The Right Moment

Today’s a big day: 3 years ago my son Tilo was born. Some of you might know of his epic, silent melt downs which I have been documenting over at itshardbeingtwo.tumblr.com.

A child’s birthday is always moving for a parent but his birthday coincides with a bold career move: It’s the day I started saying no to clients and went on a one year client sabbatical. Three years in, I can safely say the sabbatical has been extended indefinitely.

By having more time to focus on my own products, I have been able to grow CreativeMornings, launch Tattly and am about to relaunch TeuxDeux. I am very fortunate and grateful for where the last 3 years have led me.

And looking back, it is obvious that my kids have been my biggest career catalysts. Why? During both pregnancies I analyzed where I was in my life, what I still wanted to achieve and what was keeping me from going after my goals. There’s no other moment in life that makes you really look at who you are, and where you are in life, like the day you realize you are about to become a parent.

Don’t wait for the ‘right moment’ to start that company, or take that trip. The right moment is now.

Don’t wait until you get pregnant.

Happy Birthday Tilo!

18 Comments leave a comment below

  1. My right moment is now.
    Quitted my dayjob as a graphic designer and going on my own. Hopefully I get all the clients you said no to :)

    Well, after only three years Tina, you’ve gone far. Respect!

  2. Happy Birthday, Tilo, and Thank You, Tina, for all you make and share! Greatly reminded of this post: “The opportunity of a lifetime is to pick yourself. …” » http://www.swiss-miss.com/2012/08/seth-godin-on-the-great-discontent.html

  3. Tina, thank you so much for this. I’m currently on an extended maternity leave with my first baby right now and having such a “WTF am I going to do with my career?!” moment in my life. You have given me hope and inspiration and I trust that this could becoming a positive turning point in my life; as long as I make it. Happy Birthday Tilo!

  4. Congratulations, and continued success. You’re an inspiration to me, and to countless others!

  5. Bravo! Fantastic decisions, clearly! And happy birthday, Tilo. How lovely for all of you.

  6. You’re an inspiration. Congrats to you and to Tilo for being awesome!

  7. My most favourite post of yours ever!

  8. Happy Birthday Tilo :-)

  9. Tina,
    I have been reading your post for quite some time now.
    Using your cool tags I would say:

    “Made my heart sing”, “Made me Smile”, “Made me Think” and feel “Inspired”.

    Thank you!

    PS: Happy birthday to Tilo :-)

  10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0irL1M15DH8
    Hope you enjoy the Hip Hop Version,
    Good Vibes

  11. Indeed! It’s so very true that parenthood forces us to own our path in life, if only because we’re going to have to explain it to someone small.

    We crossed paths in the hallways of the Grand America at Alt Summit two years ago when you were about to give the keynote speech and I was returning to the conference after a nap. I was seven months pregnant with my (now almost two-year-old) son and you mentioned being in the same boat the year before. My daughter was born two years before that and both times I completely revolutionized my career path. Glad to know I’m not the only one.

    Congratulations to you on growing a human being for two years (plus nine months)–that’s hard work!

  12. thanks to tilo for treating his mother so well so i could read this inspiring post. happy birthday to to tilo and a 3 years mami anniversary :)
    all the best to both of you.

  13. Meraviglioso, grazie per la condivisione!

  14. Happy belayed birthday to Tilo! And thank you for these inspiring words. Just what I needed to hear today. Thanks!

  15. Happy Birthday Tilo…and thank you Tina for sharing your thoughts…very inspirational!

  16. Tina,

    You are such an inspiration to me! I totally look up to you as someone who didn’t start something for money, or because it was a smart business move, but just because you believed in the product/service and thought maybe someone else might too.

    I’m currently trying to say no to clients and have become so bitter about my job, which I used to love. It’s sad that something I do well and loved for so long has become a burden and gives me little to no satisfaction at all.

    It’s hard to look away from the “how to’s” of the world and just start something you believe in, without knowing it will ever pay off, financially speaking. But at this moment it has become absolutely essencial for me that I take a risk and get out of this grey zone I’m stuck in, and in that you give me a lot of courage.

    Congratulations to your cute little boy and to you.
    I’m sure you are even a bigger inspiration to your kids as you are to me.

    Beijos!!!
    Mel

  17. I had to come back and comment after I saw this…it fits the bill for tilo’s meltdowns:

    http://society6.com/product/That-January-Feeling_Pillow

    Thanks for all that you share – I’m an early childhood educator, and I’m always coming around here for inspiration! Happy Birthday to your little one!

  18. Ever wished you could have 3 years again? :)Nice video and Happy Birthday Tilo!