Choices

“Just because I can do many things well does not mean I should be doing many things – even those I do well.”

I found this quote on Matt Moran’s blog.

I do a lot. Most of the time, it’s too much. I work full time. I usually have a few volunteer things going on. I have a husband and two children. I have horses (down to two now, which make things a bit easier). I also try to do some artwork in there somewhere… This list means that something gives, and one part of my life doesn’t get the attention that it needs. My husband would say that it is cooking.

Matt’s post made me think of a skill of mine that I have, at times resisted. I gave in several years ago and am now trying to get out of again. That is – working with data all the time. That’s what I do at my day job. And it’s starting to wear on me, mentally, physically and spiritually. Yes, I am good at it. I am responsible, detail oriented, thorough and capable. It makes people think to give me more things to do…

I took a break from outside work, when my son was born. I vowed that I would not go back when he was young. I had done that with my daughter and it was hard. She was one and a half years old when I started working full time in a finance job. After my son was born, I knew I wanted something different.

So I went back to school and finished my degree in Fine Art. Fine Art programs do not help you actually make a living with Art though. I tried, but lacked the marketing skills at the time. In the end, I am now back doing something I do well, data, and getting into the nitty gritty of business processes.

Where I will end up? Who knows right now. It’s good to remember that just because you do something well, does not mean that you have to do it.

What do you do just because you do it well, but not necessarily by choice? How would you have it be different?