Ginger and smonster, I responded to you both, first thing this morning. If you did not receive my messages, please let me know.

bonny, yes! I got it. Will ponder answers this evening, and I'll let you know when I've replied.

What smonster said.

bonny, backflung.

smonster, I received your message and must give it some thought. BRB.

My real life version of this valuable thread is working out really well.

How is it that I have even survived for so long without this kind of support?

I really am giving up the idea of being a lone wolf. Not only is it...well...lonely, but stagnant. The thinking that got me stuck will not get me unstuck, eh?

In the case of my RL cohort, we spark off of each other with excellent ideas. It's like a popcorn popper of thought. I love that feeling.

bonny, I'm thrilled to hear about your RL-analogue (and feeling the same way about this thread starting up here) -- I know that for me, diving into freelancing was really a needed correction after a lot of things about the last job, but it's way too easy to fall into thinking I have to do everything for myself in my cosy little room all by myself, and it just ain't so.

Hmm.. following on that thought, and since it's damn near the end of the month (ack!!), what would y'all think about some kind of monthly check-in thing? Totally not mandatory, ever, and please no specifics of clients or dollars, but things like:

• what successes did you have this month?
• what do you have an eye on for the next month?
• brag points, frustrations, brilliant ideas?
• didja at least pay the rent? (or whatever your personal baseline is for "is my business doing okay?")

Yes! And I'll start off:

Successes: I had a wonderful appointment out of town. It was a stretch for me, since I have been so rooted in my office...oh, let's be honest...I've been mainlining the internet way too much.

This adventure gave me the reality check that I CAN enjoy pushing myself out beyond the lazy zone. I can't say 'comfort zone' because I'm pretty comfortable wherever I go. It's battling inertia that challenges me.

I'm hopeful that my end of month discount will garner some business. I've had two nibbles and one additional option.

Referrals have been a bit more fruitful this month. Not so much with conversion, but people are talking and that always helps.

Next month: I have been stymied in gathering resources for a big project I'm working on and hope to fix that next month so that I can roll out the campaign in September. To support that effort, I am calling SCORE again...they have not gotten back to me. I must also find someone who can help me with the practical aspects of managing ebay, etsy and a couple of auction houses.

I've gotten excellent advice and feel well-prepared, but finding someone to do the actual entries has been challenging.

My RL supporter gave me an awesome idea this morning for managing a series of bartering relationships I have on the boil. I'm excited about researching and implementing it.

I also plan to reach out to more financial planners as possible referral sources.

Brag points: Every one of my client appointments this month went really, really well. I expect a certain amount of resistance in my business. Plumbing the depths of people's minds can get messy. This month, I was on FIYAH, and got great results quite consistently. The people I worked with were similarly on. Together, we did awesome stuff. I _love_ that. It's why I do what I do!

Frustrations: A couple of people sought help but were not mature enough in their internal resources to follow through. One expected me to 'do it!' What IT was, was unclear to the person, even though I was able to rationally outline what needed doing...by them, of course.

Also, a couple of people who reached out just disappeared after I gave them a decent amount of help before an official agreement was in place. Dishonorable, to my way of thinking, but not unheard of. I'd rather folks just say they changed their minds!

Rent: Not so much. It has been better than I originally feared, but still not great...thus, the discount. Fingers crossed for last minute takers before the 1st.

bonny - insent again with a short further thought. Also, I linked your latest post on my fb page - hope it gets you some nibbles - nay, some good solid bites.

I have to say, even though I'm not a small business owner and don't know that I will ever be one, I am thoroughly enjoying this thread. The trainees learned in one of their soft skills classes that "you are your own business," and I'm learning a lot. Thanks to everyone for their sharing and their wisdom.