Managing a business by Zen - cross your fingers and hope for the best... - LJN Blog Posts

So, it's good news on Cat's job. She has been offered a post at a higher grade. She'll be doing the sort of work that she loves and you can see the difference the news has made - she's full of enthusiasm and energy. I've not seen her this happy in ages. She'll be doing a lot of work with the banking associations and although they said there wouldn't be any prejudice about location in handing out the jobs, the reality is that we will need to be down in London or within commuting distance at least. This is going to mean a lot of travelling for Cat until we can actually move down there and it looks like she's found a room to rent for a couple of nights a week in Islington. I always hate it when Cat has to spend long spells away from home, so I think the sooner we can move down there, the easier it will be on both of us. We still have to get all the information on the job and whether there will be any relocation package (and if there is, how far will it stretch?). Until we know what that will be, we're limited in what we can do.All of this means that I will have to relocate the gardening business down south. We're thinking of Surrey somewhere and have shortlisted Epsom / Woking / Esher / Ewell and possobly Worcester Park. We'll need to be within easy commuting distance for Cat but still have enough gardening potential for the business. We've not started househunting proper yet, but have scoped out a few rentals on rightmove.com - it shouldn't be too difficult to find somewhere to live. It's an exciting prospect and I want to take the chance to evaluate the business and see if there are any ways I can improve what I'm doing. There are so many different things to consider, which I won't go into just now - I'll leave those for later blogs I think. I know that Phil started off his blogging career by writing about his move to France, so I thought I would take a leaf out of his book and start blogging about my move. The blog will probably be a little disjointed at times (I'll apologise now!) but I'm expecting the whole move to be disjointed itself. Hopefully I'll be able to make my blogs interesting enough and maybe they'll even spark off a bit of discussion. It's been a while since I've been blogging, so I'm out of the routine a little bit. I'll be flying by the seat of my pants to a large extent and I hope that I can manage the business by zen, a bit of luck and a favourable tail-wind... I hope I can keep it together!

Thanks Phil,

I'll try to scribble a few words here and there when I get a chance. Nothing's really happening at the moment, so we're sort of floating in mid-air until Cat gets a few more details. I've got over the initial panic about all the stuff that needs to be sorted out and have started the big clear-out. We've been renting our current house for about five years and have more stuff than we know what to do with. The attic is a graveyard for dead pieces of technology (an old PC, dead television, assorted fans, cables of all sorts... the list goes on). The cellar has all my gardening crap in it along with two dead washing machines and one working one (I dont think Cat has ever used any of them - she's got me too well-trained!). Then there's the three expired line trimmers, old back-up lawnmower and god knows what else. I'm glad Cat has agreed to fund a skip, although we're going to need one of the big ones, not just a piddly little thing!

I think what I need to do is concentrate on the here-and-now for the moment though, not worry too much about every little detail just yet. I did panic at first and think that there is so much I need to do, but I don't have to do it all by next week. Anyway, enough wittering, "I didn't get where I am today..." and all that.

"I generally spray a heck of a lot in Feb/March, or just befroe the buds appear, then as soon as the leaves have appreared stop... unless I have a real problem with a particular plant - otherwise I would spend my life spraying for blackspot :)"

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Comments

Hamish July 11, 2009 at 11:30am

It is nice to think that someone with Cats outlook on life is going to part of a new wave in the banking sector, good news for us all. Best of luck with the move. I also think the Zen method of approaching business is a good idea. I have just recently read a paper about Urban Forestry in Korea - their whole approach comes from Feng Shui, so maybe this is the future for us all.
Cat Fereday July 11, 2009 at 12:46pm

Flower, I know you can do anything you put your mind to! I'm 100% that you are going to come to love living down south - perhaps even one day getting to overlooking flat pints of bitter. You could advance plan some of your blogs - the boot sale at the end of August should be a good one to cover as will trips down to look at gardens (and the houses attached to them)! Don't worry, I know, no shed / garage / storage, no chance! :-)
Donny Bryan July 11, 2009 at 4:03pm

Hi Andrew, great news about Cat's job. I too am married to a high flying career lady. Unfortunately Mrs B became a director statistic of the deep recession in December, but her boundless optimism and enthusiasm for a new challenge is an inspiration to all around her. She's setting up her own business, actively looking for new opportunities, and part of her aim is to spend more time at home - something I will definitely welcome - previously she was away travelling on business a lot & I always miss her dreadfully. Part of her decision was a desire not to uproot my business as to get another similar role she would almost inevitably have to move South (her last office was officially in the South but they allowed her to work from home rather than the office when not on client site). Anway, we look forward to reading all about your adventures and best of luck - especially with the flat pints! Cheers, Donny
Andrew Fereday July 11, 2009 at 5:22pm

Thanks Donny & Hamish. At least I can do what I do anywhere - it would be much more difficult to move if I had to find a new job. It'll be a test for a while and take a bit of time to get established again, but at least I will be able to get re-established. I'm thinking of contacting a couple of garden centres once I get down there, as those contacts seem to be quite effective at generating leads. I've had three of my main gardens referred to me by the garden centre where I worked four years ago - the latest one just two months ago.
Sustainable Land Management July 15, 2009 at 2:16pm

Good luck with the move guys, just make sure the broadband is up and running quickly, Cats blogs are like a shot of decent coffee. By the way I have read the same article, (I think), as the one Hamish relates to. It is absolutely fascinating and I will try and get it up on the LJN. We'll all be meditating for 2 hours prior to a days work yet.
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Phil Voice July 15, 2009 at 2:29pm

Can I add my best wishes too.

I went through a very life changing experience when I sold my business and moved to France - all in the same year.

I am sure you will be frightened by the thought but inflated by the challenge and always remember that there is no shame in weeping if things get tough. I am sure you will make a great success of it.

The areas you are looking to live in will be a rich picking ground for work and your talents will be in demand - you pick your clients, don't let them choose you.

I look forward to blogs from the both of you as I am sure will everyone else and remember there is always help here if you need it.

All the very best.

Phil
Andrew Fereday July 15, 2009 at 3:49pm

Thanks Phil,

I'll try to scribble a few words here and there when I get a chance. Nothing's really happening at the moment, so we're sort of floating in mid-air until Cat gets a few more details. I've got over the initial panic about all the stuff that needs to be sorted out and have started the big clear-out. We've been renting our current house for about five years and have more stuff than we know what to do with. The attic is a graveyard for dead pieces of technology (an old PC, dead television, assorted fans, cables of all sorts... the list goes on). The cellar has all my gardening crap in it along with two dead washing machines and one working one (I dont think Cat has ever used any of them - she's got me too well-trained!). Then there's the three expired line trimmers, old back-up lawnmower and god knows what else. I'm glad Cat has agreed to fund a skip, although we're going to need one of the big ones, not just a piddly little thing!

I think what I need to do is concentrate on the here-and-now for the moment though, not worry too much about every little detail just yet. I did panic at first and think that there is so much I need to do, but I don't have to do it all by next week. Anyway, enough wittering, "I didn't get where I am today..." and all that.
Andrew Fereday July 15, 2009 at 3:52pm

Oh, I forgot to mention in the blog title that I didn't literally mean I was going to manage the business by Zen. It's just a phrase I use when I'm winging it (as in "navigating by Zen" when I'm trying to find a new client for the first time...).

I'm much more of a taoist myself. ;-)