By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”

It’s 12:30 pm on Labor Day and I’m thinking about what to have for lunch.  Haven’t decided yet.  I’ve already bought groceries, spent some time Facebooking, gone for a walk and I have two client meetings a little later this afternoon.

Most of us know Labor Day as one of the last blasts of summer.  The last day to celebrate with baseball games, beaches and burgers on the grill.  The kids are back in school and according to the Staples ads it’s, “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year!!!!”

Before you know it Halloween will be here.  Then it’s a hop, skip and a jump until Thanksgiving.  Smell the turkey and spices wafting from the oven.  Then, all the holidays of light happen depending on which spiritual path you follow:  Ramadan (Muslim), Divali (Hindu), Hanukah (Jewish), the Winter Solstice (Pagan) and Christmas (Christian).  What all these holidays have in common is that they celebrate light at the darkest time of year – when the days are at their shortest.  Then, the New Year - celebrated with lights and sparkles is right around the bend.  I can already feel your heart beating a little faster as you contemplate these obvious facts.

But right now you still have the better part of four months to make the rest of 2009 a great year with your business as you possibly can.  It’s easy to get distracted with all the things we’re supposed to do this time of year.  I say only do the ones you like.

Many women business owners just throw in the towel the closer they get to the holidays.  But it doesn’t have to be that way.  It’s Labor Day and the skies are still sunny.  You probably do a lot of labor already with your business and your family.  Vow this year to make the most of your business and go easy on the holiday magician stuff.

We sometimes forget how much is expected of us that wasn’t expected of our moms:

• We don’t just work hard - we own businesses.
• We’re expected to stay looking “hot” or be considered invisible until we keel over.
• Our homes are supposed to be not just clean – they’re supposed to be disinfected like a hospital room.
• We don’t just put up a Christmas tree.  We’re supposed to re-decorate the entire house.
• Our children can’t walk to school by themselves or play outdoors – too dangerous.
• We need to watch out for trans-fats, sodium and other bad stuff in our food
• And we’re supposed to be plugged in and online 24/7.

I don’t know about you – but that’s a lot of labor.   Give yourself permission not to be perfect.  You don’t have to do it the way your mom or grandma did it.  In fact if you had her life chances are you’d actually have it a little easier.  Enjoy your Labor Day and then decide to put that extra energy into your business.