Bootstrapping: Trying to Be Present

Business, Family/Kids, Money, Relationships

The NakedLaw series “Bootstrapped” explores the challenges small business owners face as they blog about their experiences starting and running a small business. The series will cover a variety of topics: challenges and successes, tips and advice, trends and insights, and more, as these small business owners share their journeys.

This segment was written by Kristi Gorinas, founder and CEO of the Kristi G Company, after a recent trip to the nation’s capital. We met Kristi during an entrepreneurial segment on The Meredith Vieira Show.

I had the opportunity recently to come to Washington, D.C. (great food, lovely city, lots of sirens) and present to staff members and legislative assistants—as well as a few big names I can’t divulge—about inventing and licensing. My presentations were mainly based on my own experiences, from my “Aha” moment, to getting products on retail shelves, to the licensing (and re-licensing) process. Walked through my journey, mistakes, how I would do it differently, etc. I showed pictures of the original renderings that I started with, and an actual Go With Me Chair as a final retail-ready product.

During my first time walking the city, while on the grass at the Washington Memorial, the President flew overhead in his helicopter. Actually, there were 3 helicopters; 2 were apparently decoys. Watching him land on the White House lawn and seeing all of the commotion and military on top of buildings was quite entertaining. I also got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Capitol building and underground tram with some of the staff that were in attendance. I even ate at the “members-only” Capitol Hill Club…TWICE. Can’t wait to go back!

After four days there, I was on the plane ride home making my to-do list; groceries, cleaning, work, projects around the house, kids and their activities and appointments. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed thinking of the house in particular and the condition it could be in after being gone, so I decided to take a break and flip through a magazine when I stumbled upon an article about being “present.”

It sounds simple enough, but I realized that I am rarely present in the moment. I had never thought about the act of being completely present and found that I typically jump from the computer, to texting, to phone calls…all while squeezing in conversations with the kids and keeping up with the house duties, bills and cooking. That’s the life of working from home.

I thought multi-tasking was a great strength of mine, only to realize flitting and fleeing from one project or chore to another may not be the best approach to doing my job(s) well. And I look like a chicken with its head cut off, which is not very attractive.

Just this past Monday, my 5-year old was sitting in my office and spoke directly to me, saying, “look at me….look at me in the eye.” It was a slap in the face, and I was disheartened thinking how she noticed I was preoccupied with something other than hearing about her day at kindergarten. Those sweet conversations with my little ones will one day be gone. They may not even bother trying to have a conversation with me if they have to fight for my attention. As a matter of fact, my little one is sitting on my lap as I try to write this blog.

Is that being present? No it’s not, but I’m trying to achieve so many goals, both work and with my family. Seems like there just aren’t enough hours in the day.

Smart devices have definitely played a part in the disruption of trying to be present in the moment. How do you not look at your phone when it dings for text messages, or Tweets, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, etc? My gift to my kids, husband and myself is to TRY to be present. In fact, I’m going to start capitalizing it: Be Present. I even printed off a picture and hung it right next to my computer where I spend most of my days. Be Present. Wish it was as easy as clicking my flip flops together – “I want to Be Present, I want to Be Present, I want to Be Present.”

I’ll start by ending this blog post and paying more attention to the little one on my lap. ;)

kristi g