Xtraordinary Women Magazine September 2014 | Page 18

over commit. I need to set realistic deadlines. Giving up sleep is not negotiable even if I think I can function with less sleep. At some point your body will crash on your behalf if you won’t make the time to rest. Family comes first, no matter what and this is non-negotiable. This point may seem rather obvious to many people, but it took me some time to realise that money in the bank, which came from working constantly (even during family time!), does not necessarily equal success. In my pursuit to make a success of the business, I stepped into the trap of believing that you needed to work hard every day, at all hours of the day and always, always had to put the needs of your clients first. While these things are true to some extent, it no longer holds ground when the support structures that you rely on are suffering under those business rules. I have therefore learnt the importance of compartmentalising my time and not entering into negotiations with anyone regarding time allocated to work, play, being with the family and attending to clients. It is a work in progress, but I can already see how it has helped me become more effective, less stressed and able to be fully present in all spheres of my life. Lynne Rippenaar-Moses has worked in the media, marketing and communications industry for the last 12 years, serving as a general reporter, financial journalist, radio producer and sub-editor for media outlets such as the Cape Argus, Summit TV, Financial Mail, Business Day, Business Report, Cape Talk radio and New Media Publishing. She has five years’ experience as a senior journalist focusing primarily on internal communication within Stellenbosch University’s (SU) central Communications and Liaison department, where she also served as editor of the University’s newspaper, Kampusnuus. Through Wrap it Up PR & Communication Strategy, she focuses on another one of her passions, helping non-governmental organisations, philanthropic foundations, corporate social responsibility initiatives/projects, and community-based organisations formulate an effective public relations (PR) and communications strategy/plan from which to drive their PR, communications and marketing initiatives aimed at their various target markets. You can connect with Lynne at [email protected] or 073 534 5560 if you are interested in her services or visit her website at www.wrapstrat.co.za and like her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wrapstrat.