September is over, invoices have been settled, and I’ve totalled up my income for the month.
And I’m proud, excited and delighted to announce:
I did not make five-figures this month.
Unless you count the 26 pence after the decimal point.
£732.26 after Paypal fees. I used to make that in a week at my old corporate job (wistful sigh).
{But Laura - you said you were booked up for September? Yes, I was fully booked. That was as much client work as I wanted to handle. If you want me for October, I’m at about 50% capacity}
This month, as with most months, I didn’t even make four figures.
And yet I still have the audacity to celebrate.
Why’s that?
I made more than I need to keep our bank balance in credit after bills.
I got to be home for the last week of the Summer Holidays, which included a fantastic family trip Legoland.
I ran errands during the week, so weekends were free for fun (and homework).
I took my boys to school and picked them up every day.
I made time for cycling, EFT sessions with the lovely Tania Angelis, walks along the beach, and educational binging (Copyblogger Authority and Content Nation by Dan Norris) - all during normal office hours.
I volunteered on Tuesday morning, supporting the most amazing parents of children with special and additional needs.
I got to hug my Dad right after he got home from his operation and celebrate with my best friend when she dropped by with an ultrasound pic of her 12-week baby-in-the-making (both on the same day).
I have worked with six fabulous ladies on their blogs and websites. I have taken the time to get to know them, their business and their audience. No rush, no pressure. I love the work that I do.
I’ve worked on building valuable content for this website (check out those links in the sidebar) and written some guest posts (Arianna said ‘yes,’ it’s not published yet).
I am working hard building a rock solid foundation for my business, educating myself, gaining experience, and nurturing relationships.
But I am not rushing that process. I am not counting the months until I reach five-figure awesomeness.
Life is already awesome.
So if you did not earn five-figures this month, if you have no plans to earn five-figures any month, let me hear you roar.
What are you celebrating?
How have you triumphed?
What do you value beyond a five-figure income?
{If you did make five-figures this month, all power to you. If you make five-figures, teaching other people how to make five-figures, this is also great. But this post is the voice of the self-employed, who seek neither fame nor financial glory, who are happy to make enough money to live on, doing work they love, while living their life.}
Big thanks to Anna Wilk, Louise Clark, Jim Beam and Kettle Chips for giving me the courage I needed to write this post. I love you all.
