So, I have a lot of plans for this blog, but this is my moonlighting entrepreneur job, mind you. Today, I am stressed. Between filing my tax returns (on extension) and in-depth discussions with my CPA firm, I feel as if I just got buried in a pile of IRS regulation boulders.
Running a moonlighting business is no piece of cake, I will grant you this. It’s hard work. Between figuring out what work you want, marketing for the work, landing the work, doing the work, finalizing the work, getting paid for the work, I’m often exhausted. Then comes the accounting, payroll, marketing, office admin details, and before I know it, I’m ready to just throw in the towel.
So why do I do it? Why the compulsion to run a business after my work hours?
I wish I could tell you. I’m an entrepreneur. I have a great day job that I took in 2007 because I was tired of full-time freelancing. I thought long and hard about taking a full-time job (I telecommute from my home office; separate work stations and everything). I wondered if I would regret it. I don’t. And it’s been over 2 years now. I regret not being realistic about how much work keeping the freelancing would be. True, its moonlighting, and it’s fun stuff. I write, I blog, I sell info products, I do affiliate programs in my Internet marketing business, but I didn’t realize that having the safety of a day job would wear me out so much.
So today, I’m feeling a bit burdened. What will I do to fix that feeling? I need to realize it’s not as bad as it looks. I’ve still got plenty of good stuff (glass three-fourths full) to focus on. I just need to refocus a bit.
1. Make a wish list. What do I want to do more of? What do I not like to do? I’m still working on an outsourcing program and this is one of their steps. It’s a direction I need to just take. I resist and resist and then am miserable. I try to do TOO MUCH MYSELF!
2. Let go of other wishes. Sometimes, you can’t have everything. Sometimes you don’t get to do everything you have on your to-do list. I’m going to have to let a few things go. <sigh>
3. Don’t let small thinking overtake you. On Tuesday, I reviewed Michael Port’s book and wow, am I in the middle of a test. My test is “Are you going to think small when things get tough?” Sure, it’s easy to think big when things are going well and you haven’t faced resistance yet. Another story when you kinda feel like throwing in the towel.
So there you have it, a from the gut confession that this moonlighting entrepreneur has hit a wall (mentally; physically, I’m fine). And I’m going to have to work my way through it.
Anybody else have any other ideas on how to work through times like this? I’d appreciate the advice. Thank you!
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I love this article. One key aspect is ensuring you’re consistent with what you’re doing.
I recommend your readers make their wish list at http://wishlings.com – that’s where I make my list.