Interview: Karen McClintock on simplifying life

Karen McClintock is a renowned Canadian jewellery designer. And I have to say, her work is stunning. I am a self-professed minimalist when it comes to jewellery, but I want every single one of her necklaces. As a matter of fact, Mr. Very Right bought me one for my birthday, and as far as I’m concerned he can just stick to this theme for all future gifts.

You can see her work for yourself on her website http://www.karenmcclintock.com/

However, while building up her business, Karen was leading a whirlwind exhausting life. Her husband was maintaining a home and business in Toronto, while she maintained a home and business in Ottawa.

This involved a week in Ottawa designing and filling jewelry orders, driving children into the city for sports training and events, cleaning the house, then hopping into the car for the five hour drive to Toronto. Then, cleaning the house upon arrival, spending the week with her husband, finally making the five hour drive back to Ottawa.

Repeat … and repeat … and repeat.

When you love someone, you just do it

I asked Karen how she kept up this grueling pace, and she said, “When you love someone, you just do it. If that is what will allow you to be together and grow the relationship, you just do it.”

Until life tells you it is time to stop.

Another drive into the city to take her daughter to her martial arts training. This time, as Karen sat in the parking lot, she burst into tears.

It was all too much.

Then her husband’s thriving business took a financial turn for the worse after the company was publicly traded. As he was scrambling to salvage the company, he suffered a near fatal stroke.

It was all too much.

Time to simplify

Karen and her husband knew they had to simplify. If they kept ignoring their exhaustion and mounting debt, they were going to explode.

“I am so grateful life pulled us off the ledge,” Karen told me. “It was an incredibly difficult period of our life, but grateful is my key life word.”’

They sold both houses, and rented a townhouse. Karen’s husband moved to Ottawa, and the couple focused on his recovery and their financial stability. Both of which, Karen is happy to report, they have achieved.

At peace

This leads to Karen’s second key life word, peace. She is now at peace.

It is also the word she uses to make decisions against. “If I do this, will I still be at peace?” The answer has to be yes, or she doesn’t move forward with it.

Many of us live similar whirlwind existences. We work fulltime jobs, and then spend evenings and weekends chauffeuring our children around to various sporting events. Cram in everything involved in the normal running of a household, and we end up with no down time.

Now add in our propensity to spend, spend, spend:

• About 43% of American families spend more than they earn each year
• Average households carry some $8,000 in credit card debt.

At some point, life tells you it is time to stop.

Karen’s new life

Karen works out of their home. Her only long distance driving is to meet with suppliers, and she piggybacks these trips onto her husband’s business trips.

And as Karen watches people around her struggling to sell monster homes and manage crushing debt in these tough economic times, she is very grateful.

And very peaceful.

Have your say:

Are you caught up in a whirlwind existence?
Are there ways you can simplify your financial situation?

More information!

If you enjoyed this interview, you may also enjoy my interview with inventor and entrepreneur, Melody Murison. Click here to find out how Melody and her family turned financial loss into the adventure of a lifetime.

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