More Than WE Know

Many modern-day Women Entrepreneurs can relate to the following poem, first published in 1920:

My candle burns at both ends;

It will not last the night;

But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends–

It gives a lovely light!

It seems that in nearly 100 years, WE have not gotten any smarter when it comes to creating sustainable success.  

WE build our businesses in and around our jobs and our families.  WE sacrifice sleep, exercise and time for ourselves in order to pursue our passions.

Of course, this type of enthusiasm can be engaging. WE don’t mind the sacrifices we make because they feel worthwhile. WE are building something of our own, something that lets us be who we really are. WE feel that at last we know why we were put on this earth and what we were meant to do.

The exhilaration, passion, and energy feel good.  WE find ourselves feeling real joy and a sense of accomplishment.  WE feel that we ourselves are the ones giving off a lovely light!

The problem, as Edna points out, is that this type of effort is not sustainable – it cannot last the night. 

How long can WE survive on 4 hours of sleep, poor nutrition, and no exercise? 

Even if our health doesn’t suffer – our creativity and intellect do.  Over time, WE become less able to handle every day crises. WE become irritable, short-tempered, demanding and impatient.  WE cry more easily and get discouraged more quickly.  WE feel alone, lonely and incapable of getting off of the relentless merry-go-round that we have created.

So, what are WE to do?

The solution is to create a schedule and a system that enables us to maintain passion in a sustainable way.  It is okay to get caught up in the flow and excitement of creativity – but not all the time. It is okay to care passionately about the quality and customer service of your business – but not to demand perfection in every instance.

WE need to find balance in our lives:  

• Lose one night of sleep working on a project – but not every night.
•  Skip one nutritious meal – but not every one. 
• Miss one workout – but not every day.
• Give up some of your personal time – but not all of it.

The key is to replenish ourselves in between the tremendous demands on our energy.

It’s admirable that you want to sacrifice for your business. But you need to think of your light as coming from an oil lamp rather than a candle.
As Edna describes, in the end a candle always consumes itself and burns itself out. 

An oil lamp, as long as it is replenished on a regular basis, will continue to burn brightly forever.

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