The Hazards of It’s Its and Not Being Fully Aligned
A few weeks ago my partner Scott introduced me to “It’s Its.” You California people may know what they are, but for those of you who don’t, well…be forewarned. As a result of this discovery I gained 5 pounds in one week. Apparently, I wasn’t fully aligned with my goal of losing 5 pounds.
So what’s an It’s It? It’s the stupidest name for the most amazing little ice cream treat ever created by man. They’re small and innocent looking, and they simply beg to be eaten. So after discovering them, I ate them. Lots of them.
At first I was delighted that these little treats came in small, individual servings. I could simply indulge in one, eat it and be done.
But after a week of eating one every day (OK, on one day I ate two of them), I stepped on the scale to discover I’d gained 5 pounds. I couldn’t figure out what I’d done to attract this extra, unwanted mass, but Scott quickly pointed out my new eating habits.
“What?” I protested. “They’re so small and innocent. How many calories do they have in them, anyway? Can’t be too many. They’re so small…”
Turns out each It’s It has 340 calories. Three Hundred and Forty. Geez.
Suddenly, this small, innocent addition to my life turned into more than I’d bargained for.
As I contemplated the hazards of It’s Its and not being fully aligned with my goal, I realize this sort of scenario is all too familiar in the world of self-employment, too. In other words, a lot of little projects can turn into a lot of unwanted work.
For instance, instead of It’s Its, the little things might be projects people ask you to take on, a stack of dirty dishes in the sink (if you work from home), Facebook quizes, teaching a monthly class or writing a monthly column for a magazine.
But the reality of these small, seemingly innocent projects is that they add up into one big amount of work, all of which require your precious resources, both in time and energy.
If you indulge every request and opportunity, before you know it you won’t have done what you set out to do, what you need to do, to maintain the health of your dreams and small business.
When I discovered how quickly I could gain weight from eating one It’s It a day, I had to reassess and realign with my true desires: to eat well and be healthy (and not gain more weight!).
The same is true when you grow your lifework into a business as a self-employed professional. You have to continually reassess and realign with your true desires, whatever they are for you. Weigh the pros and cons of potential projects and make sure they are in alignment with where you want to grow.
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OK Amy – I bet it was me that made you add the bit about Facebook surveys, huh? Busted again! I wanted to tell you how much I loved this post. First, because I adore It’s-Its. I’m so happy they are still around AND that I’m no longer in California to indulge.
Secondly, because I totally agree with your comment “You have to continually reassess and realign with your true desires, whatever they are for you.” I think that is true with anything you want in life – it’s a matter of coming back to center, of reminding yourself of why it’s important and more importantly to not beat yourself up when you stray off the path. I’ve learned that a habit (one that you want) is not about doing it right EVERY day, but about doing it right more often than not. Sooner or later, the days when you are on the path outnumber the days you are off until you are on “most” of the time.
Thanks again for pulling me back on!
Pam
Oh Its Its — so good and so evil at the same time.
Thanks for this, Amy. It is important for me to remember what my goals and values are when I am making a decision about whether or not to do a project. I so often am flattered to be asked, I sometimes say yes before deciding if I really want to do it.
@ Pam: Yes, it was you who made me add that bit about Facebook quizzes!
LOL
@ Lisa-Marie: I know what you mean. It’s hard to say “no” when it’s so flattering to be asked!
I have not thought about It’s Its in a couple decades! Well, since I left the San Francisco Bay Area! But those little delights got me through middle school (nicely padded too!). Great post Amy and thanks for the fun flashback!
Yes, they are good for some extra padding!