We had a bit of a full house over the weekend – all but one kid came home. At one time, all bedrooms were full and there were phones ringing all over the place. The last one left yesterday. When they’re around for a short amount of time, it makes for some disjointed work schedules.
I’m a creature of some habit. I like to sit down before 8:30 and get up around 5:00. Yesterday, I sat until 10:30 then ran to the mall. Enter college student – exit Mom’s money. She needed a suit for her internship interviews. I look at it as an investment in her future. But there went the morning. The afternoon fared no better. She wanted my attention and she’d just driven 300 miles to get it.
She left before noon. That made it possible for me to get a call in with a client (and score another ongoing job, yay!). Then one of the other kids called – can you meet me at the station? He’d forgotten a laptop charger. Off in the afternoon for an hour, waiting through three trains before he appeared. I came back to get some work done. Blog posts. That’s all I could squeeze in.
Yet as I said, I did manage to score some new projects. I’m glad for it because I was struggling in the morning with an idea and where it might find a home. I had several markets considered, but in reviewing what they were publishing, it was clear the idea wasn’t going to be an easy fit anywhere. So back to pondering the angle again.
I thought the day was a wash, but as I looked back on it I realized just how much I managed to accomplish. No, I didn’t give it 8 or 10 hours of constant attention, but the little attention I did give paid off.
I think John mentioned here a few days ago that things like haircuts just don’t happen for the average freelancer. It’s not because we don’t think we need to be presentable. It’s that we’re really that busy sometimes, and not always with work. I will say I work harder for myself than I ever did for employers, and I gave my best in the 9-to-5 jobs. It’s that I’m invested in the end result. Don’t you find that to be true, too?
Now I’m considering working on some projects with longer deadlines today, freeing up tomorrow to cry and moan over the first attempt at Schedule C. It’s never too soon for tax torture. Don’t recommend products – I use electronic ones and after having tried several, I still find I get a better result working it out on paper first. Generic electronic questions aren’t explanatory enough for me. I think last year was the first in ages that I didn’t get a “No, your totals are wrong again!” note from the IRS. I would hope at the very least my returns entertain them.
How has your week been? What’s on your desk?
10 responses to “Random Thursday Ramblings”
My week – actually, the first quarter in general – has been insane, and it won't get much better for weeks. Major project for a new client due Monday, and I'll be working all weekend on it. Retainer client who usually needs 1 day a week needs 2 1/2. Web copy project that should have been put to bed drags on and on with additional SME's to interview and addition modules to write. A deadline for a large project that was April 8 has been pushed up to April 2. I will be working weekends for weeks to come. New clients wanting projects done that I can't even get to for six more weeks. The stress is starting to get to me.
But I do actually have a haircut scheduled today – but only because daughter needs one.
I hear you on the never-ending interruptions. There's always something or someone that needs my attention – and I never feel I can say, "Sorry, working right now" since I reason I can just squeeze in the work later. I'm trying to be better about that and give my working hours the respect they deserve.
I've got two deadlines this week so I'm in immersion mode right now. Which I'm quite enjoying, because the projects are fun ones. There's nothing like getting lost in a project you love.
My week started on the weekend, with a rush assignment I managed to turn in first thing Monday. I've completed five or six smaller projects (depends on whether you count a 150 word blog post or not), and will finish another article today. I've almost got my information gathered to write a longer article that's due next week, and have a couple other pieces to work on.
Yesterday, when a former neighbor called to vent a bit about a local utility we've both had problems with, a new article idea struck me. So I want to hunt down possible markets and try to refine the idea for some specific audiences.
And if anyone needs a haircut, it's me. Mine is long enough to hack off 10" to donate and still be about shoulder length.
I don't have kids, which is fortunate. It's hard enough juggling all my dad's doctor appointments with my hectic freelance life. I've been super swamped with work the past two weeks–thanks in part to a client referral from one of my favorite fellow freelancers (hint, hint ;o)). On the one hand, I'd like to see a slowdown so I can enjoy the warm (finally!) weather. On the other hand, I'm grateful that the extra work will enable me to pay off my Europe trip without accruing any interest on it. Congrats on the new ongoing gig!
A bit (OK, a lot) off topic today, (and with absolutely no disrespect intended toward all of our editor friends out there), but given that this site occasionally traffics in the topic of "unwanted input," I thought y'all might enjoy this as much as I did:
http://www.slate.com/id/2247128/
Oh Hugh, that's funny!
Eileen, I'm glad your daughter needed a haircut. Sometimes that's how we get them ourselves. 🙂
Valerie, when they all lived at home it was easier to shoo them. Now that they're intermittent guests, it feels wrong not to pay attention to them. Guilt. It's pure guilt.
Paula, I love when a conversation turns into an article. 🙂
Kathy, you've sure had a lot of interruptions over the last year. Your dad's lucky to have you available. I'd walk through fire for my parents.
I hear you on the tax stuff. I don't go for the questions – I just fill in the spaces on the form just as if it were paper. It works for me, and I try to have the totals already added up in Quickbooks.
I usually try to have it done in February if at all possible. Less waiting time & no chance to get too busy & hit up against the deadline. Unless I owe a *lot* of money due to a miscalc – then I'll wait to give them my money. 😉
I got out of my normal weekly routine and had the honor of being a guest reader this week.
My son's kindergarten class is celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday, by doing things with reading this month. I enjoyed the few minutes I had to read them a story. Amazingly, I held their attention the whole time I read. My son has been after me to go back and read some more. He already has several books picked out for me.
I got my haircut last week. I was hoping it would help get rid of this writer's block I'm having for a personal project I want to do. It didn't work for that, but I feel better getting rid of the mop top anyway.
Becky, I'm just dreading the thought of handing them my money. I know I will – it's inevitable. But I'm like you; I want to get it calculated early so I can save or figure out how to afford it.
Oh Wendy, how much fun! I bet you loved that. 🙂