Resiliency

THIS is what I love about having the internet (specifically Youtube) and other resources at the tips of my finger. When I need motivations. When I need words of encouragement. When I need just a little bit of "positive" to get be over . . . I can find it. Thank you Mr. Thomas.

What happened?

It's been awhile and there is good reason why . . .

So many things have happened -- have changed in my life. In late 2008, I found out that my older sister was fighting cancer. It was a shock to all of us. You have no idea what a terminal illness does to a family. It nearly destroyed her marriage, and it totally changed my sister and her husband's working life . . . so much so that she ended up living with me until her death in the September 2009.

Immediately, my goals had to change. That's what happens you know . . . LIFE. Between taking care of my sister, dealing with marital issues wrapped in grief and poignant goodbyes, keeping home life as "normal as possible" for my children and my family's shifting financial needs -- my plans for financial freedom had to be put aside.

Six months before her death, the house we were renting (which fit my family perfectly even with my sister and her husband living with us -- went up for sale. She was in no condition to move and we could not purchase a house big enough for all of us with only my husband's salary. Because you see, due to the housing bubble popping and the banking industry making the rules on lending nearly ridiculous (after their crazy credit party of the years previously) - the money I made from my contract work meant nothing. They wanted to see W-2's to even consider lending to us.

I had to quickly find a W-2 job.

By the great kindness of my landlord -- they offered us first dibs on the house. And the fact that the Lord truly provides -- because soon after that, I found a job with a salary that was large enough to purchase the house. We began the process of purchasing the house we were living in. It was a short-sale. So there was a lot of "hurry up and find financial documentation and send it to us now" and then wait . . . and wait.

By the end of September 2009 there were . . . funeral arrangements, a 9 to 5 job schedule, kids beginning school, and many other things in life that one has to adjust to . . . and I did it all in a numb kind of limbo. And ironically, two days after I buried my sister, we signed the documents to the house. After six months, the short sale finally went through. I had made a step toward one of my goals . . . and I didn't care.

During the time of my sister's sickness, I was often angry and frustrated. There was so much I could have done if I had the "financial freedom" that I had been previously fighting for. She could have had better health care, an easier time of it. I would have been able to care for her more than get a "job" and be absent 9-10 hours a day to make sure there was a roof over everyone's head. I could have afforded the best nurses and day-care providers to make her life much more comfortable. We may have been able to afford some type of "new treatment" that would have extended her life or maybe cured her. All this could have happened if I would have tried for and succeeded in gaining financial freedom sooner. Why did I wait?

LIFE. Because life keeps happening to me. And I end up doing what everyone else does. Set aside my goals to handle the problems of life, instead of making plans to continue my goals around life. Making those contingencies that will help me take the steps toward my goal, even when life happens.

It's been almost a year since my sister's death, a year into owning my new home, over a year since I began my new job . . . and I'm looking around, feeling uncomfortable, still feeling frustrated and angry. My restlessness has helped me realize that I'm ready to take on my challenge again. It's time to make things better. To add value to life.

So, if you don't mind. Let's continue this journey. Pull up your belts and tie your shoes . . . I'm ready to get back on the "wild ride" to financial freedom. Let's go.

Job Finder!

Freelance Writing Opportunity!

The Copy Editor will work with our content development team to develop and maintain interactive, online content for undergraduate courses. This is a freelance, off-site opportunity.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Work directly with authors, reviewers, and production staff to ensure the assigned projects are delivered on schedule and reflect our editorial standards
• Copyedit problem sets and other online content for clarity, consistency, and adherence to our style guide; proofread material online; check changes; and conduct comparison reads

Came across this job, they use the term "off-site opportunity" Hmmm. I think I'll be using that as a search term in my "looking for telecommuting jobs" activities.

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You can make this blog better. Tell me what types of topics you want me to focus on. I'll be happy to write about things that actually help and entertain you. Or drop me a line at telemill at gmail. [You know what to do to send the e-mail, right?]

Tube Ninja Wealth Principle: The Money Myth...

I simply love this guy and this video is EXACTLY the kind of stuff we need to realize as people who will soon hold much wealth! [grin]

He's fun and entertaining and if you listen -- you might just learn something valuable.

And just so you know: I take my money "attitude" from my grandmother who raised me and survived the depression. So, for me . . . money is always scarce. I've got to change that huh?

Telecommuting Jobs for Week of 12/12/08

As promised! More Telecommuting jobs I've found during my job search. Good luck my friends.

B2C SEO/SEM Marketing Guru wanted

Omniture Web Analytics Consultant

Shop Drawing Draftsman for Commercial Construction

iPhone developer (telecommute opportunity)

Sales Consultants for International Design Company
Business Process Modeler - ProVision

Physical Rehabilitation Staffing Manager/Coordinator

Lead Oracle Configurator (VIRTUAL - ANYWHERE)

Law Firm Marketing/Administrator for Estate Planner

Biofuel Startup - Process Engineer (Remote & UCSF
Green Technology - Sales Job Available IMMEDIATELY

Flash Developer

CHILDREN'S WEB SITE SEEKS CUSTOMER SERVICE HELP

ONSITE & REMOTE COMPUTER / IT SUPPORT ENGINEER NEEDED

Community Organizer – part time

Los Angeles REO Listing Agent/Broker

Online Content Manager

Media Relations Specialist, Health Care – Freelance Project

National Field Sales Manager

Grant Writing and Editing for Education - Free World U

Web coder/designer part time freelance

Health Benefits Representative

Apple Articles - Apple, Developer, Mac, iPhone, JavaScript, Ajax, SDK

Architectural Designer / Drafter

Account/Customer Service Manager Healthcare

FEMALE VOICE OVER ARTIST WANTED

Technical Writers with Manufacturing / Aerospace Experience (Virtual)

Google Apps Consultant - work from home

Business Development Professional (Multiple positions & locations)
Public sector experience, outstanding communication skills, proficient with MS Office , Self-motivated, Enthusiastic

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You may want to "fan" me on Plurk or follow me on Twitter, I usually put up some of these job openings every day. Just look t the right of this blog post, the social networking sites I visit often are there.

We’re in a recession -- Is your freelance/contract work screwed?

Go back and read parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series!


If I have learned nothing more from owning a business it is . . . “Don’t sit around and wait for good fortune – make your own good fortune.”

I also own a virtual assistant/freelance writing business. Yeah, as my kids say: “Mommy, you do to much.” Kids, what do they know?

Anyway, as you can guess, business is now slow. My clients either don’t need me, are cutting back or need me but don’t have the means in which to pay for my services. Bummer.

Now what?

I can either close up shop . . . or, I can ask my previous customers and some of the guys on the social media networks I frequent (hunting for gigs) what they need now in the form of assistance. From the ones that answer that question, I can then ask what would their budget allow in paying for said assistance. Whatever my clients and colleagues say they need, I plan to move my service business in that direction and market to those needs.

All it takes is a little change in mental direction. I'll allow the change to flow . . . like water. Be the water my friends:

We’re in a Recession: Is your business screwed?

Last week I featured Part 1 and 2 of this series.

Just a few months ago, I developed a business on eBay that was pretty lucrative for the first six months . . . until about October. You know October 2008, when the president appeared on all the TV screens and said we were royally screwed unless Congress OK’d a big government bailout for the failing banks. And then credit dried up. Then no one came to eBay to buy any of my stuff and all my products just sat there all sad and lonely. Yeah, THAT October 2008.

Anyway, before I shut down my eBay account, it occurred to me that I had more power than I credited myself with. You see, I had customers (about 500 customers) that I could tap into. And guess what, even more amazing – I had their mailing and e-mail addresses.

And then this even bigger idea came to mind. Instead of letting eBay get my customers for me, perhaps – just perhaps – I should work at getting some of my previous customers to come look at my auctions. You know, ACTIVELY court and market to the people that were satisfied with my service and products. Wow! So, I created a database of 500 people, contacted them through e-mail and my sells picked up. Imagine that!

How did I do that? Well good friend I just changed my thinking. No wait, I changed my whole mental direction . . . like I was Bruce Lee talking about . . . water:



Look for part 4, later this week!