Enough is Enough

Okay, this post is a total venting session… I hate car mechanics!!! I have been spending the past six months going back and forth to one. He fixed my transmission but every time I turn around something else is wrong… transmission related. Luckily it is free because I have a one year warranty but I am constantly out a car when I need to drop it off  for them to look at it.

I don’t feel like this guy is taking me for a ride because he is actually losing money as I keep coming back and I don’t pay but this is getting ridiculous. I am about ready to pay dealer service prices at this point… and we all know that isn’t good either!

So you know how bad it is… a thunderstorm just came through and I wish the tree in my yard was hit by lightning so it could fall on my car. That, and last month we hard a tornado so when the skies darkened I secretly wished it was another tornado so it could take my car with it! I know, I know… but enough is enough.

Are You Your Own Worst Enemy? Always Wanting More Time?

So Many Things… So Little Time…

It’s been a few days since I was on here and not because I had nothing to say but because I had no time. Every time I turn around lately there is something else I need to do. I often get a little break and get excited I have time, but then I really don’t as something else pops up. And this is partly because I don’t know what to do with myself when I have time on my hands…so I book myself with more. Basically, I am my own worst enemy!

I like to think I want free time and maybe I do but I honestly don’t know what to do with myself once I have it so I ask my friends how I can help them. I find new organizations to be involved in, new projects to work on, etc. And out of the 52 weeks a year I may actually be in the “pulling my hair out” phase about 15-20 weeks a year. All in all, this isn’t too bad considering the amount of weeks in a year but still I am sure some of my friends would appreciate it is I was more available during these 15-20 weeks. And if I wasn’t saying “I just need two more hours in a day!” I always feel like I leave my friends in the dust during my busy times.

More recently I took on a new position, one I am truly passionate about, but my time becomes compromised with this new role as well. I am a professional fundraiser so more often than not I am at events, meetings, dinners, etc. to make new connections and to continue fostering the current relationships I have. I also organize and run three volunteer committees. And my territory to do this in – four counties spanning about half of the state of Massachusetts. What I found though is while this seems like work to many, it isn’t for me. I love meeting people and hearing their stories. I love finding ways I can help and I honestly don’t mind driving. It took a while to get here but I know I finally found my passion and when you find it you too will feel like I do – this isn’t work; it’s part of your mission.

I would be remiss if my friends read this and I don’t mention I am finishing my third master’s degree (a doctorate to come one day), I am an adjunct professor at a local college, a gym instructor, and sit on two boards. An, I even help a friend on occasion with his business. I am not one to toot my own horn, I am oddly humble in that sense but I know my friends are proud of my accomplishments so I am learing to be as well. Frankly, I feel like a “goodie-two-shoe” or an “overacheiver” if I mention all that I do. I don’t want to show anyone up, that is never my intention, I just like to stay busy.

There are many days I leave my house at 4:30 in the morning only to get home between 9:00 and 10:00 pm only to do it all again the next day. I admit, some days this isn’t easy but I do what I do not because I need to stay busy but I love what I do. I have found areas I feel deeply about and have invested my time in to them. When I do have free time I sit on my couch with my dog and inevitably fall asleep; I could waste a whole afternoon napping. Some days, this feels good but to do this every day doesn’t make sense to me; hence the busy schedules I keep. However, my proudest accomplishment in juggling all of the moving pieces – if a friend or family member needs me I make it happen. I may not see many friends or talk to them on a regular basis but if any one of my friends needed me (and my family too) I make it happen because at the end of the day jobs will come and go but true friends will always stay.

My question to you today – are you your own worst enemy with time?

Do You Have a Personal Mission Statement?

It wasn’t too long ago I was sitting in my MBA marketing class when we discussed mission statements. While we learned the four parts of a mission statement our task wasn’t to create one for a business, but worse… ourselves. Do you know how hard that is? To really sit down and think about who you are, what you do, why you do it, and how you are the best at it (the four parts of a mission statement)… let me tell you, it isn’t easy. It forces you to reflect on yourself and for someone who puts the lives of others first, this was hard for me.

As mentioned above ,a mission statement has four parts, and the easiest is essentially who you are when creating a personal mission statement. It is as simple as stating your name. But then comes the other three parts and for me, I do a lot. I teach at a college and a gym, I fundraise and plan events, and I am a connector. I am always thinking of who I know and who I meet and how to connect them, if applicable. How do you put this all together? Essentially I help people but that didn’t cut it for my professor…she wanted more.

After doing a SWOT analysis on myself and jotting down a lot of adjectives describing who I was and am, I finally came up with something I am ok with. Kristina Chapell is a dynamic, savvy, results-oriented professional who inspires and motivates by leveraging her energy, knowledge, and passion to help champion those she is connected with personally and professionally. I admit, I don’t have the last part in there – why I am the best at this, but I truly believe a mission statement is always a work in progress.

In fact today I was having a quick conversation via text message with a friend, someone I am helping. He and I had dinner the other night at one of my favorite restaurants where he ended up scoring a business meeting for this week. I am often sarcastic in nature with him however I was oddly sincere when I said “I am glad my social environment benefits your business environment.” Honestly, had he not known me he probably would not have been at that restaurant and wouldn’t have made this potential business contact. By no means am I looking for credit, but had I not made him go to my favorite place… the outcome could have been different.

In what in this text conversation today where I was reminded of my mission statement. I have always had this goal in life – to be wildly successful, but my mission in life is to help others. Whether I am working with someone to meet their fitness goals, learn about social media or event planning, raising money for a nonprofit, or connecting two people who can benefit from one another; I am helping. This is what makes me truly happy in life and I am thankful to be able to help others. I am also thankful for my best friend who knows all I do is help others and makes sure I take vacations where others can take care of me for a change. This is not an easy task by any means, but one I am learning to accept. Apparently at 30 I have learned I need to take care of me so I can take care of others.

Mission statements or philosophies or words to live by… whatever you call it, do you have one? Maybe two? Do you know what it is that drives you every day? If you know, is it written down in a place you can see it? I encourage you to create your mission statement; it might not be easy but it sure is rewarding. Remember – who you are, what you do, why you do it, and how you are the best at it. To me, the last part – how you are the best – is always a work in progress. To me, if you have the other three parts you have a personal mission statement.