Plan Your Life Like a Business

Emma Grede shares her simple, but intentional, way she is able to simultaneously interweave her life as a parent and business leader by creating 10 achievable goals for herself every year.

“Planning isn't just about the present, it is about the future self.”- Emma Grede

Listen to this episode of her podcast: Aspire

Emmaʻs outlook on designing the life you want, reminds me of this most recent leap I took into becoming a business owner (and moving me and my keiki to Maui this year). It was a big leap, and a ton of sacrifice, but ultimately led me creating the life I wanted while living in my purpose and serving the people of Hawaiʻi.

As I reflect on these past few months, I remind myself of the fear that held me back prior to this leap and the biggest hurdles of honesty I had to overcome. My fears lied mostly in failing … not because I was scared to fail, but because I was fearful of what it would do to my kids.

While living in California, I was barely making ends meet between cost of living and child care services needed for work- including late nights and weekends. On top of that, my mental health was lacking and it was affecting me physically. I was burning the candle at both ends and I felt like I was somehow needing to be everyoneʻs everything at all times.

I burnt myself out.

After recognizing my tendencies, I slowly took steps to bring my needs forward and created a better balance to regain my mental and physical health. This significant step helped me have a better work life balance and find joy again.

I started simple.

I went back to Hula Halau, I made time to workout everyday, I made time to take mental breaks, meditate, and allow myself to rest. If I hadn’t been mentally ”sturdy” I wouldn’t have been prepared and ready to face my fears and take this leap into living in my purpose and bringing my family back to our homeland.

….

As non profit leaders we choose to be in a highly intense field that changes daily.

WHY? Because we are driven by our purpose to serve others.

BUT, because we serve others doesn’t mean we should neglect ourselves.

-Start small-

Give yourself 3-5 goals to achieve weekly to instill a new habit that brings you joy.

Make time for that class, listen to a podcast that expands your thinking, go to the beach every Sunday to ground yourself… whatever will start to help you find time for you again.

As my previous ED liked to remind me on airplanes, “the flight attendants tell you to put your mask on first, before assisting others, for a reason”