Taking it (sort of) easy. Okay, not really.
Blogged on Friday, May 9th, 2008 by Rachael. Filed in Blog365, Contradictory, Philosophical.
The last thing I posted was a whiny rant about how hard I work. And it’s true. I work really hard and sometimes it feels like I don’t get enough rest (because I don’t) in between all the working.
The main reason for that is that one of the jobs I have is not actually web design - it’s a pay-the-bills kind of job, but sadly it doesn’t pay much. I still have it because it’s regular. However, the more my web design business expands (like the way it has in the past three weeks), the less time I have to devote to the lesser-paying job, and the more stressed out and explode-y I feel about everything.
I don’t want to give it up because it seems like that’s a stupid thing to do. But at the same time, to really give my business the opportunity it needs to grow like it wants to, I have to have the time to design and develop and email clients back and forth. The lesser-paying job does not allow me to multitask because it is meant to be a time-sensitive, faster-the-better type of thing. I’m good at it because I can do things REALLY fast when I catch the pattern. But, again, it’s beginning to interfere with my other job, the one that makes my heart sing, the one that seems as natural as eating Doritos instead of dinner, the one that makes me feel like NOW I know what I’m supposed to be doing here.
Also, the more time I spend on web design clients, the less time I have during each week for the other job, which actually makes BOTH jobs suffer. And yet, every week, I try to make it work. I try to come up with more hours than there really are so that I don’t have to let anyone down.
So I have a dilemma. Do I keep the lesser-paying job, fighting with my time so that I can give my business as much of my other time as I possibly can, or do I just work with incredibly awesome clients all day instead? What to do, what to do.
Any advice?
7 Responses to “Taking it (sort of) easy. Okay, not really.”
You know, my fiance is always saying that the really successful self-employed technologists are the ones who took a chance. He’s done so since the beginning, from being completely self-employed to his interaction with bitchy clients. And he’s still employed and flourishing.
I say, take a chance.
May 9, 2008
Awright, let’s not get sickening about how incredibly awesome I am.
However - if your readers would like to find out, they should come to my place and click all the ads, over and over and over.
(I have to pay my code slave!)
goinglikesixty’s last blog post..Further Proof that I RAWK
May 9, 2008
You should definitely do it. Dive in head first and don’t look back. The real regret is never trying.
May 9, 2008
ahhh! whatever you do, please don’t quit the web design! i’m in the process of trying to think of a way to convince my husband that i will need to hire you when i totally screw up my blog.
but i feel your dilemma. my husband wants me to get a “real job” (whatever that is) after i graduate next semester. i want to stay home with my son, make purses and sell them on etsy and at boutiques. where he sees a “nice little hobby” i see soul fulfillment. i just can’t see myself being the kind of worker he thinks i need to be to earn money for the family. my intention is to follow my heart, take the chance. if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work and i try something else.
our situations are different, but i do understand. if you really want my advice, at the risk of sounding cliché, do what you love and the money will follow. that’s what i’m betting on!
Tamara’s last blog post..have i mentioned..
May 10, 2008
Hey mama! (Now a married mama! Wooooo!! SO happy for you!) Just popping by to say hello. Love the colours layout of the blog.
Love you! Happy Mother’s Day. ♥
peggy’s last blog post..seven things
May 11, 2008
This is my first time reading your blog, but I’m loving it! I found this post so interesting because I just posted on Friday about resigning from my “pay the bills” job to work from home doing what I absolutely love. It’s a bit risky money-wise, but it just makes so much sense to me, and luckily my husband agrees. I’m feeling rather scared about it right now, but I’m so proud of myself for taking this huge leap. Good luck to you, whatever you do - just make sure whatever it is makes you happy. And your design work rocks, might be coming to you for a header image for our new mommy blog……..
Kate Olson’s last blog post..My New Arrival
May 11, 2008
@ Kate Olson:
Well, this morning, I did it. I quit the other job. AIEEEEE!
So anytime you want a header - I’m available! :)
May 12, 2008