Work Ethic

I started to read Total Recall by Sara Paretsky, and in the prologue, I found something speaking to work ethic. As usual, and as it should be, a mind pursuit positively affects one of the other life categories, here being entropy and career. Read the AG Anthology blog entry about it, but here's what I've taken from it:

I need to create a work ethic. I've always had a tremendous work ethic. Showing up to work and working hard. That was when I had a clearly defined job to do. Now, my work is entrepreneurial and of a creative development nature. If a day goes by with me not doing anything work related, nobody notices, but it does negatively affect my progress. It requires a new type of work ethic.

This is a challenge. How do I make sure that every work day, I get up and advance my career? I have my home office, but it often turns into a place to escape the kids and check out youtube. I've gone so far as to consider renting an office in town so that I can 'go to work.' I'd hate to waste that money if I can create a work environment in my home.

Check out the entropy page to see what I'm trying to establish insofar as scheduling my life is concerned. I hope to create a routine of work ethic. But I need some inspiration or a kick in the pants to carry it out. Any suggestions?

fiscal phobia

I have a condition (one of many, I might add). A quick google search validated it. Now I need to find a support group. I have 'financial phobia' aka 'fiscal phobia.' For some reason, most of the engine hits are from the UK, but none-the-less, it's real and I have it. Financial phobia is:

... a psycho-social syndrome which causes individuals to avoid cognitive engagement with the management of their personal finances. Sufferers experience negative emotions of anxiety, guilt, boredom, or feelings of lack of control when dealing with money matters, resulting in lack of vigilance – and in the worst cases complete avoidance – in this area. (Dr. Brendan Burchell, link below)

I NEED HELP! Seriously. I have months of unreconciled bank statements. My bills are often late, paid only by the grace of a last minute, anxiety ridden, flurry of online bill paying. In exploring bookkeeping options for my small business(es), I spoke with a few bookkeepers, and they seem averse to handling what appears to them insignificant matters such as reconciliation, budgeting, and bill pay. They seem to believe these are such ludicrously simple tasks that the business owner or an employee of the company is much better suited to carry them out rather than an outsourced bookkeeping service. With noses raised high about such tasks in business, I'm loathe to broach the subject regarding my personal finances.

So, anybody have any suggestions? Anybody in the 505 interested in doing my personal finances for a pittance?

I must go now, I think I saw a couple disconnect notices in the mail I have to go hide under the 32 bank statements piled in a box under my desk.


http://www.worldwidewords.org/turnsofphrase/tp-fin1.htm
http://new.egg.com/com.egg/images/PDF/FinancialPhobia.pdf