A new start

Each new year is a possible new start. Here's the thing, though. A new year starts every day! A "year" is any stretch of time that goes for 365 days. My new start began earlier this summer with my decision that this fall was going to be the major release of a big change for me, in many ways.

Part of the change is really outside my direct control. All I have to do is sit back and let it happen. I get back home from this prolonged work trip and will suddenly find myself back into a little-to-no income living situation. This is pretty much the entire situation. I have two choices: go with the flow and let it happen, return to life as normal with my hubby, kids, and pets...living day-to-day and being thankful for the blessings that come my way; OR I can take the opportunity of a time already full of change to put in the extra effort to do what I want and need to do to make my family's life that much better.

So, this fall I'm going to start my freelance writing business...finally! And I want to use this blog to document what I do so I can look back and laugh at my mistakes, celebrate my accomplishments, and share with everyone the steps I'm taking to improve my life, opportunities, and follow my passion that I have kept buried for so long.

So far, what I have done that just hasn't worked for me:

• Research, research, research - I've always been an active seeker of information that might increase the amount of knowledge I have about various interests I have. While this has helped me gain knowledge, it hasn't helped to take the steps towards doing anything.
• School/studying - Along with the individual research I've done, I've been a college student. I got my bachelor's and reached for a master's, but felt empty (other than achieving my goal of getting my degree). Here's the problem with it: I've been searching for someone to hand-hold me through the process, and came up empty because everyone's path is as different as their needs, personalities, and motivations are.
• Working - Yes, money makes the world go 'round, and I've worked my butt off trying to get more. But the older I get, the more I realize that to REALLY get more money, you have to either be A) REALLY good at what you do, B) passionate about what you do, or C) both! Well, I was good at what I did, but not REALLY good, and I certainly wasn't passionate about it.
• Played around - I said I had a passion for writing, and the fact that I've always remained connected to it in some way has shown that. Whether it's been sitting through some creative writing classes while getting my bachelor's or volunteering as a forum leader on my favorite writing forum, I've always had writing SOMEWHERE in my life. Time to make it more prominent.

What I've learned from these: Research gives you information, but won't help you act...it's a "good" excuse to not act. School is glorified research--no matter how much you want a mentor, you'll have to eventually decide for yourself what you need and want and reach for it. Working is a good stop-gap, and allows you to live, but if you aren't passionate and/or really good at your job, it's dead-end. Playing around with what you ARE passionate about, despite (or even because of) rough times in your life, shows that no matter what is going on, you still gravitate towards that one thing...so make money from it!

SO! Here's what I'm doing, and my goals for this year (it doesn't have to be New Year's to make my year-end goals, right?):

1. Start my freelance business right (and figure out what that means)
2. Get a good portfolio together
3. Keep working at my business through all the major changes of the year
4. Put together a good website
5. Make a name for myself
6. Finish the year making at least the same amount of money as last year (in my case, less than $18K)

WISH ME LUCK!