Tomorrow my husband returns to work after a very, very long break.  I sometimes envy him his corporate ways.  He goes to his job, does not work overtime, comes home, and forgets about it all.  He has ample vacation time when no one calls him for work purposes.  There may be unfinished projects that someone else attends to in his absence.  He doesn't check email outside of the work day - no one expects him to.  His cell phone is not on unless he needs to call someone or I have told him to keep it on, situation specific.  He is so "off" that he doesn't even answer the home phone except to me or our children.

Here's the problem.  He works in the auto industry in Michigan.  His income is ALWAYS at the mercy of someone beyond his control.  My income is my own; my business is my own.  That scheduled three o'clock?  Could be my daughter's orthodontist appointment.  A down day sucked away by unavoidable stuff?  I may have been "in training".  Am I looking to deceive my clients or anyone else - of course not.  Years ago I read in an Emily Post manners book that what we do with our time is up to us and that those who demand to know what the appointment is or why we were unreachable deserve to have the same first response repeated.  "I have a scheduled three o'clock; I was in training."  None of their business, and we have that privilege when we run our own businesses.  How hard I work and when I work is up to me, as long as the job gets done.

On beginning this new year of 2008,  I will be readily available to both clients and colleagues, as always.  Just don't try to reach me until after 2PM on January 2nd, 2008...scheduled meetings.  (I'll be fine tuning 2008 goals with me, myself, and I.)  My goals are for my clients' and colleagues' gain.  An organized me benefits all of them.  Time blocking, from now on, you are my master.  This year I'm even going to schedule in vacation time, to coincide with my husband's.  Live, learn, relax, enjoy.  It's going to be a great year!