Lisa Sabin-Wilson » Goals

Do what you love . . love what you do

Lisa — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:45:42 +0000

When I submitted the final, final edits for the second edition of WordPress For Dummies today – I breathed a tremendously huge sigh of relief. There is nothing like that feeling of accomplishment to carry you through to the next day. This was a big project – - just as it was the first time around, and having it finished, finally not only lifts a great big weight off the ol’ shoulders…but it made me reflect a bit. As I’m uploading the last and final files..I could feel myself physically relax. I sat back and thought – - I really do love what I do.

I’ve held several jobs in my lifetime. Some I liked, some I didn’t. Jobs like:

McDonalds (would you like fries with that? yea, that was me)
Disc Jockey for a local, polka radio station (yep. Polka)
Lead singer in a local R&B band
Waitress at a local greasy spoon
Bartender at a local night club… a local bowling alley..and a local 5-star restaurant – - simultaneously!
Secretary…receptionist…data entry clerk
Community organizer for the local Chamber of Commerce
Nursing Assistant
Registered Nurse (my longest… that career spanned 10 years, or so)
Web and graphic designer and web host (current)
Author (also current)

Some of those jobs were held out of neccessity. I didn’t really like them – but they paid the bills, so I tolerated them.
Some of those jobs were stepping stones to other jobs (nursing assistant – to – registered nurse, for example).

Growing up, I was always told to do what I love. Find something you’re good at and make a living out of it.. you’ll be happier. Unfortunately, starting out as a young adult – - the job that I loved didn’t pay the bills (the R&B singer gig). So I had to move on to a job that DID pay the bills . . leaving me absolutely NO time to do the job that I love.

Sigh.

At the age of 24, I graduated from nursing school with a degree in nursing and sat for the board exams to obtain my Registered Nurse licensure. I was pretty much set for life in an industry that paid well and offered a great deal of job security. I pretty much thought I would be a nurse until the day I retire.

Until I started tinkering around with graphic design and CSS and began to dabble in code. I found a great hobby that allowed me to de-stress and blow off steam after long, hard days of work in the hospital. It was a creative outlet that I soon began to realize was soothing the savage beast. Design satisfied the creative side of me… something I had lost when I walked away from music, so many years ago. It would be many years before I began to make a few bucks at it – - and several more years before I could make a living from it.

Although, I never once thought I would make a living with it – - always assuming that nursing would be where I would stay for my entire working life. Nursing was one of those ok jobs. I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it. It was . . . fine. I was good at it – - excelled in it, really – and took pride in that fact. But I wasn’t doing what I loved… nor was I loving what I did.

I am a true believer that if you do not love what you do – - it shows through at the end of the day. People can start to see it in your work, no matter what it is. For me? I didn’t want to get to that point in nursing – - nothing worse than being cared for by a nurse who doesn’t like what she’s doing, eh?

Today, with my design career and, most recently, book writing gig — I can truly say that I finally love what I do.. and am doing what I love. I make a decent living at it, and I’m very thankful for that….and grateful that I don’t have to focus my attentions and time on other side jobs in order to make ends meet, like I used to. I can really focus on what I enjoy doing and what I’m good at.

Are you doing what you love…and loving what you do? If not – are you working towards that end? It’s not an easy thing, no doubt. First priorities are putting food on the table and paying those bills – which, like me, forced you into jobs that you don’t really like – - but become a necessary evil as a means to and end. When I opted to quit my nursing career to pursue design, I really had to spend a lot of time to take a real, long hard look at where I was at, and where I wanted to be. If the day comes that I’m no longer happy with design — I will take a similar look and, hopefully, will be able to make changes where I can pursue that lofty goal of loving what I do..and doing what I love.

For me, it took a great deal of time, struggle, sleepless nights and endless days . . but I got there. And yet, I still wonder if I’ll be doing the same thing next year? If I’m lucky enough, I will be.

And on that note – I shall finally sleep. ‘Nite!

© 2008 Lisa Sabin-Wilson, author of WordPress For Dummies . | Permalink | 25 comments |
Read more in: Design, Nursing, Self Employment

Lisa is the Owner and Creative Director of E.Webscapes Design Studio where she provides custom design solutions for WordPress users, worldwide. Browse Portfolio | Read the Design Blog | Place an order

Join Lisa's Newsletter today and receive FREE WordPress tips every day for 2 WEEKS - delivered to you daily. Members also receive FIRST notice of book news, appearances, specials on design and services - and more!

Fabulous!

Lisa — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 17:22:44 +0000

I am on Day 5 of my the Body-for-LIFE Challenge and I have to say, I haven’t felt THIS good, physically, in a long, long time. It’s a noticeable difference in my mood, energy level and overall outlook. Amazing how much those holiday rum balls can drag a person into a fullout sugar haze. I think the exercise combined with the good eats and daily supplements are better than a good sugar high any day. Yep, you heard me say it. I feel abfab!

I woke up this morning feeling like a million! I had my breakfast then hopped on the treadmill for 30 minutes and did roughly a mile or more – then hopped off the treadmill not feeling like it was kicking my ass for the first time this week. I feel ridiculously energized today – - to the point that I”m almost making myself gag!

Normally, I have a rule that I only weigh myself once a week – no more than that. Not that I’m against daily weighing . . but I feel like I get myself stuck in a rut of being obsessed with my poundage, and I discourage easily if I don’t see it falling off the way I think it should be. But, I felt so damn good today that I decided to step on the scale two days early. Much to my enjoyment, as I’ve dropped a full 3.5 lbs this week so far!

Ok – so I realize that most of that is water weight that’s to be expected when you suddenly start consuming in excess of 80 – 200 ounces of water per day, not to mention the other liquids I’m consuming, like protein shakes and protein juice. Even though it is water weight – I was still thrilled with it.

My one vice that I can’t seem to shake is my coffee. I drink lattes, not normal brewed coffee. That’s three shots of pure espresso in a mug of warm milk. Years ago, I used to drink it with whole milk. In 2004, during my huge diet efforts where I dropped a full 65lbs, I switched to 1% milk for my lattes. I had tried skim milk . . . but it just wasn’t doable! I’m very picky about my java . . and the skim milk just wasn’t cutting it. At least I was cutting out 1/2 the fat by switching to 1%, right?

This time around, I decided I would try the skim milk once again, just to see if I could stand it this time around. It was a total no go. But! This morning, I tried it with 1/2 skim and 1/2 1% and didn’t really notice a difference. Go figure.

I swear I’m not going to turn this boring blog of mine into yet a MORE boring blog by posting about my diet stuff all the time – - but this morning, I feel like a million – I couldn’t help but write about it!

Dieting, Body for Life

© 2005 Lisa Sabin-Wilson, author of WordPress For Dummies . | Permalink | No comment |
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Lisa is the Owner and Creative Director of E.Webscapes Design Studio where she provides custom design solutions for WordPress users, worldwide. Browse Portfolio | Read the Design Blog | Place an order

Join Lisa's Newsletter today and receive FREE WordPress tips every day for 2 WEEKS - delivered to you daily. Members also receive FIRST notice of book news, appearances, specials on design and services - and more!

Pre-New Year Thursday 13

Lisa — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 23:00:50 +0000

This weeks Thursday 13 is all about resolutions for the New Year. It’s good to have goals, isn’t it? Some are easier than others – - some I may not reach at all – - I’ll just make ‘em do-vers for next year. :

Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions? Post them on your blog and enter the free blog design giveaway we’re running now through midnight 12/31/05!

My biggest resolution for the New Year is of, of course, to become Mrs. to the gorgeous hunk-o-man I currently share my home with. That is the biggest, brightest and greatest event I have planned this year!

Another goal I’m working on is to reach that ellusive size 8. In the past 10 years – - my body has seen size 16, 14, 12 and 10 . . I started my diet and exercise program on Monday with size 8 jeans in mind by June. Can she do it?

You can grab Thursday Thirteen over by Leanne – the fabulous creator of this fun . . thing!

Really, really do the volunteer Ski Patrol this year, instead of talking about doing it, and talking more about why I couldn’t do it this year.

Continue being the homework nazi from hell and see my kids through yet another year of high school. It’s harder than you’d think!

Keep a cleaner, more organized office. You’d be amazed to see the disorganized chaos that I allow my office to get sometimes!

Cook more home-cooked meals. With this diet of mine – - I have big cooking daily cooking plans. My family will have never eaten so good!

Keep those mother-daughter date nights more regular. Both of us let other things get in the way too often. I miss those movie dates, or shopping dates – - they are too few and far between.

Be more sociable in life. It’s too easy for me to work, work, work at my computer all day long – - I fear becoming a hermit.

Pick up the piano playing more regularly. I plunk around on occassion. I sat down teh other day and started playing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and actually HAD to look at the sheet music. /eek!

Stick to my business plan for 2006 like glue.

Relax more with some scheduled ‘me time’ away from work, while still keeping true to my work ethics and responsibilities.

Obtain my scuba certification before our honeymoon in Bon Aire. I’m a good snorkeler, though! But being a touch claustraphobic? Scuba diving holds some real challenges for me.

That’s all I have for now. The lunatic is on the grass.

So, leave a trackback from your Thursday 13 to mine – and you’ll automatically be linked here as a Thursday 13 participant. Your blog software does not support trackback pinging, you say? It doesn’t need to – you can use Wizbang’s Standalone Trackback Pinger to send a trackback from your post to any blog in the blogosphere.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. Itâ€™s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Thirteen’s I’ve read so far:
Intricate Art
MommaK
Sleeping Mommy
Lisa @ The Shizzel
Tommi’s
Lindsey’s

Post Holiday Blues

Lisa — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 04:06:15 +0000

Christmas is all done. Exit the presents, the tree, the goodies and treats – - enter the next 6 months worth of dieting in preparation for the wedding – and the subsequent South American beach/scuba/snorkeling honeymoon that shall follow.

I’m up for it, though! I have my schedule. I have my menu. I have my willpower and determination. Who cares if I ate Santa’s entire plate of gingerbread cookies — and THEN SOME? I started yesterday and I’ll give you all an update in 6 months!

Sorta related – - I’ve spent my entire day working on this pretty complex design for a fitness and dieting blog that will go up soon . . . and during it all, I’ve been craving chocolate.

My question? Would I be craving chocolate if I weren’t working on this fitness and dieting blog?

Without a doubt.

© 2005 Lisa Sabin-Wilson, author of WordPress For Dummies . | Permalink | No comment |
Read more in: Dieting, Exercise, Fitness

Lisa is the Owner and Creative Director of E.Webscapes Design Studio where she provides custom design solutions for WordPress users, worldwide. Browse Portfolio | Read the Design Blog | Place an order

Join Lisa's Newsletter today and receive FREE WordPress tips every day for 2 WEEKS - delivered to you daily. Members also receive FIRST notice of book news, appearances, specials on design and services - and more!

Cruisin'

Lisa — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 04:52:02 +0000

Wow – this is a lot of color for me, hey?

(note: Astro – you should like the bikini… even if it’s only an illustration!)

My usual templates on this site are pretty minimalistic. Shades of muted blues, greys, whites. BUT! I needed some cheery, colorful motivation for the upcoming cruise. (OH! If you don’t see the new theme – use the drop down menu in the sidebar where it says “Skin This Site” – and browse to the “Crusin’ Theme!) We leave on Sept. 1, 2005 – - flying first to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Then board the ship and head for St. Thomas, St. Maartens and the Princess Cays Island!

This here cheery, colorful, upbeat template is part of my mission to motivate myself to prepare for this thing, both personally.. and professionally. All of the sudden, September 1st doesn’t seem all that far away!!

I’m excited about it because this will be the first REAL vacation I’ve taken in quite some time. And by REAL – what do I mean? Basically, what that means for me is no computer. No work. That alone is enough to make me nervous. I’m going to enjoy myself, dammit! I will not obsess about work or anything web-related.

The world will be here when I get back home. And just in case it isn’t – - I’ll be sure to tip a few extra Mai Tai’s just for good measure!

No Pain – No Gain?

Lisa — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 21:09:20 +0000

I’ve always understood the relationship between pleasure and pain. Hell, I……(mumble, mumble)…

Anyways – 2 months ago – we purchased this. I started using it two days ago. Why so long, you say? Well – it takes 8-10 weeks for delivery. It was delivered in 15 different flat pack boxes on the day before we left for vacation to Alabama. Three days ago, Chris and Ben spent an entire day … about 8 hours… assembling the thing. Now I finally get to torture myself with it!

Yay for me!

We purchased the Ab Cruncher attachement for it, as well. I’ve officially renamed this thing my own personal ~~training~~ torture machine! I hurt, man!

But this is good, right? One of those times in life where pain is a GOOD thing, yes?

Tell that to my arms, my thighs, my shoulders and most importantly – convice my ABS of that little fact, please?

You see, I have this cruise thing coming up in September and I bought this new swim suit for the cruise.. and – - well, I don’t want the natives to laugh at me! Or cry…

Since I lost the initial 10lbs in Alabama where there is no fast food or convienence food anywhere to be found . . I figured i was on a roll, right? I’m doing the treadmill thing – and am on a program where I work different sets of muscle groups every day. High protein, low fat diet and all that jazz.

Someone get me a donut!

ONE Blog

Lisa — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 05:43:22 +0000

Blog ONE joins the blogosphere -… from the ONE blog:

together, as ONE, we can discuss ways to end AIDS and extreme poverty in our lifetime! No matter who you vote for, whether you go to a church or mosque, or if you live in Hollywood or the Heartland, millions of us agree that as ONE we can reach across divides of politics, religion and music and do something extraordinary together.

Have you signed the letter to President Bush yet asking for his support at the upcoming G8 summit? Over a quarter-million Americans have signed the letter so far and we still need more! Please go here and read all about it and then add your name to the list asking the president for an unprecedented debt-aid-trade deal for the people in the poorest countries.

Thank you and we’re glad you are here! Stop back by for the latest on LIVE 8, the G8 summit and more ways to get involved.

As if I'm not busy enough?

Lisa — Sun, 11 Jul 2004 20:54:19 +0000

I’m off on yet another business venture. This one pretty much manages itself, though – the time it takes to process customer orders happens pretty quickly now that I have it all set up and ready to go. So far, I have 5 customers – all of whom are friends and family in my life who have noticed a big difference in me over the past few months.

End of February/March of this year – I decided to focus on losing a bit of weight. Over the years, I’ve tried Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and Atkins. None of which worked for me because, quite honestly, I’m no good at keeping up with those programs. I start out with the best of intentions – - but life is too busy to try and sit and manage/count calories, carbs, etc. The shopping and food prep time was also a factor for me – - life is just too busy these days. I never was much of a breakfast person – because when I get ready to go to work in the morning, I’m usually flying out the door. My breakfast usually always consisted of the Sausage/Egg biscuit at McDonalds…and I loved the hash browns.

In February – I was talking to a friend who tried the Herbalife Program. It’s a program where the emphasis is on high protein intake. It’s a shake for breakfast and one for lunch – - and then (you got it) a sensible meal for dinner. I was skeptical because I tried Slim Fast once upon a time, too – - and the shakes never made me feel satisfied and was alway hungry an hour after drinking them.

I went to a Herbalife ‘party’ and tried the shakes – and was surprised that they taste really good..not chalky…not gross…but really good. And because they are incredibly high in protein ( about 35 Grams per shake) – they made me feel full throughout the day. So, I caved in and bought the program package.

That was 32 lbs and 4 dress sizes ago. As of today, I’ve dropped another 4lbs (i weight myself once a week on Sundays) and am closing in on my target goal for weight loss. I’m thrilled about it. So much so that I decided to become a distributor of the product. My first 5 customers came without much effort at all – - they are 4 friends and one family member who started out by complimenting my weight loss. They noticed and, naturally, started asking questions as to what I was doing that’s so successful to me. I explained Herbalife and they were interested…so now 5 people in my life are starting to see results and they’re happy because of it, too.

I developed a website for it so that my customers here in my life could enjoy the ease of ordering the products on line – - instead of calling me and coming over to my house to pick up the products. Now they can order them from my website and have the products drop shipped to their house with no hassle. I haven’t advertised the website out on the web much – - aside from being listed on a few search engines.

The site is here, if any one is interested in seeing what I’m doing to take it off and keep it off. The program, plus some exercising I’ve been doing….not only am I dropping the weight…but, physically, I’ve never felt better. Not that I’m turning this into a diet blog – - because no one is really interested in my shrinking status, really – - but I feel pretty damn good about it. Not just about the weight loss – - but also because I’ve actually stuck to a program long enough to see the results.

It’s my feel good for the day…..week…month!

No related posts.

© 2004 Lisa Sabin-Wilson, author of WordPress For Dummies . | Permalink | No comment |
Read more in:

Lisa is the Owner and Creative Director of E.Webscapes Design Studio where she provides custom design solutions for WordPress users, worldwide. Browse Portfolio | Read the Design Blog | Place an order

Join Lisa's Newsletter today and receive FREE WordPress tips every day for 2 WEEKS - delivered to you daily. Members also receive FIRST notice of book news, appearances, specials on design and services - and more!

PantHuffPant

Lisa — Fri, 09 Jul 2004 06:36:22 +0000

You say God give me a choice… You say Lord I say Christ… I don’t believe in Peter Pan… Frankenstein or Superman… All I wanna do is…. Bicycle!

Whew!

I did at LEAST 5 miles on that bike of mine today! I don’t know about anyone else – - but am I the only one who suffers a really really sore ass after a long bike ride??

Keeping Pace

Keeping Pace

Lisa — Tue, 30 Dec 2003 00:18:51 +0000

Time to hop on the ol’ treadmill – - any bets on time? Distance?

I’m feeling extraordinarily lazy tonight – - my goal is 30 minutes or 2 miles, whichever comes first!

© 2003 Lisa Sabin-Wilson, author of WordPress For Dummies . | Permalink | No comment |
Read more in:

Lisa is the Owner and Creative Director of E.Webscapes Design Studio where she provides custom design solutions for WordPress users, worldwide. Browse Portfolio | Read the Design Blog | Place an order

Join Lisa's Newsletter today and receive FREE WordPress tips every day for 2 WEEKS - delivered to you daily. Members also receive FIRST notice of book news, appearances, specials on design and services - and more!