My little buddy, Adrian, passed away recently. It’s hard to lose a companion like the Miniature Schnauzer whose presence filled our house at every turn for a decade. Whenever we’d leave to go somewhere, my husband Mark would tell Adrian, “Be a good boy. You’re in charge.” I like to think of him now “in charge” and waiting for us to be home with him. 

Adrian was always ready to snuggle with me, his “Mama,” and just as prepared to confront anyone who struck him as a potential threat to me. In the last year of his life, he lost his eyesight, and his life drastically changed. He wore a dog harness with a bar that protected his face from chairs, walls, and trees when we let him roam in our fenced-in front yard. His sniffer was always supercharged, and while he no longer noticed the birds and squirrels, he chased olfactory delights regardless of what was in front of him. 

I genuinely love that little guy and always will. My heart aches. There’s a connection with a dog that can run so deep. I think of past pets, all holding a special place in my heart.  

We lost Adrian right before a planned getaway with a nearby family who has truly adopted us into their tribe. What wonderful people, and what a healing occasion that getaway truly was for Mark and me. 

For years, my husband and I didn’t take vacations as we built our businesses. Vacations were for other people. We were too busy. It’s the entrepreneurial way of life. Can you relate? 

But we succeeded in business and now have options, including getaways, where we can connect with each other, with friends and family, and with nature.  

I enjoyed a trip to the mountains in the company of loving people. I was able to find a little breathing space from Adrian’s absence, which is so real in our home, like an entity in itself. Mark and I have had a “four-on-the-floor” presence in our house for well over two decades. If you’ve lost a beloved pet, you know the strange, absent feeling. 

During our getaway, I felt the comfort of nature, of the bigger picture, and my heart filled with gratitude for the many blessings I’ve received, including Adrian’s love for the past ten years.  

I thought about how I want other business owners to have restorative moments, too, but it’s hard, right? It was a no-go for Mark and me for many years. Who has time for peace-of-mind getaways when your to-do list is a mile long? 

Sick of Being Too Busy for a Break? 

This business we have, HireSmart Virtual Employees, is our best effort to give you more options in life. I love being a time restorer for others. That’s a personal passion and a framework for thinking of this organization. We’re in the time restoration business.  

Your time is precious, just like mine. You need to be there with loved ones as much as possible. You need to get outside and breathe, truly! You need to find space to pull back and reflect. These things make life so much richer. 

Our business is simply a mechanism to grab some time back for yourself so that you can be fully you — not just the work self. 

47 Tasks A Virtual Employee Can Do for Your Business 

We’ve helped hundreds of business owners catch their breath and find new energy. We specialize in helping you identify what’s weighing you down at work, and then we find people specifically suited to take those tasks off your hands.  

We’re especially equipped to find an executive assistant (EA) for you, a virtual employee who truly gets to know your routines, rhythms, preferences, and values and then handles scheduling, emails, information gathering, and other digital tasks that take hours from your day, keeping you from the relationships and connections that bring you the most joy. 

I’d love to personally talk with you about what’s eating at you workwise. What three things could be eliminated from your day-to-day responsibilities and shifted to capable hands? Please contact me for a one-on-one if you wish for more control of your time. I want to help put that control at your fingertips.  

And thank you for giving me a listening “ear” about Adrian. We all face difficulties, losses, and pain. But you push forward. As my husband says, “You rally.”  

Want to Make Your Own Good Luck? 

By the time you read this, we will have welcomed two little puppies, Coco and Emma, into our home. They’ll bring a whirlwind of chaos. Puppy time is crazy! But we’ll train them and bond with them, just like we did with Adrian.  

I value all the connections in my life, and I’d love to connect with you and learn what’s up in your world. Let’s explore how we can connect you with more time spent the way you want. And if you have some best little buddies at home, too, I’d love to hear about them! They’re part of the family, part of home.