My Distraction

My puppy Allis plays a huge role in my entrepreneurial experience, she is my distraction. Thank goodness for her, she gives me something else to worry about. Mostly I worry about making sure that all of her shedding hair disappears from the furniture before people come over. But in all honesty it is important for me to have other outlets for my energy, so that I don't go crazy, and walking Allis can be very therapeutic. Some of my other outlets include baking, quilting, scrapbooking and reading but I have to watch my time very closely, or I will spend the whole day working on those projects and not get much accomplished for my actual business.

This bring me to another issue that I have been dealing with. Many people seem to equate working from home with doing nothing all day long because they assume that I have time to run this errand, or do that favor, or help with this committee. Learning to say no is something that I am still working on. This is especially difficult for me because I am, by nature, a people pleaser, I just have to keep reminding myself that there is no way that I can do it all, and if I want my own business to be a success, then I need to focus as much energy on it as I possibly can.

I would really appreciate a little help here, how do you say no to people? Does anyone have a strategy for dealing with people who don't understand that you really are working too? Please share, and while you're at it, tell me about some of your outlets, what kinds of things get you through the day?