business goals

“I figured I’d find you here” Ayelet said as she walked up the stairs of Cornerstone Grill & Loft. I was sitting at one of the High Tops in my black yoga pants and Cornerstone zip-up, wrapping silver-wear, getting ready to start my waitressing shift.

“Where else would I be?” I said as I smiled back at my best friend. She sat down next to me and we started chatting as if we were in my living room. To be totally honest, I think I spent more time at that college bar than I did in any of my apartments or classes through out my time during undergrad. From the first week I went to the University of Maryland, I was a Cornerstone waitress. I worked 6 to 7 days a week and gave it my all. Don’t get me wrong, my education came first, but nothing came above my studies and my bar.

Years later, I might not have the same job, but I still have that same ‘work comes first’ tendency and I find myself struggling with it every day. As you all know, I absolutely love what I do. It feels like I am making a difference. It feel like I am full-filling my destiny. I have the best clients in the world and I want to do everything in my power to serve them the best way I can. But at the same time, I have an incredible relationship with the sweetest man, 9 nieces and nephews that I adore in every way and friends who support me and love me even at my worst.  So, how do I balance it all? How do I put the computer away, my calendar down and switch my entrepreneur brain off?  How can I focus solely on the amazing humans that love me unconditionally? How can I do it all and still have time to go to the gym?

I am not going to lie, it isn’t easy. It is probably the one thing I struggle with the most on a day to day bases. But this year, I have made it my goal to find a way to balance it all and still get enough sleep.  Thank you to the book, “168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think” by Laura Vanderkam, I am changing the way I think about my time. Goodbye to the days where I hear myself constantly say “I don’t have enough time” and hello to the days where I admit to myself that if something is a priority, I will get it done. With that simple switch, I have found myself a lot less stressed, a lot more content and with way more time.

I know extra hours in the day aren’t magically appearing. I know that I still have the same amount of work to do. And I know that sometimes, I will feel overwhelmed with the amount of things I am juggling; but, when I focus on what I really want out of life, what means the most to me, I have found a lot more time and a lot more happiness. Of course spending time with my friends, family and my Robert are priorities. Of course, going to the gym and living a healthy life style are on the top of my list. And of course, serving my clients with my whole heart takes precedence. Now, all I have to do is fit it everything in to a 168 hours and that seems a lot more doable than the 24/7 mentality!

“What is your new year resolution?”

“I don’t believe in them?”

“Why not?”

“It shouldn’t take the beginning of a New Year to get you to want change or improve. It is just another day…”

We have this conversation every year and every year I think, “Ya… Robert is right.” I shouldn’t just want to be better because 2018 is long gone. I know that I’m not magically going to drink less coffee and sleep better hours. I know that my six pack abs and savings account aren’t going to appear out of thin air. I know that my personal goals and my business goals aren’t going to change over night.  But I also know that I love New Year Resolutions for one reason and one reason only. They are a friendly reminder that I am a person and I can change. I can be better, I can become stronger, I can work towards a goal and I can succeed. That’s right, I can succeed.

When I look back at how much has changed between January 1st 2018 and January 1st 2019, I am proud.

Don’t get me wrong, some of the big things have stayed the same (and I wouldn’t want them to change for the world).  Same City, same business, same house, same coat and same amazing and wonderful boyfriend.  It’s the little things in life that have changed and when you add them all up, they make such a difference.

Now, in order for me to stay accountable, I can’t just write down my New Year Resolutions and think that will work, I need to share it with the world! So here they are! Yael Pachino’s big New Year Resolutions 2019! Let the transformation begin!

Work- Life Balance.

As a small business owner, my business is always on my mind. I can always be doing something to promote myself, to learn more, brand better, engage with my audience more. Basically, my business can sometimes be all consuming. This year, I want to make sure I have a much better Work-Life balance because the people in my life, including myself, deserve my complete and total attention.

Become a morning work-out person.

I love working out, I really do. I have always envied those people who have gotten in a full work out, shower, had a hearty breakfast and make in to work on time. I may work from home, but it is my goal this year to be able to wake up, hit the gym, come home and get to work all before 8am! That way, the rest of the day is focused on my work, my friends, my Robert and myself.

Remember to bring my Reusable Grocery Bags while shopping

When I really think about how awful we treat our environment as a whole, it makes me worried for my future children and my future grandchildren! The least I can do is remember to bring my reusable big bag to the grocery store every week!

Read more.

The most successful people in life read and read a lot. This year, I am joining in on the fun and have become an active member of Sydney Marie Event’s Book Club for Entrepreneur Women… and I am actually going to read the books this time. Already half way through January’s book!

Double the number of weddings I photograph.

I am so proud and grateful for the amazing couples I photographed this past year and I want nothing more than to continue to capture weddings and meet incredible humans. My heart is so full of love and happiness from all the couples I worked with in 2018 and I can only imagine how awesome 2019’s couples will be!

Drink more water.

Self explanatory.

Be more mindful.

In what you may ask? In everything! When it comes to what I say, how I say it and who I say it to. When it comes to what I spend, how I spend and why I am spending it. When it comes to what I eat, what I drink, how much sleep I am getting etc… When I do things with intention and thought, the outcome is always better!

So there you have it guys! My New Year’s Resolution, now… which one of you is going to call me in March and see how I’m holding up?

Let’s hear your Resolutions! Comment below : )

Cheers to the New Year and to this beautiful new beginning!

x0,

Yael