Comments on: The Goal is What Exactly?

By: Leigh

Leigh — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:11:00 +0000

I know, insurance is important. Especially since it use it pretty much every week. I had a doctor’s appointment on 12/18, blood drawn on 12/19, radiology tests done on 12/20, another doctor’s appointment on 12/26, etc. It’s definitely a must-have for me.

Funny story…(funny now, not so funny last week). I was all riled up and flustered over a mistake I made at work, plus people were driving me crazy in general. I had to go to the bank to put money in our payroll account. So, I drove to the bank, deposited the checks, and then stopped to eat. I ate, drove back to work, and realized after I parked that the tube from the bank drive-through was in my front seat! Then I had to drive back to the bank and explain that I stole their tube.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:18:00 +0000

Leigh, don't kick yourself. You have to do what's right for YOU, and at this moment, a full-time job is what's right. Benefits, remember? This freelance stuff is tough enough without worrying about health insurance.

Thanks for the link love, Jennifer. :)

By: Leigh

Leigh — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:01:00 +0000

I have been contemplating my writing business lately, and I don't know if I have the heart for it anymore. I took a FT job for the health insurance, which Lori knows I definitely need and use CONSTANTLY. I work in HR, which means I am a glorified baby sitter most of the time ("What, you didn't hand in your time card?" "Have you signed the new harassment policy? Why did you take a 2-hour lunch?")

I've tried to keep up with my writing, but I can't seem to find the clients who will pay my rates. I have narrowed down my niche, written down who my ideal client is, and I am still falling short on the marketing side of things.

The sad thing is, I realized yesterday that I'd only have to write three articles per day at my current rate to break $100K this year - I just can't seem to make myself do the marketing.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:59:00 +0000

I just did a post on my goals for the year (and left you some link love too!). What works for me in goal setting is keeping things easy. I have a strong perfectionistic streak and if I fall short of my goals, I tend to get frustrated and stop trying. If I find I'm falling short of my goals and giving up, I just make them easier--that keeps me in the game.

For example, I usually can count on myself to write a certain number of words per day and that's how I estimate turn-around for client work. This past two weeks I've been doing half that. I'm not sure why; maybe it's the holidays or maybe the work I've been doing just turned out to be a little more time-consuming. Anyway, last week I was stressed out because I wasn't meeting my goals. This week I adjusted my goals to half my normal output, finished the job today, and feel totally relaxed about everything. It's all a mind game, really.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:30:00 +0000

Amen for your good fortune, Jess! I’m glad someone’s reaping the benefits right now! :))

By: Jessica Anne Elizabeth

Jessica Anne Elizabeth — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:51:00 +0000

So you know how I had a 4-5 week slump where I made $90? — I just got 3 rush projects – 1 was 300 or so articles and I just turned in the last one — from Thursday to today *about 5 full days*, insane huh? About 200-250 words…anyhow, I’m not so worried about taking 3 weeks off and paying bills next month. It’s weird everyone else is slow when I’m busy and vice versa, I have a lot of clients too that have tons of projects but will wait till I return MID JAN, so I’m excited I’m coming back to a lot too — I hope things pick up!!

Also consider doing some side income (I am majorly marketing my PLR packs in 2008 — I’m adding to an existing ebook and republishing and creating a huge set of HOW TO / 101 type of books on diff. types of writing, and then publishing them altogether in one book and selling on lulu (probably 150-200 page book) – WOO HA. I’m busy lady, and I’m editing my 30-40 pages of my book I did get done in a few weeks in November –and I’m launching a magazine JANUARY/FEB and am coordinating every aspect of it for the site I helped to co-find http://www.thinkgirl.net

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:46:00 +0000

Geezuz, Devon. You make me dizzy with all you’ve got going! :)) Congrats on all the gigs – that’s fantastic!

By: devonellington

devonellington — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:08:00 +0000

Remember the Goals, Dreams, and Resolutions we work on every year?

This year, instead of being linear and totally business-oriented, the questions are more holistic, yet still build on the questions from previous years.

I left it up on Live Journal until the end of the year:
http;//devonellington.livejournal.com

Regarding work, I just landed so many assignments, I don't know whether I'm coming, going, or standing still. But it's all good, and it's giving me ideas. I need to rethink and redo my brochure. I want to do a big mailing at the top of the year.

I'm behind on cards -- I'm only up to the "L's" -- but I'm determined to get them done.

Off to the library to do research -- i've got a shot at a slot in another BenBella anthology!