the maven circle

Attitude of Gratitude

jen November 23, 2011 Article

Humans are funny. We tend to focus on what hasn’t happened, what didn’t meet our expectations, and other disappointments rather than noticing all that we’ve received. When I was younger I can remember many occasions in which I would become upset and totally focus on what didn’t work for me, rather than finding the good

Checking in with yourself

jen November 10, 2011 Article

In the early years of my business, when I was first making hats, reconstructed sweaters, scarves and more, I would work crazy long hours. I might crochet for 12 hours a day, or sew for 8 hours at a stretch. The next day I’d be broken down—sore shoulders, pain in my hands, basically unable to

Becoming Balanced . The Maven Circle

Grasping the Good – Setting Boundaries

jen November 3, 2011 Article

Setting boundaries is hard, especially if you’re a helpful person like me, but it is one most necessary aspects of managing your life effectively and reducing your stress. I wasn’t raised with a model for how to set boundaries. I was encouraged to be helpful, and so that’s what I did, for most of my

Becoming Balanced . The Maven Circle

jen October 25, 2011 Article

The fantasy of working for yourself is much different than the reality. When most people start a business it looks something like that of someone who’s newly in love. You believe that anything is possible and see all that you can gain from it or give to it and then (bum, bum, bum) you realize