As I finally sat down to write this blog post, my kiddos buzzing around my desk, I began to consider how I could possibly sustain the situation I found myself in. Quarantining in Dallas, Texas, our household includes myself, my husband and our 6-year-old and 9-year-old children, both of whom we are now homeschooling. Surprise! Now I know I’m not the only one in this position but I am also the Owner and President of a small business that has been hit remarkably hard by this pandemic.

When the world started closing down and clients began to reschedule and/or cancel their events, I had a lot to consider. My primary role in my company is mostly as the CFO; taking care of day to day finances and strategizing for the future. As one can imagine, spending the last few weeks learning the ins and outs of new government stimulus options for SBAs, filing insurance claims, and worrying about our own staff has been compounded by the complexity of vendor payments and, honestly, trying to predict the future. Did I mention I now have my family leaning on me during work-hours for meals, learning, entertainment and general mom-things?

Pre-COVID19, I had a blissfully predictable schedule. My kids attended school from 8:00am to 4:00pm, I had the opportunity to manage a good workout and a solid six to seven hours of focused work. I really had it all. Now, my days have been overrun by video calls for my children’s school, teaching, reading, overseeing test-taking, math facts, and what feels like endless paperwork. (THANK YOU to all the teachers out there who do this Monday through Friday!) Amidst the chaos, I’m lucky to muster two hours a day to put my head down and really work.

I have always considered myself an exceptional multitasker and early on, I woke up each morning with a sunny disposition, saying, “I am going to take on this day like I do any challenge and I am going to conquer it.” I planned, reviewed lessons, scrutinized my schedule, and assigned my own work duties each day and yet, a productive day seemed out of reach. After a few weeks of incomplete to-do lists and falling short of my goals, I began to feel uncertain about the woman in the mirror. I‘ve run marathons and completed an Iron Man and somehow, the hurdles of managing my life, my family’s lives and keeping the business afloat were bringing me to my knees.

March was a difficult month, April felt impossible, but then came May. The end of the school year finish line in sight and I finally feel like I’ve “hit my stride.” The normalcy of a schedule is beginning to emerge from the craziness and, thanks to the regular chats I have with Tacy (our VP) the lows don’t feel quite so low and the tearful moments are fewer and further between. I am learning to operate in a new way and, most importantly, I’m learning to allow myself a little grace.

I have always been a goal-setter and in the past few weeks, I have redoubled my efforts on the outlook for 2021 and beyond. I have allowed myself to dream with big goals and celebrate little wins with smaller ones. I have had the opportunity to reflect not only on the business, but on my personal life as well. Giving myself the space and time to articulate both my frustrations and my aspirations has left me in an overall, better place.

Today, I see more clearly. My children are doing well with school and I am lucky to have the time with them that many parents do not have with their kids. Meritage Events is still in business despite the fiscal consequences of coronavirus and the uncertainty of what is to come for our industry.

And here I am, still setting audacious goals with fierce determination to conquer them.

- Katie