Every day is different. Sometimes I roll out of bed at 6 am, with a smile on my face ready to tackle the day. Other days I sleep until 9 am then beat myself up for my tardiness because that’s what a boss would do, and since I’m my own boss, I have to find ways to keep myself in line. I’m constantly on a seesaw of pride and regret. I take pride in my accomplishments and regret when plans don’t work out as I thought they would.

I’m getting a little ahead of myself. You might want to know who I am, and what I do, before I thrust you into this wild ride I call modern entrepreneurship. My name is Mary; I’m an artist, property manager, freelance writer, blogger, life coach and social media consultant. Sounds crazy to list all the hats I wear but I’m a hat person, and I wear them well.

I fell into most of my professions, my ex-boyfriend has a large estate, and when we broke up, he asked me to manage it for him. I wish I could say it was easy but it’s a lot of 5 am calls about leaks, power outages, and internet service. I launched my blog five years ago, and it brings me lots of joy, it also takes a lot of work. I’ve been exposed to multiple writing opportunities because of my blog; those opportunities launched my freelance writing career. My Instagram page took off like the dickens a couple of years ago, and a few businesses asked me to manage their social media accounts.

Let’s Talk Art, I’m a fire artist. I don’t go around to different festivals in crop tops twirling fiery ropes and defying painful burns. Instead, I use a special ink to burn abstract designs into glass. I’m also a paper florist and a Pinterest fabricator. That’s me in a nutshell. I work for myself. I have good days, bad days, usually my days are always long and full of work unless I go on a Netflix binge then who knows how many days I might go missing.

It’s important to find one thing and concentrate on doing it well. That was my goal. I’ve always wanted to be an artist. I remember going to art museums and being mesmerized by talent and creativity. It seemed like a crime for people to be able to create something and sell it for an absurd amount of money and I wanted in. Little did I know selling your art is like selling tiny pieces of your soul.

In the beginning, my main focus was on art and property management. I quickly learned I was going to need more to live in my comfy cozy grown-up apartment furnished with a crushed velvet purple couch and fancy minibar. Living my life as I wanted meant I had to get a 9 to 5 or have multiple hustles and I find it’s the same for most of my entrepreneurial friends. It’s not just about finding one thing and doing it well. Now life insists you must do a multiple very well. Which means lots of juggling, a little neglect, precision planning, an upbeat and disciplined demeanor.

What does a typical day look like for me? After I sleep in or get up with the birds, I start off with a cup of tea, I make myself oatmeal with fresh blueberries and create my daily to-do list, then I check emails and all of the social media accounts I’m managing. I can spend up to 2+ hours working on this which means on most days I’m still in my PJs at 10 am. Then I head to the gym, one thing I learned early in entrepreneurship-land is that you have to get outside, talk to people, and get your heart pumping.

I arrive home about 2 hours later, shower, make a salad or a smoothie then settle into work. Every day is different. Lately, I’ve been researching pilates studios to approach and pitch my social media consultant packages. I’ve also been working on an artist bio and making a list of stores and galleries to contact to get my art showcased or sold. I stay on the computer most of the day writing, editing, blogging and updating my websites. It’s not unusual for me to receive rejection letters from publishers or acceptance letters from a local art fair, yes and nos are out of my control, I do my best not to let them affect me. I always fail at that. Since every day is different, I’m never bored, but I am a little overwhelmed. On the weekends I frequent local art shows, festivals, and street fairs, selling art, networking with locals and trying to make a name for myself in the Bay Area Art Scene.

Sunset is my queue to make dinner; if I don’t do it before the sun goes down, I might forget to eat. Sounds crazy but it happens a lot. Maybe one day my forgetting to eat will translate to my waistline but so far… no luck. Throughout the day I do a bunch of squats, lunges, planks, and push-ups. I’m 35 and running toward 36, and I need all the help I can get. I usually force myself to turn off my computer around 10 or 11 pm, always completing less than half of my to-do list.

To do list for tomorrow: make a smaller to-do list.

I’m still working on figuring out what I can accomplish in a day compared to what I think I can achieve. I regularly update my Instagram story, adding funny antidotes because it keeps my numbers up which helps me land more social media consulting clients. This week I’m meeting with a woman that wants to start an entrepreneur life coaching group. Later this week, I have to visit the property I manage since the gardeners don’t see me much they have been slacking and the tenant is demanding new carpeting and a paint job. I have an art showcase this weekend; I get to set up my art and sell it on the sidewalk in San Francisco. I love selling my art, but I also wonder what my opinion of myself would be if the child version of me walked past my booth. Would I be inspired or wonder what lousy decision I made that has me peddling my art in the elements?

I am a modern entrepreneur, and I juggle my responsibilities like a well trained Barnum and Bailey Clown. There is no water cooler talk, no one to dish about the Real Housewives or the last season of Scandal. So why do I do it? Why not find an easy 9 to 5 where there is actual job security and dare I say it, medical insurance. Because I love it, I love being tired; I love the pressure, I love the pride I feel when I accomplish something. I was told you have to jump if you want to fly, and I’m jumping all over the place.

I hope you enjoyed a peek into my world. Time to get back to work, I have a conference call in 2 minutes, and I still haven’t eaten dinner.