Well, maybe some idea

Ok, so I said I have NO idea how I’ve made it the past year and a half as a freelancer. That’s not exactly true. I mean, I know a few things that have helped.

1. I have been willing to work really hard doing almost anything.
I’ve worked six days a week (sometimes seven) for the past year and a half, apart from the trips I’ve taken. I have done really random tasks like mowing, stripping paint, alphabetizing card collections, filing, organizing an estate sale, dog-walking, stuffing envelopes, and errand-running. These are in addition to the things I actually have some skill for or training in: writing, editing, designing a catalog, developing web content, coaching a writer.

I’ve worked with a wide variety of people and companies, including a sports field company, a massage spa, authors, friends, a life coach, a physician, artists, entrepreneurs, a non-profit, and an advertising agency.

2. That all being said, I have said no to some things, and I am refining my yeses.
Some months ago, I had an interview for a corporate job. The thought of it made me feel icky, even though I would have made three and a half times the money I made last year. I said no so I could remain open to the possibilities that were unfolding before me—which haven’t proven more lucrative, but I really don’t give a damn.

3. I’ve figured out the things that matter to me and the things that don’t.
Making a lot of money has never been that big a draw to me. I want to have enough to live comfortably (in my definition of that term) and to be able to bless those around me in simple ways. My intention for money has been: I have ample money to thrive. I am developing this idea more, but even when I’ve complained or been stressed about finances, I love my life.

I also don’t care about climbing some invisible power ladder. People are more important to me than position. I know there are incredible opportunities in other cities doing really cool work, but I have developed family/friendmily here, and I don’t want to leave.

I do, however, value the freedom of living outside the 9-5 box. I love choosing my clients (i.e. I don’t work with people or doing tasks that make me feel icky). I love that I’m getting to do so many things I enjoy and am getting to learn and experiment. I love that I am rooted locally. I love that if I want to write a blog post in the middle of a work day, I just write it. I love that my different roles have informed the others, even though they are so vastly different.

4. I’ve had help.
So many people have helped me. So many people believe in me. It’s amazing and humbling. I was talking about this with a group of women who are all solopreneurs. This group, of course, has been a great help to me, both as a whole and as individuals. Coaching, help with intention, advice, comparing notes, inspiration, asking the right questions. Whew. I am lucky to know each one of them.

At one gathering, I was telling them about how I’ve made it without knowing how, and about how thankful I am to have so many people supporting me and hiring me.

One of the women interrupted me, someone whose website I’ve worked on. “Do you really think we’ve hired you because we hoped you’d make rent? We’ve hired you because we believe you are the best person for the job.”

Wow. Ok. I will try to accept that as true, even though I think maybe you all who have employed my varied services are a bit biased.

At any rate, I’ve been hired by many friends and colleagues. I’ve been recommended to friends or associates of friends. It’s all very humbling.

I’ve also been helped in very practical ways, like my parents helping me purchase the laptop that has made any ounce of independent contracting possible. Or the client who purchased me the Adobe Creative Suite, yes for his benefit, but also because it would help me in the long run to have all the programs.