re: #115 Lidane

So the more I think about it, I’m convinced that freelancing will be the way to go for me.

I think I’m going to give myself 1-2 years to really get it together. Take whatever contract/temp work I can, save up some money, pay a few bills, and get everything in order first. Meanwhile, I’ll spend time working on business and financial/retirement plans, start putting out feelers and planting the seeds of a business, then jump. I am sick to death of trying to fit myself into someone else’s mold. And if I never see another job application, Jobvite, or LinkedIn page, it will be too soon.

Nolo Press has a book called How to Write a Business Plan. It’s very helpful in figuring out cash flow and what you need to take in to be profitable. Also, I never would have believed this, but you can write a business plan, take it to a bank, and they will give you money. Of course, they want it back. And they want you to be risking some of your own. Still, it’s kind of a miraculous thing. I really never thought of myself as someone who a bank would lend money to, but if you demonstrate a likelihood of being able to pay it back with interest, you’re in.

Full disclosure: I took 10 years fiddling around with my business plan, and didn’t think it was worthy until I went cycling with a bank president who said ‘just do it’, or words to that effect. Also, a good friend loaned me the money so I could pose as risking some of my own.