help is a healing balm

I always start my week with the best of intentions. I sit down and try to be as intentional as I can. I make lists. I dream big. I note all of the things I seem to constantly forget. But by Wednesday? I'm often off the grid when it comes to my planning. And we won't even talk about Thursday. This year Thursday just does me in. There are weeks when I feel like a failure as a mom and there are weeks when I feel like a failure in my business. Most weeks it's a little of both. There is a huge healing balm that I'm learning to invite into my life.

Help.

It's ok to ask for help. Y'all know that, right? I know I know it but sometimes I don't act like I know it. So, as we're approaching that time of year where striking a balance can be overwhelming I'd like to talk about bringing on help with your business. Even if you don't have a business or a crafty endeavor on the side, the idea of asking for help can be universal.

I think it's pivotal to understand that there's more than one way to find someone to help you with your work. It doesn't have to be cost prohibitive. You can start small and simple. You'll be amazed at the amount of work you can get done with just one set of extra hands. It's exponential.

The first step is deciding what you actually need help with. Think about all of the day to day jobs that you could delegate to someone else from time to time.

Today I'd like to share two simple ways to seek out help.

1. Friends. Invite them over for the morning to help you push through to a bigger goal. I've found that many times I just have to ask. I've put it on facebook, twitter, emailed a few friends. And then I think of some fun way to reward them for their time. Starbucks, brownies, a favorite snack, or even a product they've been wanting.

Groups of friends are even more helpful. Invite a few over for an assembly line approach to help. Play a John Hughes movie. Offer yummy desserts.

I know you're thinking you don't want to be a burden. Don't. People don't do what they don't want to do. And I've found that my friends are more bothered when I don't ask for help and really need it. Your friends love you and they probably love what you do.

2. Interns. Interns are an awesome way to increase productivity and bring some fresh energy to your work. And they don't have to be cost prohibitive. You could certainly offer an unpaid internship with the focus on offering a specific skillset and an intimate glimpse of what it's like to try to run a creative business. I currently have an intern who was looking to fill some independent study hours for her degree. She gets the hours and I get the help.

Don't rule out paid internships, though! I know it's hard to think of paying someone but the amount of extra product they can help you produce (either by direct help or freeing up your time) might be worth more than what you are paying them. I have another intern who I do have a small stipend set aside for. In one morning at a busy indie type fair, I can make up what I'm paying her and then some.

Finding an intern doesn't have to be hard. Make up a cute little post for your blog. Tweet about it. Post it on facebook.

I just happen to live in a college town so I started by asking several people I knew who worked with college students. A few days later, I posted a description of what I was looking for on facebook. Both of my interns found me through that post.

It really is ok to ask for help. It's ok to wave the white flag. We are not called to be masters of everything. We're just called to do the best we can with our little lives.

Maybe you worry about being a burden. Or asking too much. Maybe you're so used to trying to balance everything yourself that it's not even a thought that enters your mind. I'll tell you what, though, some of the sweetest fellowship times have come from asking and then letting people be part of my creative process.

Well, what do y'all think? Have you considered seeking out help? Would you? What's worked for you?