How Many Hats?

Fairly certain many of us have heard the saying you ‘wear many hats’. Generally referring to someone with more than a couple of jobs. In all honesty, I actually hope many of you don’t fall in this category. Nothing to do with the hard work, but more I would rather know you are in a financial position where this isn’t necessary. Unfortunately for many of us, that isn’t the case.

Now I am not talking about masks or roles; being a parent, brother, son, etc. there is all that too.

And let’s be honest, being a parent can fit the description of job.

But for the sake of ‘wearing hats’, I am referring to work that creates an income, certainly would not blame many of you if you kept your hat saying ‘mum or ‘dad’, you earned it.

I had a moment a week ago, a Saturday morning when I had to swap hats fairly quickly and it was only afterwards, I could feel the pressure and how it could get quiet exhausting in time.

Building Lifestorm, one of my key workshops happens to be ‘Stress Management’ so there could be a degree of irony in me even writing this, but thought it still relevant. (Not even for advertising purposes).

Three meetings, almost in a row; 1 st as a counsellor, 2 nd as the business owner, and 3 rd as a celebrant. Now two of them were over the phone but there was no gap between the 1 st and 2 nd meetings (first meeting was booked in last minute and were aware that I had existing plans). There was a 30 minutes gap between the 2 nd and 3 rd in which we had to drive half hour to my wife’s workshop before my next phone call came through.

The second meeting, my business call went over time as creative juices were flowing and we couldn’t just shut down the ideas and progress. This meant when my next call came through, we were still driving and not at our next destination, resulting in me having to pull over to speak to a potential bride.

Juggling to keep the kids quiet in the car and answer all the questions this lady had as to why I should be their celebrant.

Got off the phone and sighed.

I had enjoyed every minute of all 3 but wow I had changed hats from counsellor to business to celebrant so quick, each requiring a different mindset and energy.

There is no part of me that thinks I am the only one to have ever felt that. Especially when it is your own business or a job you love, you conduct yourself with a passion and energy that helps drive success and achievement.

Then throw in there, father and husband.

Like other parents would know, this means cook, cleaner, gardener, teacher, etc. Before I upset anyone in those industries, we don’t do it as good as you, I love having a great meal cooked for me at a special restaurant for the night.

I am sure many of you can understand. Swapping hats and roles can be enjoyable, exhausting, interesting and chaotic. At least life isn’t boring.

But don’t forget some sincere self-care and stress management. As sometimes it can feel like a lot.