Newsletter #21: 3 kinds of business + merry Christmas!

Christmas is almost here, and I meant to start my vacation a week ago. The bad thing about this is having ongoing clients—they remember last year when I confidently told them, “I’m taking December off.” But I didn’t.

This year, I said, “I’m taking three weeks off in December.”

But unless I step into a time machine, that’s not happening.

While I love, love, love my steady clients, this girl-who-cried-vacation situation is getting a little embarrassing.

It’s probably a symptom of a bigger issue.

That I haven’t properly watched over the frazzle-o-meter throughout the year. That despite my 1600-line Excel calendar/capacity planner, I might be living like I can slip into a time machine for relief any time.

And just as I was telling myself, “It’s December, time to re-group,” I stumbled upon the perfect quote that I saved years ago from Byron Katie. Byron came to her spiritual ways later in life and the hard way; she cleared the path through alcoholism, despair, depression and sleeping with a gun under her bed (that she only resisted because of her kids).

Here’s what Byron says about three kinds of business:

I can find only three kinds of business in the universe: mine, yours, and God’s … Anything that’s out of my control, your control, and everyone else’s control -- I call that God’s business.

Much of our stress comes from mentally living out of our own business. When I think, "You need to get a job, I want you to be happy, you should be on time, you need to take better care of yourself," I am in your business. When I’m worried about earthquakes, floods, war, or when I will die, I am in God’s business. If I am mentally in your business or in God’s business, the effect is separation.

If you are living your life and I am mentally living your life, who is here living mine? We’re both over there. Being mentally in your business keeps me from being present in my own …

To think that I know what’s best for anyone else is to be out of my business. Even in the name of love, it is pure arrogance, and the result is tension, anxiety, and fear.

Do I know what’s right for me? That is my only business. Let me work with that before I try to solve your problems for you.

If you understand the three kinds of business enough to stay in your own business, it could free your life in a way that you can’t even imagine.

The next time you’re feeling stress or discomfort, ask yourself whose business you’re in mentally …

Just to notice that you’re in someone else’s business can bring you back to your own wonderful self.

And if you practice it for a while, you may come to see that you don’t have any business either and that your life runs perfectly well on its own.

Source: Awakin.org

Will this quote help me schedule a vacation 12 months from now? I’m not sure.

But I am sure I needed to rediscover this message right now.

And—this might be going too far but—maybe I was meant to share it with you too? I’m not sure, the newsletter Gods work in mysterious ways.

Oh, wait, wait … I’m getting one more message.

Oh yeah, here it is …

Merry Christmas and happy new year!

I’m wishing you peace, love, compassion, freedom and hugs in 2021 and beyond.

Until next time, keep on truckin’,
Andrea

PS: One caveat … if your business is about needing an amazing ghostwriter, I’ll break Byron’s rule and get right up in your business.

PPPS: To read more about Byron Katie’s fascinating story, have a look here.

Comic relief

Taylor's Funniest Christmas Jokes

This is some random five-year-old telling his favourite Christmas jokes in under two minutes. I was especially charmed when he cracked himself up with a couple of his jokes. Totally safe for work and family.

Epic tunes

Classic Rock Greatest Hits 60s,70s,80s

96 minutes of classic rock, starting with the Hollies … you’re welcome!

Notes from the Rebel Alliance

What Representing Men in Divorce Taught Me About Fatherhood | Marilyn York

In this 15-minute video from TEDx University of Nevada, Marilyn talks about what she’s learned from dads going through divorce. I came from a “broken home” myself, but my dad was always in the picture (until he died) and I always thought my parents got that part right. This video about why dads matter is quite moving. (Of course, moms matter too. Like duh.)

60-second commercial

I'm an executive ghostwriter, specializing in benefits, leadership coaching, corporate wellness and employee assistance programs (EAPs).

I work with executives and executive coaches who have big hearts, are driven to help others and never open a conversation they're not willing to close.

My clients are straightforward, ambitious, humble, hilarious and I never have to wonder what they're thinking because they say what they mean and mean what they say.

If you're a tough-love executive or executive coach who would benefit from the kind of work I do, please get in touch:

andrea@redsailwriters.com | 647-502-3187 | ca.linkedin.com/in/andreabassett

Let's talk about these thought leadership projects in 2021:

• Newsletters | White papers + e-books | Ghostwritten articles

• Workbooks to supplement corporate training

• Business book ghostwriting (fall 2021, early 2022)