The 1k-per-month crew....anyone still around?

[Redoubtable]

Inspired by the the original thread I got my ass-into-gear and started my own business, based at home. I have a professional qualification but had always worked 'for' a variety of employers.

I had dipped a toe into the self-employed water, but only as a 'hobby' really; as a way of keeping current until I returned to the world of 'proper' work once kids are older.

Circumstances changed drastically and I find myself needing to work to keep myself and DC. But needing the flexibility of being self-employed so that I can be here for them.

I was hugely inspired by the many people on there who were encouraging other women to think of 1K per month as a minimum.

My little business, while not yet at earning 1k per week is growing faster than I anticipated. I am on my way....which I dont think I would be were it not for the wonderful people on the original thread who were so supportive.

I'm on the laptop at the moment, as I have 4 pieces of work to finish and bill today; 4 clients who would have gone elsewhere. My phone rang yesterday with a new client source, which I would never have reached if I hadn't put my name out in a particular forum.
All of this stemmed from the inspiration I got from the people on here.

I'm starting this thread to see how people are doing (several of you stuck in my head).

Screwing up my courage every day, to put myself out there is still daunting. How do you do it?

3k is out of my league, storytelling is definitely not that lucrative
I'm aiming this year to take above the basic tax threshold (then expense at least the tax bit off).
That's more achievable...

Marking place. I was on the original thread and everything has been on hold until very recently. I started semi freelancing a couple of months ago but am training to do something else and hope to be able to set up proper over the summer :)

DolomitesDonkey Sun 12-Aug-12 18:18:21
Xenia's positivity has a lot to do with it - look where she says she gets rejected for 80% of the work she bids for. That's right, 4 out of 5 potential clients/employers tell her they're not interested. But instead of whining on mumsnet about how there are no opportunities, she goes out and talks to 5 more people

Just re-reading the thread (again!) this morning...I found Xenia very inspiring.

It's helped me get over myself, stopped me thinking that I am defined by the client I didnt win.

I find myself reading the Harvard Business Review now, for advice and inspiration (if you knew me 10 years ago, it is so not where I saw myself now!)

Xenia was very inspiring on that thread (and often has excellent advice on similar threads).

Hi, all. Hope all going well. Good to see some new members.

I've started reading free range human but i'm really struggling with the advice to do what you love. Because i genuinely do not know what i love doing. I dont even remember knowing as a child what i wanted to do when i grew up. This cant be normal. Surely everyone has things they love doing? Does anyone know of any excercises i can do or books i can read that helps me tune into what my actual wants are?

Silly Billy, whenever you see or do something that makes you feel really alive, write it down on a note or on your phone.
After a week or so, collate all the notes and arrange them different ways until the general "shape" of your dream job starts to emerge. If you have Pinterest, look for a theme in your boards.
The first step is to find something you'd love to do, even if nobody paid you. (This is hard)
The next step is to find ways to do what you love and get people to pay you what you need. (Harder)

Thanks inmy

Just thinking about my pinterest- it is entirely full of pictures of nicely decorated rooms and gardens and lots of organising tips. not sure what that says other than i'm desperate to decorate my house

I was going to recommend similar to inmy

I went to a life-coachy type person; their advice was to go through magazines etc and tear out pictures that appeal to you. Don't try to rationalise why- just tear away.

Then collate them into groups- so for me I found I had a group of activities for children, business meetings, home decor, stuff related to my work field.

We pasted them on to a large white board and I wrote a set of year goals based around the pictures....it was really useful.
I must do it again

I found it strangely energising to review the board over the course of the year.

Wow, this brings back memories!

When I read the last thread, I was freelancing and covering my income, but my severe lack of self confidence was killing me. I made about £16,000 a year, I think, which wasn't too bad, and had supported me and DP through uni.

Now I'm employed for nearly three times that, doing pretty much the same thing. My company bill me out for much more than I ever would have dreamed to charge.

While I love my job, I do miss freelancing. My health is poor due to birth complications, and dragging myself to work every day takes its toll!

I'm very tempted to start looking for my own clients on a freelance basis, too. To build up my personal reputation, my income, my client base...

Or to write a book. Either way, you know :P

It's good to see everyone back!

Thanks redoubtable and inmy- i will get busy with that and see what comes out of it.

Morning entrepreneurial ladies.

I could do with some advice please? I've been offered some regular on-going work with an established company. I would be working on a freelance basis. The rate they are offering is below what I would have earned 10 years ago.

I am torn between valuing myself, and knowing that I may resent working for this rate (and so not give it my best) versus the security of it. Short term pain and long term gain or take the work offered with both hands and be grateful? What do you think?

Tell them you'd like to do the work, but as a freelancer you need to cover your pension, NI, healthcare and other contributions that employees get as standard, so your rate is X (say, 15% more than you would get as a salaried employee). If they say they cannot afford that, offer them a cut-down service for the original amount (ie. One that will leave you plenty of time to pursue other work).
That's what a man would do.
Be bold, there's no point selling yourself cheaply then begrudging it!

have read the thread with interest, I am about to have DC1 and am looking at a bleak situation at work with a restructure on the horizon. I've done a heap of research about mumpreneurism, and the thing that is frustrating me the most is that all these women in the articles are supported by a DH who is a company director, or in high finance or similar. Whilst I applaud their businesses and their success, I feel deflated by this precedent which seems to suggest that there is a long period of earning nothing or very little. How can I start a business, no matter how small, with absolutely nothing to begin with?! it is becoming a real stumbling block for me. my partner is a teacher, we don't earn a lot but between us it is enough. I am looking at giving up the security blanket of full time work and it's terrifying. This thread is a real inspiration, does anyone have any advice about taking the first step? Is there any support out there, financially, for fledgling businesses??

There isn't much out there for fledgling businesses, I managed by trimming the household budget to the bone and setting aside my overtime for the last few months of employment as "seed money" for my new business. Family holiday was a week in a North Wales cottage at mates' rates, which saved some more. I wasn't earning much above NMW in my PT job anyway, and I've always managed to run a surplus in the household budget so the transition was manageable.
It took a year to be able to take regular income from the business, but it's been well worth it both personally and for the family. I'm less tired, less stressed, have more time and energy for the DCs and DH.

Hi all. I have an idea for a shopping app and also a clothing line. I work full time and these are pipe dreams. But I am making more concrete research and plans now. Thinking about what I would do if I wasn't paid, it is not my day job! I am good at tech stuff and also have an eye for clothes. Watching this thread with interest

I'd love to join this thread too. I've been self-employed for years on end but I'm very reactive and I need to be more proactive so that I can do the work I want, ditch the stuff I don't and, of course, get paid more. Reading this thread - and the previous one that the OP refers to - has inspired me no end. I feel quite rejuvenated and motivated.

I hadn't even realised this topic was on MN and I could've been here ages ago, learning and helping and joining in on the fun. So pleased to have found it now.
One of the major drawbacks of being self-employed sole trader is that I have no-one with whom to have these types of conversations. No bouncing ideas around, nobody to share experiences and thoughts with and so I have found it is very easy to get stuck in a rut.

No more!

Just finished a great book on a balanced life as an entrepreneur / self employed person. It's called "winning without losing" by Martin Bjergegaard and Jordan Milne.

Also I loved "self made me" by Geoff burch - inspiring stuff

Butterfly, I'm a storyteller and children's author though I'm not qualified as either.
I have awesome storytelling skills, and can make the pretty words dance, but my qualifications cover physics and Early Years education.
IME there are few SE jobs that bring instant money, there's usually a period of building the brand and networking before the money follows, but building a savings buffer/cutting outgoings before going SE can ease the transition.

I agree inmy ....I cannot see a self-employment scenario that leads to instant money.

I'm not whining- it's been an eye-opener and gives me new level of appreciation for people who have done very well from their own business.

I am lucky that I do have a professional qualification but, at the point where I started (about 18 months ago) I would have ironed, or painted walls, or anything. Now, clients are looking for me...but wouldnt have if I hadnt put myself out there (which was partly down to the original thread). I'm still not making the kind of money I consider acceptable- but I'm getting there.

I'm looking at taking students at a local school at the moment- they are here to improve their English, and need accommodation. I have a spare room, but need to jump through the background checks that the school (rightly) insist on.

I am also looking at another (potential) avenue for income; again not requiring a professional qualification.

flymo I dont agree about all 'mumpreneurs' (horrible, belittling title...where are the 'dadpreneurs'?) all having the support of their DH.

I dont. I'm a lone parent to 3, one of whom has SN. It is terrifying.
Start by looking at what you have...i.e. a SWOT assessment. What are the skills that you do have? If you are in a job, you have skills. Will the re-structuring offer opportunities for you to consult your skills back into the company (at an appropriate rate naturally)? And who are your existing company's competitors- what can you offer them?

And inmy thanks for the reponse to my question on rates...I emailed them to say no thanks (terribly polite) and that it was lovely meeting them and I will keep in touch!

I'll leave it with them....thanks to a slip of the tongue by one of their junior staff, I know that they would be charging the client double what they were offering me....even at that the client would be getting me at a better rate than if they had to find me themselves.

Cagney yes it's very inspiring isn't it?
I am a sole trader also, and there are virtually no other people doing what I do in the vicinity.
I'm at the point of learning that not every piece of work offered is worth it...I currently have a client who is taking hours on the phone, but nothing billable as such. I'm easing back from them; letting calls go and contacting by email, leaving the work up to them. They'll either fade away or step up and give me billable hours.
A year ago, I would have chased them to get an appointment so I could 'prove' I was worthy of being paid.

Im really appreciating all the comments here. I'm lurking as ive nothing really to add at the mo but just wanted to say thanks to you all. I'm working my way through 'free range humans' and will keep reading here.

I have also recently realised that it is so important to value yourself properly. Men wouldn't put up with half of what we do simply because they don't consider themselves to be part time "prenuers. They just do work for the most money they can get. They expect more and often get it. They think they are the expert, the best and even better than others.

We just don't...

as before, find this fascinating to read. I went se just over 3 years ago after disabled ds had major surgery, have never looked back :)