Comments on: Stuck. http://www.thecreativelife.net/2009/08/stuck/ Making up our own rules, one gasp at a time. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:31:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: mel http://www.thecreativelife.net/2009/08/stuck/comment-page-1/#comment-138 mel Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:35:12 +0000 http://www.thecreativelife.net/?p=94#comment-138 I'm wanting to chime in with something of value, but have more appreciation than anything to offer currently. I feel reassured reading these posts and the discussion (and that people who have actually done some of these things still struggle - thanks for being real & honest!) I'm not sure exactly where I'm headed (though I have some ideas), but I am certain of where I don't want to be. Figuring that out has been a long process, but despite all the uncertainty and frustration, I feel so much better having confidently ruled something out ;) I'm wanting to chime in with something of value, but have more appreciation than anything to offer currently. I feel reassured reading these posts and the discussion (and that people who have actually done some of these things still struggle – thanks for being real & honest!) I'm not sure exactly where I'm headed (though I have some ideas), but I am certain of where I don't want to be. Figuring that out has been a long process, but despite all the uncertainty and frustration, I feel so much better having confidently ruled something out ;)

]]> By: craftivista http://www.thecreativelife.net/2009/08/stuck/comment-page-1/#comment-137 craftivista Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:37:42 +0000 http://www.thecreativelife.net/?p=94#comment-137 Can I just say that I loved that you used the word "squishy" to <br>describe that feeling? It is just that, SQUISHY!<br><br>Although I like some squishy things, being in such a squishy place is <br>not so awesome. Can I just say that I loved that you used the word “squishy” to
describe that feeling? It is just that, SQUISHY!

Although I like some squishy things, being in such a squishy place is
not so awesome.

]]> By: craftivista http://www.thecreativelife.net/2009/08/stuck/comment-page-1/#comment-136 craftivista Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:23:38 +0000 http://www.thecreativelife.net/?p=94#comment-136 How awesome that wrote this on the 7th, and I'm actually catching up <br>on email from then on the 10th, when I had the crazy worry money <br>heebie-jeebies about sending out my resume and not hearing back from <br>anyone....(yet?).... wondering wtf I'm going to do/need to do.<br><br>So glad to hear that you've been gaining more clients and they are <br>making referrals! Some will stick, it's the whole law of averages <br>thing. But eventually, it will work in your favor. I hope that's <br>sooner rather than later, m'dear! Best of luck to you, too! Keep us <br>posted! How awesome that wrote this on the 7th, and I'm actually catching up
on email from then on the 10th, when I had the crazy worry money
heebie-jeebies about sending out my resume and not hearing back from
anyone….(yet?)…. wondering wtf I'm going to do/need to do.

So glad to hear that you've been gaining more clients and they are
making referrals! Some will stick, it's the whole law of averages
thing. But eventually, it will work in your favor. I hope that's
sooner rather than later, m'dear! Best of luck to you, too! Keep us
posted!

]]> By: Kim Werker http://www.thecreativelife.net/2009/08/stuck/comment-page-1/#comment-133 Kim Werker Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:56:26 +0000 http://www.thecreativelife.net/?p=94#comment-133 "All the meaningless things you think you did in the past might actually<br>serve a greater goal in the future."<br><br>YES! I've never regretted all the bizarrely inconsistent jobs and pursuits<br>I've had, but more and more I'm very much beginning to *value* them. I'm<br>finding that my various backgrounds aren't as unconnected as they'd once<br>seemed, and I'm discovering more and more ways to put those interests and<br>knowledge together into projects that make me incredibly happy. “All the meaningless things you think you did in the past might actually
serve a greater goal in the future.”

YES! I've never regretted all the bizarrely inconsistent jobs and pursuits
I've had, but more and more I'm very much beginning to *value* them. I'm
finding that my various backgrounds aren't as unconnected as they'd once
seemed, and I'm discovering more and more ways to put those interests and
knowledge together into projects that make me incredibly happy.

]]> By: LauraBucciHandmade http://www.thecreativelife.net/2009/08/stuck/comment-page-1/#comment-131 LauraBucciHandmade Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:11:09 +0000 http://www.thecreativelife.net/?p=94#comment-131 Betsy, I think I'm 42 or 43, can't remember, anyhow things started coming together for me at 40. So at 30, I still had not clue what to do with my skills, or how to channel them into something meaningful. Anyway, you said you would like to "help women in disadvantaged countries reach their full potential via craft", I'm so very much interested in that too! The way it's coming together for me is my love of Guatemala + my current skills in textile/marketing/advertising (growing in this all the time) + my interest in learning Spanish = an opportunity with a non-profit in Guatemala that has a focus in helping Maya women use & market their skills. Two years ago I wouldn't have thought about this, but today I feel this is an achievable goal. You just never know how things will come together! I have to say that perseverance is a key quality and that all the meaningless things you think you did in the past might actually serve a greater goal in the future. Betsy, I think I'm 42 or 43, can't remember, anyhow things started coming together for me at 40. So at 30, I still had not clue what to do with my skills, or how to channel them into something meaningful. Anyway, you said you would like to “help women in disadvantaged countries reach their full potential via craft”, I'm so very much interested in that too! The way it's coming together for me is my love of Guatemala + my current skills in textile/marketing/advertising (growing in this all the time) + my interest in learning Spanish = an opportunity with a non-profit in Guatemala that has a focus in helping Maya women use & market their skills. Two years ago I wouldn't have thought about this, but today I feel this is an achievable goal. You just never know how things will come together! I have to say that perseverance is a key quality and that all the meaningless things you think you did in the past might actually serve a greater goal in the future.

]]> By: Stitchy http://www.thecreativelife.net/2009/08/stuck/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Stitchy Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:09:50 +0000 http://www.thecreativelife.net/?p=94#comment-130 Oh hey, who let you into my head and why are you writing it's contents on your blog? I'm right there with you. How are we supposed to make this work, this being crafty/writing thing? So far it's caused more bills than it's really paid for and yet I persist.<br><br>I'm not freelancing, but I'm terrified of both leaving my day job and never leaving my day job. The whole thing is elusive and I'm reaching for something, but I'm not sure what. Often that leads to a handful of something squishy and gross and potentially dangerous. And yet . . . Oh hey, who let you into my head and why are you writing it's contents on your blog? I'm right there with you. How are we supposed to make this work, this being crafty/writing thing? So far it's caused more bills than it's really paid for and yet I persist.

I'm not freelancing, but I'm terrified of both leaving my day job and never leaving my day job. The whole thing is elusive and I'm reaching for something, but I'm not sure what. Often that leads to a handful of something squishy and gross and potentially dangerous. And yet . . .

]]> By: Michelle http://www.thecreativelife.net/2009/08/stuck/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Michelle Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:56:13 +0000 http://www.thecreativelife.net/?p=94#comment-129 Yes! With the KNOWING that I am meant for something MORE, which to me means something BETTER, and really only I know what that means. And with the lack of discipine O HAI I've been unemployed since June and haven't really done much of anything about that except sit on my ass and obsessively refresh social networking sites which only results in me feverishly thinking that those stupid Twitter marketers are on to something...I know. It's scary.<br><br>OK, so a lot of people are bad at the self-discipline. Who among us is really GOOD at it? That's what I want to know.<br><br>Starting is the hardest part, and this is a start, and for that I commend both of you. Yes! With the KNOWING that I am meant for something MORE, which to me means something BETTER, and really only I know what that means. And with the lack of discipine O HAI I've been unemployed since June and haven't really done much of anything about that except sit on my ass and obsessively refresh social networking sites which only results in me feverishly thinking that those stupid Twitter marketers are on to something…I know. It's scary.

OK, so a lot of people are bad at the self-discipline. Who among us is really GOOD at it? That's what I want to know.

Starting is the hardest part, and this is a start, and for that I commend both of you.

]]> By: jmbauhaus http://www.thecreativelife.net/2009/08/stuck/comment-page-1/#comment-128 jmbauhaus Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:16:32 +0000 http://www.thecreativelife.net/?p=94#comment-128 I also could have written this. I've wanted to go freelance for years, but I kept putting it off for many of the same reasons you mentioned, particularly the part about being undisciplined and having no idea how to market myself (I also have ADD). Previous attempts to start a business failed because of that last issue. But then earlier this year I got laid off, and there's so much competition and so few openings in my field that I haven't even been able to score an interview, let alone another brick-and-mortar job. Out of sheer desperation I started my freelance VA/writing/editing/web design biz, and opened an Etsy shop on the side. I'm having some success, but I totally lucked into my first major clients. Fortunately, they love me and give me all kinds of word-of-mouth publicity, but so far none of their referrals have stuck, so I've got to figure out how to market myself more effectively if this is going to work in the long run. It's scary and every day is a struggle to stay focused on my work and manage my time effectively, but so far I feel like it's worth it. Some days I really miss the structure and the lack of responsibility (if that makes sense) that came with a full-time job working for other people's goals, but I'm too in love with the freedom of setting my own schedule and choosing my own projects that I don't want to go back to that if I don't have to.<br><br>The main point I wanted to make is, I probably would never have done this if circumstances didn't kick my butt and make me. But since I made the commitment and went for it, it's all been gradually coming together. It's a slow process to figure out what works, but I'm getting there. Best of luck to you in your own journey. I also could have written this. I've wanted to go freelance for years, but I kept putting it off for many of the same reasons you mentioned, particularly the part about being undisciplined and having no idea how to market myself (I also have ADD). Previous attempts to start a business failed because of that last issue. But then earlier this year I got laid off, and there's so much competition and so few openings in my field that I haven't even been able to score an interview, let alone another brick-and-mortar job. Out of sheer desperation I started my freelance VA/writing/editing/web design biz, and opened an Etsy shop on the side. I'm having some success, but I totally lucked into my first major clients. Fortunately, they love me and give me all kinds of word-of-mouth publicity, but so far none of their referrals have stuck, so I've got to figure out how to market myself more effectively if this is going to work in the long run. It's scary and every day is a struggle to stay focused on my work and manage my time effectively, but so far I feel like it's worth it. Some days I really miss the structure and the lack of responsibility (if that makes sense) that came with a full-time job working for other people's goals, but I'm too in love with the freedom of setting my own schedule and choosing my own projects that I don't want to go back to that if I don't have to.

The main point I wanted to make is, I probably would never have done this if circumstances didn't kick my butt and make me. But since I made the commitment and went for it, it's all been gradually coming together. It's a slow process to figure out what works, but I'm getting there. Best of luck to you in your own journey.

]]> By: abbyandgrr http://www.thecreativelife.net/2009/08/stuck/comment-page-1/#comment-127 abbyandgrr Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:20:34 +0000 http://www.thecreativelife.net/?p=94#comment-127 That could have been pulled word-for-word right out of my own scattered brain. :) Creepy. That could have been pulled word-for-word right out of my own scattered brain. :) Creepy.

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