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?

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” –Thomas Edison

Anyone still around?

whatdoesittake I agree. There is a tendancy for women to give up the power in the room, to get in there and undermine themselves. I feel it's to reduce the fear....'little ol' me, I'm not a threat so you boys don't need to pay any attention'.

I saw it this week at a meeting- there was a fabulous lady present, who has magnificent skills and has a huge community leadership presence. I was the only other woman there.
I would have rated her as the one of the most powerful people in the room, but she repeatedly undermined herself.

I'm reading about Gravitas and practicing some of the techniques. At the same meeting, I surprised myself by taking charge of discussion on a point...I've probably landed myself (voluntary) work, but it will lead to contacts and opportunities.

MABS tell us more. Don't leave us hanging with that teaser!

I'm still around.
Trying to get my next book finished before the half term holidays, keep on top of my Social Media and chase new leads.
I'm trying to remind myself that the lovely warm sunshine will still be there when the book's done, but it keeps tempting me outside...

Redoubtable - I work with language schools and overseas agents bringing European students to UK for language courses, usually followed by a short work experience in business admin to consolidate/improve their English skills.

Used to do it for someone else but set up on my own early 2011 :)

Redoubtable, I think you're right about women trying to lessen the threat. Not sure about nowadays - I v much hope it has changed - but I think it used to be that girls were brought up to put huge emphasis on being liked over everything. And being liked trumped being successful every time. It's a bloody hard habit to break!

Inmysparetime, write your book on the laptop in the garden / park /any scrap of outside space you can find. Creativity is mobile so make the most of it!

I don't have a laptop.
I've got a Nexus tablet, but I need to work out which app/software I need to install so I can open and edit .doc files on it.
I'm 90% written now, I'll just push through and finish it then I'll have time to work out the tablet stuff without worrying that I could be writing instead.
It's a cyclist book, I want to get it printed in time for summer.

thanks for the tips, redoubtable, and I certainly didn't mean in my post that most female entrepreneurs are supported by DH, more that these are the stories that are out there in the media. I follow a bunch of blogs about setting up on your own and there are some websites out there supporting women to become SE, and I am trying to get to the stories, like yours, about people who have had to make things work in very difficult circ's. That is where I'll be, and that is what I need the inspiration for!

hi everyone, well as I am finding it near impossible to find work (other then temp jobs) for years I have decided to become self employed (I've got skills in fine art, printing, teaching, running workshops). What is my issue is the fear ! and lack of confidence. so here for the handholding and cheerleading!

Yay! more people.

flymo can you recommend blogs re setting up on your own? I came across one which I neglected to bookmark...it was a lady who has a business coaching female start-ups...

adele that is a fantastic portfolio of skills.
What is your dream of working for yourself? What do you envision yourself doing?

The fear is huge...I get that. But I am learning that the confidence bit is a decision that I make.

As above, I'm reading a book called Gravitas, which is really helping me to take control of situations and talk myself out of the 'oooh what if I'm not good enough, they think I'm bluffing/stupid, how can I charge for this ' cycle.
I've caught myself , while actively dealing with a client in the room, starting to panic that I dont have all the answers.

And learned that saying "I dont know" is very honest and powerful; and gives you space to walk away and find out. Because I know where to find the answer, and how to interpret it for this situation IYKWIM.

I also found myself mentoring another lady last week, who was charging a ridiculously low amount for a 3-hour drive to see a client on-site.
She's is where I was initially i.e. pathetically grateful that anyone would want to pay me.

i have a regular newsletter from the Talented Ladies Club (found them on twitter once)...

I wasn't on the last thread but this one comes at a good time for me.

I desperately want to start working and earning money again (SAHM for 3 years now) but I am dressing putting myself out there.

Before kids I just dabbled in one thing or another and as a result don't have a strong portfolio.

I have an MFA, experience in teaching, writing, and editing, which all sounds good, but I am not sure how to get off the ground.

Also my kids are intense and I barely get a break to run the dishwasher let alone do any freelancing during the day... And dealing with 4-12 wakeups in the night so I'm sleep deprived always; would I have the determination to sick with it during a run of bad nights?

Ugh, this all sounds very I can't, I can't, I can't...I don't mean to be so negative!

I'll tell you my dream job right now; I'd love to get some manuscripts from a small publisher and do some editing from home. I can just see myself snatching an hour in the evening with a cup of tea, or going out to a cafe on weekends to read a attack of manuscripts.

But how would I go about getting a job like that? Anyone know?

Dressing should be dreading

I don't dress to put myself out there, honest

You could do what I did - i am a freelance copywriter and when I started I worked via freelancing sites - PPH and Elance. Essentially you bid for work alongside other epople doing the same thing. if your profile is good, you are realistic about price and you are willing to work hard, you can do well.

I built up a great reputation on these sites, but have recently stepped back from it in an attempt to get myself more local work which is more lucrative.

But it is an excellent place to start.

You can easily pick up a job or two just editing small things and then you have something to put in your portfolio.

i worked in publishing years ago (before daughter who is now ahem 18) and once you get in, liked and known, with a publishing house, you do often get repeat work Coughie. I think having a 'specialist area' is a good thing

hahah I like the typo… yes, dressing to put yourself out there might be a whole other career… I'm sure it'd lucrative but perhaps not legal .

Redoubtable thank you how nice to say! I suppose my ideal would be to find a p/t teaching job in FE (unfortunately few and far between) and then to freelance the rest of the time, make artwork/illustrate and sell. But I am just not in a very good place self-esteem wise (abusive relationship in past, still trying to deal with the after effects, and depression can lead me to 'hide') and do struggle with putting myself 'out there'. I need an "I can do it" attitude books to keep reading! I am finishing an MA right now, that's helped a bit (although it's turned out to be very 'distance learn-ey' and really not what I wanted, I wanted to be in the thick of it. But I am in a better place then I was a year ago, so trying to not expect too much from myself which really disheartens me … baby steps so no slides backwards?!

I was on the original thread and, embarrassingly, have made absolutely no progress . I currently work a 3 day week and like a few others on here I'm also a single parent, so I'm the only adult bringing money into the household, so need to be earning. My problem is I feel like I don't have any 'hard' skills - after 16 years working in marketing and advertising, all my skills are 'soft' skills. I have no idea what I could do for SE work. I'm lost. How do I find my way?

Softkitty, could you set up as marketing /ads consultant? I reckon there is a demand for those soft skills esp if you added other stuff such as social media campaigns /marketing too.
It might be that you need to do both employed &self-employed for a while, which would be tiring esp as single parent. And you would obv need to be careful not to take work or clients away from yr current employer. But it is def something to consider.