freelancing. free. lancing. doesn’t it sound vaguely … terrifying? sure it does, sure it does. but hey. i get to keep my clients, i have good clients, i’m fine. really! fine. i have till january 10th here, and then … free. lancing.
you shoulda seen me in the boss’s office. so composed. almost cheerful.
this is a really strange feeling.
Oh, Merry Flippin’ Christmas to you, kd!
Oh, man.
…but you can keep your clients; that’s a Good Thing.
Oh, man…
i’m numb. but fine! i’m fine. i’m going to be fine.
surreally t-shirts
in support of surreally, the divine miss b has offered to produce genuine surreally t-shirts. here is the design, isn’t
Yes, you are!
Definitely.
Freakin’ Merry Christmas indeed.
But starting with a built-in client base is a big big plus (especially more than one primary one).
Oh, and start calling Kaiser and any other big health insurers right now about possible group plans you can get into as a self-employed person. I’m in one with Kaiser out here.
And think about your price per hour, or price per project, or both. And don’t price yourself too low!
Ok, I’m done with gratuitous advice.
i would keep the same rates as they’ve been charging — and keep my insurance through Cobra for 18 months while i figure out what to do next with medical insurance.
or i could, you know, get a *real job*. i mean if there was a lot of web work, would i be playing with my blog all day all the time like this? i do have some new projects, and so if i like, put them off till the beginning of next month, well….
but there’s also the getting a job theory. except i don’t have clothes and i am *for sure* gonna not be able to afford to keep the buick now.
wha happa?
they no longer want to offer what i do (making websites) as a service. their focus is elsewhere and stuff. they never have really managed to focus on selling the web work anyway. it would happen kind of accidentally now and again, and i’d pick up clients by word of mouth and stuff, but otherwise i am generally a whole lot of not busy at my job.
it’s not a surprise, really.
Oh man, kd. I’m so sorry.
If we all look at the positive here, you have an incredible opportunity here to do what you want, when you want to do it. I agree with Linkmeister, you’re starting with a built-in client base, and that’s a huge plus. You’re so amazingly talented when it comes to this web stuff, you’ll do fine, I’m sure.
I’ll keep you in my prayers, though. Because growth opportunities are really really scary, I think.
What skits said.
Good luck k.d. You are going to do very well, I know it. While I pray to the job goddess for myself I’ll as her to put in a good word to her sister the client goddess for you.
Man oh Man: and on Friday the 13th too.
Did you know it was gonna happen today?
I agree with Linkmeister also: you have to maintain your insurance, and 18 months goes by fast.
I just know you will get a job!!!!
You can goto Goodwill and get some stuff. There are ways.
You will not starve in America.
You aren’t part American Indian are you? Just read the Times Magazine article about certain rights and privileges you may have if you are an American Indian.
You can open a casino, get government aid, housing, medical, educational, and food benefits..
Well, it was a thought anyway…
Please keep the lines of communication open with us bloggers!
You will do fine, you have many people behind you in webspace!!!!
Wow. Hate to hear that. Timing was just about stellar, too, huh?
Just think of it as an opportunity, for something else to come along, whether that be a new KD web empire, or another cool job, or sheesh, even more time with Kurtwood. We just got through 9 months of Hub’s “free-lancing” stint and it hurt a lot (especially having just moved into a new house), but we muddled through. One door closes, another opens, all that. Hugs!
Ummmmmm I don’t know what to say, except hope everything works for you. I can’t pretend to know what it is like, but I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed okay?
don’t look at it as an ending… a new beginning… better … always better. You will survive this. Take a breath and enjoy the weekend.
Sending all my good thoughts your way! If anyone can make it out there….you can….you own the internet!! (you know you do! we all know you do!)
i don’t have anything better than everyone has already said so, i’ll just say ditto to all. and…
bobby was layed-off work the week of christmas, the first year we were married. i tried to be as brave as possible, but i wanted to run and hide (and take back all the presents we had bought)! needless to say, he took the time to really think of what direction he wanted to take. it was during that time when he decided to return to college and get his degree.
i do believe in looking for the silver lining of every cloud and you are so talented that i’m sure this is a blessing in disguise!
You’re free and you’re a lancer. There’s a certain symmetry in that. At least I hope there will be. Best wishes, kd.
You’re free and you’re a lancer. There’s a certain symmetry in that. At least I hope there will be. Best wishes, kd.
Change always leads to better things, even if it does take it’s own sweet time about it…
I hug you, I kees you, I send you some of my spare mojo.
weird feeling, hm?
all the best for what comes after jan. 10th! =)
Looks like someone is gonna be doing some big things on her own!
“When when door closes, another opens…..but only after the first has slammed shut (while locked) on your fucking hand”
I’m thinking really big, GOOD thoughts for you, hon! You’ll be a freelancing Goddess!
Girl, please. Someone said it (there’s a lot of comments, I’m not scrolling again, but someone said it, I swear), but you do own the damned Internet, Miss kd, and you know it. Just think, your HOBBY becomes a credential! How many people can say that, huh? And you’ve got to have the biggest support network of anyone alive anywhere who doesn’t wear a military uniform with lots of brass things on the shoulders and sleeves. You know you’ll come out, if not on top, then in a good position to fight your way up there. You’ll be fine. We all love you and we know it, so you oughta know it, too.
Long winded Monkey
i ended up freelancing this year (not through choice)…i’d still rather be permy but freelancing aint as bad as i thought. it’ll all work out. shit always does.
You are such a smart and resourceful person. I know you will find something much, much more appropriate and fulfilling for yourself.
We are all here to support you in any way we can.
You realize of course that many of us would be pleased to be recommending you for…well anything? Of course I’m about to be unemployed in a matter of months so I get the whole fear/excitement thing. And these things seem to happen a lot at Christmas – what’s with that? Motorola laid off my cousin right after his dad’s funeral. Employers aren’t evil always – some of them just have an off sense of timing.
You’ll get through this. And we, your web family, will be with you all the way. Supportive when you need us. And you’re very skilled in many things. I’d sing a rousing chorus of I Will Survive and pass you a Fosters if I was there.
This could be the opportunity of a lifetime – follow your dream
You certainly have the ability to make a success of it. I know you can make it work. Who knows? Maybe in 6 months you’ll have a fancy sports car!
Good luck with the freelancin’ stuff.
I got the push from a job years ago and it was one of the best thing that ever happened to me. If it hadn’t happened I’d still be there complaining about how bad things are.
I read this last night and couldn’t quite believe it enough to leave a comment. I, as everyone else has said, feel quite confident that you will find that this is the door to great new opportunities, but I also want to say: Jeez, Louise! That’s a challenging Christmas present.
ditto to all the above KD. there is good in any change, and least this one comes with some warning. Sending you all the good career, contract getting, thoughts and vibes we can muster your way. *hugs*
as the genie put it “you are going to be a star”
i love the thought of freelancing, and i’m getting more and more into it as time passes and the reality sinks in.
but isn’t “lancing” something you do to pustuous boils? so free lancing …
aww, every cloud has a silver lining……….i quit my job last feb. remember?? i was so depressed but had to get out. i NOW have a dream job and have never been happier.
you can quit smoking and not buy beer . use this money for medical insurance……..cobra is very expensive, kd.
let me know if i can help. p.s. check is on the way…
xxx,
tina
Go Monkey!!!
it’s something that i’ve wanted to do for awhile, but would have never broken free to do it without something like this.
i guess there never would have been a ‘good time’ for this, and at least it comes with warning time, time for it to sink in.
Hang in there… Free-lancing isn’t all that bad. (I’m doing it now since I joined the ranks of the unemployed a couple of months ago) Sucky timing, but you’re strong and you’ll bounce back.
You are *so* not alone right now. I am going through the same thing – although I didn’t have any warning at all, just a polite “go home now.” Sooooo… we can sit around all day long and chat instead of working. I mean, that has to be profitable, right? *sigh* Well, at least I’m temping next week. Some money is better than no money at all.
Well, kind of contgrats, sort of, huh? I mean, it sounds like you’ve wanted to do it, but just never could take the plunge and now this happens…fate maybe?
goodness!! What everyone above me said . . . and a hug thrown in as well. Hang tuff, kd.
>..
So… this is a good thing! Congratulations! Just make sure you make an active effort to “go to work” every morning — get up, shower, get dressed just like you would… too easy to blow off work when you’re doing it from home and there’s ten tons of other distractions. Trust me, I speak from experience on that — it’s why I have absolutely no problems with going to a cube every morning, I actually need it to get my work done. But congrats!
well… merry christmas anyway.
That stinks, KD. Hopefully freelancing will work out for you. To help cheer you up, I mailed you a present I made. I think you’ll like it.
That stinks, KD. Hopefully freelancing will work out for you. To help cheer you up, I mailed you a present I made. I think you’ll like it.
what everyone up there ^ said!
(((kd)))
Kd I know this sounds so “PRISTINISH” but think of this as a blessing. I mean everything happens for a reason (me the broken record here) and me barely getting by myself! However, one good thing is that with every door that closes a brand new one really does open (I should know right?) and all you have to do is open that door….I am thinking about you girl, praying even and I still hope you have the most wonderful Christmas ever!!! Huggles.
I just now am catching up on my blog reading, so I’m a) sorry that you lost your job and b) sorry that it took me so long to be sorry.
I’ll be thinking about you.