It’s time to celebrate the end of a decade and the start of something new. Believe me, I’m ready for it.
The last few months of 2019 have been an exhausting, emotional rollercoaster – persistent health issues, a break in at the office, and saying goodbye to someone so very special to me.
Instead of writing an editor’s letter, I found myself writing a eulogy. I spent more time reflecting on the past, rather than focusing on the future.
I took my foot off the accelerator and pushed down on the brake to focus on “life”. If you’re a business owner, you know how challenging and sometimes impossible it can be to press pause.
As women, we have a tendency to want to do it all. But sometimes doing it all drives us to a place where we can’t get anything done.
This year, I developed a really bad habit … overcommitting. In doing so, I placed myself under unrelenting pressure and stress. Even though I was struggling to get through my to do list, I’d find myself saying ‘yes’ to yet another project. I had no time for myself and my health was suffering.
I’m one of those people who thrives under pressure and deadlines – for that I can thank my early years spent in a newsroom. You begin to crave the adrenaline rush that comes with working on projects around the clock. However, it can be a recipe for burnout. The unscheduled “pause” was the circuit breaker – aka reality check – I desperately needed.
In the short time I took offline and away from my two businesses, I didn’t go into my office or sit at my desk, I put an out of office on my emails and outsourced my social media clients. Everything took a back seat. I just wanted to lay in silence and breathe.
I don’t have any words of wisdom just yet but my health and wellbeing will be at the top of my priority list in January.
The consequences of the unscheduled gear change was missed deadlines and minimal advertising for this edition.
Hesitantly, I reached out to our online community asking for help. A big thank you to each advertiser who answered the call and entrusted OAK with promoting their business.
When you surround yourself with the right community of people, you can continue moving forward. It really does take a village to help female entrepreneurs realise their dreams.
Enjoy our seventh edition which I’m incredibly proud to see in print.
Have a safe, restful and joyful holiday with those who make your heart sing.
I hope you continue to enjoy our magazine. Share it with the women in your life and don’t hesitate to reach out and connect with myself or any of the featured women.
Until next issue,
Kimberley Furness
Founder + Editor