I know we're in a recession, but I am unbelievably busy in my work. That happens to be as a creative consultant to marketing clients in diverse industries. What do I do as a creative consultant? It includes strategy development, creative brainstorming, campaign design, writing, translating, transcreating, supervising productions, and interfacing with clients, colleagues, vendors, and even attending events. It can be a lot of fun and also a lot of work. I'm not complaining, but I work long hours and sometimes my body just aches from the long stretches at the computer without stretching. My eyes grow increasingly less efficient even as my productivity soars.

Most days, I feel absolutely at the top of my game. But for whatever reason that I have more work than ever, more work has been added and I have to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Believe me, sometimes I feel like the little Dutch boy holding up the flood. And some days, it affects me emotionally as I keep a sober face but feel like the the world is out of control.

But at least I have had the sense to realize, it's time to get help. But what kind of help? I keep thinking, a person who would be like a clone, doing the same things I do, reporting to my clients, being like a... gulp... partner. My husband says I need an assistant. That could well be true, but while relieving me of some day to day pressures, I would still need to produce more than time will allow. To tell you the truth, I don't know exactly what I need. I quipped that what I need is a staff of at least 6, to create, to grow, to become more of an entity. But before I can do any of the above, I need to know where I am standing.

As I have started wondering if this is the moment to expand on one side of my brain, the other side tells me this isn't the time to extend myself financially. So, I called my dear friend Gina, the most efficient person I know, a marketing executive, a supermom, an independent business owner, and a thousand things more.

Gina took the time to come over and sit down with me and explain using a piece of paper and a pen (remember those?) the order in which I can do things to make them go more smoothly. One that maybe you've heard before, but it makes such perfect sense, is to do the easy things first. Although I've often thought "yeah right" about that one, she explained why it's helpful. She said, "if you are doing something that's hard for you, because it's long or complicated, and you have a few simpler things to do, once you've finished the difficult work, you'll still have some unfinished pieces. But if you knock the easy things out, you'll work on the more difficult project with nothing else on your plate."

She proceeded to create a graph for me in order to track projects and invoices. There is excellent software that does the same. The challenge is to take the time to do the tracking. Even a simple to-do list with items to check off is infinitely superior to holding everything in my anxiety riddled brain. Those little check marks feel like awards. Yes, I feel better already.

Will keep you posted on my progress as soon as I get some of these easier things done. Suggestions, please!