In a wild part of the park there is a long staircase that winds back and forth through the woods, up a hill and down the other side. Many mornings I climb it for exercise. The experience is strenuous and peaceful. There are few others who bother with these dilapidated stairs, which gives the area a forgotten feeling.

As usual this morning I was lost in thought as I walked. Starting up the backside of the hill I noticed a man and his dog coming down the stairs. We met on a landing and nodded a greeting. Then he stopped and turned towards me.

“So, you know there’s a great bullmastiff that lives on this hill?” Continue Reading »

On November 13, 2011 I gave birth to my first child, a girl. Her name is Eleanor.

Because this is essentially my business blog, I won’t go into the details of how the experience of pregnancy, childbirth and now motherhood have changed me…unless someone wants to know, in which case I am happy to share. But, here I will simply say aside from the obvious personal growth, the whole experience has also changed my attitude and approach to business. This was something wholly unexpected.

I have now been back at work for two weeks and I feel strongly that unless what I am doing is vitally important, it’s not worth doing. I have always picked my projects carefully, but now I have zero tolerance for empty exercises. Time away from my child must be time spent on something meaningful. Really meaningful.

The challenges of being a working mom are unfolding in front of me as I write. Some days I feel determined. Some days I feel guilty. Some days I feel resigned. But, most days I feel clear about the fact that I must stay on my path for my own good and hers. I have tasks yet to complete and goals to accomplish and I want to set an example for her. She is a mirror for me…I can see my own actions and reactions more clearly now. She’s already taught me so much and I am thrilled to bring the lessons to bear on my work.

A new phase has begun.