I love my job, but my people always come first. Last week’s blog will be pushed back. This past weekend was a lot of things. People I love have a lot going on, and I made a point of making myself available/on-call to them. My people are more important than my job. Work was not a priority this past week and I’m okay with that. I am a big believer in putting your loved ones over your job when it really counts. For me, that needed to happen for much of last week.

It feels like a bold thing to say to your client base or your audience that work hasn’t been a priority. Your clients don’t want to hear that their projects aren’t getting attention, and they probably really don’t want to hear that you’re not only okay with it, but you’ve intentionally chosen something ahead of them. I have fantastic clients who understand that things come up in our personal lives that we can’t break away from, but I totally understand if they are at least mildly irked by my saying, “Work was not a priority.” But that is one thing that I am writing to make very clear: sometimes work isn’t a priority and while my clients are some of my favorite people in the world, I have other favorite people in the world that I also want to love well. Sometimes loving well means work is not a priority.

This week I will be working for part of the week, and putting work on the back burner from Wednesday night on. Thursday morning, I have a favorite person who would like me to join them in Minot, North Dakota to support them being there for a grieving friend. Having dealt with my share of grief, I have agreed to go. I will be out of the office from Thursday through Sunday and will not be responding to clients during that time. My attention belongs with my person.

I love my clients. I love my job. But I will always love my people more, and that includes clients.

Thank you for understanding.