My Mean Boss

My Mean Boss

As I write this, we’re having the most glorious weather. It’s in the low seventies with full sunshine. Trees are blooming everywhere. Little yellow daffodils wave hello as you drive or walk past them. And you know what?

I really want to be outside.

But noooo… I’m in my office, typing away.

I might get in trouble for saying this, but it needs to be said.

I have a mean boss.

She’s all about sticking to the schedule. Don’t even think about mentioning taking an hour break for an energizing walk outside. She’ll just say “you can do that after your workday is done.” In her world, consistent effort equals results.

Most days I don’t mind the boss. But today? I don’t like her.

Honestly, she needs to lighten up. I always meet my deadlines. Right now I’m working AHEAD on a project. What more does this lady want from me?

If I didn’t have a mean boss, I would do the following.

• Drive to a nearby ice cream parlor for a soft-serve cone
• Sit outside in the sun with my bare arms soaking in all that lovely vitamin D
• Read until I accidentally fall asleep (naps are so delicious!)
• Wake up, snack on a chocolate or two and contemplate brewing a pot of decaf
• Head over to the library for a new stack of books

Do you know what I wouldn’t do?

I would NOT return to my office to finish my work. Even if I had the best intentions, I know myself too well. There is no way I’d get a lick of work done.

So I’ll sit here and type this blog. I’ll roll my eyes at my mean boss behind her back. And I’ll finish my work as quickly as possible, tell her I did everything on my planner for today, and then I’ll skip out of the office early.

She’ll be okay with it. How do I know?

My mean boss is me.

I can be a lazy employee, so it’s a good thing she doesn’t let me get away with my nonsense. She can be reasonable, too. As long as I get my work done, she’s pretty cool about me taking off early now and then. Not every day, mind you. But when the occasion calls for it.

That’s the trouble with being your own boss. You need an alter-ego who will force you to sit in your office on beautiful, sunshine-filled days or else your books will never get written. In my article “Get More Done with a Plan,” I go over some tried-and-true ways to set goals and fit them into your schedule. They help get me through days like today.

And don’t just take my word for it. I love this article “What I Learned in My First Year of Self-Employment” by Catherine Beard of The Blissful Mind. The following excerpt is absolutely true.

4. Self-discipline is vital.

A lot of people dream of being self-employed because they want the freedom to do things on their own terms. That was one of the most exciting things to me. Like, you can go to the mall in the middle of the day on Tuesday because you create your own schedule?

Yes, you can do that and the freedom is GLORIOUS. But you’ll start to realize that if you don’t practice self-discipline, you won’t get your work done. There’s no one to tell you what to do anymore (which is amazing, obviously), but you have to act like a boss and follow through with your plans.

Well, I guess I won’t be too hard on my mean boss. She helps me meet my goals. But I WILL talk her into letting me quit early today. It’s too nice outside not to!

What would you do today if you didn’t have any responsibilities?

Thank you for stopping by!