At the end of 2022, I went on a month-long holiday back to my home country of South Africa. 4 whole weeks in the sun with absolutely no computer or work. I was so immersed in fun family activities that I didn’t even have the chance to take stock of what I’ve done or learnt in 2022. But on arrival back in the Netherlands, 2022 hit me like a ton of bricks (as did the icy weather)! Here are the 5 Things I Learnt in 2022 as a mom, wife, and decade-long business owner.
1. Hard Smart work pays off
If there’s anything I learnt in 2022, it is that working hard isn’t good for you. In fact, it could kill you. During the past year, my health really suffered. I learnt that I have arthritis and came to terms with being in pain and realising that I am getting older. I also realised I was sick of sitting behind the computer for long hours. So towards the end of the year, I learned to work smarter — not harder or longer. I optimised my working hours cutting back on the number of hours I work per week to make time for my health. I now only work in short bouts and blocks of time, which are carefully allocated and planned, providing me with greater energy for my health, passions, and interests.
2. Stick with those who inspire you
Being a business owner is not for the faint-hearted. I learnt that those who are not probably would never understand, and some may also try to make things toxic for you (intentionally or unintentionally!). I learnt never to take comments seriously from those who think they know (or those who think they know better). There’s a reason this is my path and mine alone and why I’m becoming better at what I do. Having this confidence has fueled me to seek more time with those who bring me up and inspire me.
3. I need to evolve quickly
As an English communication expert, I learnt that I need to up my game and diversify my skillset. In the past, I’ve always done this by developing my knowledge of SEO which is an interesting additional service for my clients. When they hear I can help them rank in Google in addition to writing a persuasive landing page, they’re often hooked and want to learn more. However, I also realised that if I don’t continue adding even more new skills to my repertoire, I won’t be able to keep up with the competition or further develop my services. The internet is changing rapidly, and so are the fields of marketing and communication.
4. You can’t do it all
Before I had kids, I felt like a powerhouse, tackling a lot of interesting work and constantly churning out projects. Having my son during Covid-19 taught me that I can’t do everything and my health will suffer if I try. I learnt to make choices that place myself and my family first and work next. This has been a hard pill to swallow, as work has always been everything to me. I’m now super selective about the time I spend and with whom. I now prefer working with a few high-level and incredible clients who appreciate my work and help foster my development than those who do not. The same goes for my private life. Life is short, and I want to give my best to a select few rather than many or the unappreciative.
5. Risks lead to creativity, freedom, and happiness
And the final point in my list of the 5 Things I Learnt in 2022 is: Take risks! Over the year, I took a lot of risks due to newfound confidence in myself and my abilities. The risks I’ve taken have led to a renewed burst of creativity, a huge increase in freedom, and much more happiness. I’m now engaged in exciting creative projects that I’ve been dying to do for years but never made the time for. I have no idea where this new me came from, but I have an inkling it was fueled by my son, who dares to do it and is super courageous. He is not even three years old and already cycles on a tricycle like wildfire. He has a scooter (or ‘step’ as they call it in the Netherlands) and powers down the pavement on a canal near our house. I honestly don’t know where he gets the energy and excitement from. I strive to be like him!
These are the 5 Things I Learnt in 2022. What did you learn in 2022? Comment below, and let’s get the discussion going!