I’m not making from researching and pitching. I’m going to have to make some choices about the future of my career. But how?
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