Climbing the Mountain

jvr

Misty


Really shocked that they would try leave you in this situation after their mistake. Maybe I shouldn't be shocked these days but it is horrendous. Do try fight it!
The other thing I though of might be totally not possible but are there any mini grants for mini - businesses/ entrepreneurs or anything like that, which would help you get the equipment back? It must be so frustrating for you at the moment knowing that having the stuff back could make a difference to your situation.

MistyMountainTop

I've never even thought about it, JVR! I will look into it on Monday, thank you so much for the idea!!!

MistyMountainTop

I've not caught up this week despite my good intentions

I've been exhausted since the weekend, I must have had some subconscious stress about getting the jobs finished on time! It all went well, the money is in the bank, the clients were even happier than I had imagined and both booked me for more work! It really couldn't have gone better, and proved to me again that this is something I should be doing as much as possible until it can turn into a full time job.

I've taken out some of the hobby bits and started cleaning but not listed them anywhere yet - I am going to start this afternoon and hopefully have a at least 10 things online by Sunday.

I've been looking into grants but haven't found anything yet that I qualify for. I'm going to the CAB for another matter and will ask them if they can give me any advice. I'm feeling very positive and the current lack of money seems more like a small bump rather than a huge mountain. I need to actively take steps to deal with it but it's not worrying me too much at the moment and I know it will all be ok.

MistyMountainTop

Dd back in school today - it is such a relief to get back to some sort of normalcy! It's much easier for me to stick to a schedule during term times. I have a long to-do list so am just going to get cracking on it. The jobs are never going to be fun but they need doing so I am going to turn on the radio and make it as pleasant as I can.

I have managed to list quite a few bits on evilbay, gumshrub,fb selling groups, etc. I've not sold anything yet but there is the potential to bring in a fair amount, some that will be put aside for the new equip. I found some items to sell that I won't use again. I feel I'm letting go of a part of my youth but I told myself that if I am ever in the position where I need them, I will give myself permission to buy them. I can't see it being in the next few years and probably not ever. It's been an awakening to realise that I don't need to hold on to everything "just in case", things can be replaced if necessary and if I have no emotional attachment to them then why keep them? It's something I've done all my life, hanging on to things I no longer need "just in case". I don't want to do it any longer.

I've had someone email about the side business, asking me to justify the fee. I'm sure they are just trying to save money but I am already fairly priced and still lower than others doing a similar thing. Part of me wants to accept the amount offered to bring in more work/income but OTOH it's almost degrading, being paid less than the work is worth. I suppose it's something that freelance people come across quite often. I am going to have to think about it carefully and grow a thicker skin where the sideline is concerned if I want to turn it into a successful full time business...

EssexHebridean

I'd put together something carefully worded justifying your current fee if it were me. This is something photographers get a lot - the "oh it's just taking a few photos" thing - people fail to see the expensive cost of equipment, the time travelling, the time actually taking the shots, the time backing up those shots, and then processing them to the finished photographs that they will end up seeing. I bet your business also has a lot more too it behind the scenes that people don't even think of!

MistyMountainTop

Definitely EH, not to mention the decades of training that I've done to acquire the skills I have to do the job. It is very much like photography, it's something that I love and would be doing to some extent anyway even if I wasn't paid but I need to stop undervaluing what I'm doing if I want to make a living from it.

I sent an email basically stating that I was already charging less than others out there, customers were pleased with the work I'd done and XXX is my fee. I've not heard back from them and TBH I don't care. I don't want to get a reputation as someone who is cheap or can be haggled with - I want to build a rep for doing a good job at a fair price. I've decided to stick to my guns for the most part, I'm sure there may be cases where I bend a bit but I need to feel good about myself and my work at the end of the day, and selling out cheaply will just make me resentful of the whole thing.

MistyMountainTop

EssexHebridean wrote: »

people fail to see the expensive cost of equipment, the time travelling, the time actually taking the shots,

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I just noticed. If only I could time travel, I'd go back and buy shares in Microsoft...

EssexHebridean

Hahaha - there's no question a time machine would REALLY help me at times!

MistyMountainTop

It's been a few days since updating, but I've been very busy, so not a bad thing! I've had more sideline work, and also sold some bits that I thought meant a lot to me but realised it was just habit that made me hang on to them. I've been able to purchase a cheaper version of the equip that I needed - the quality isn't anywhere near as good as what I sold but it does mean I am fully up and running again. I had quite a struggle over buying it - "buy cheap, buy twice" kept running through my head. The new equip was still expensive and should work for at least a year or more but I will need to be extra careful with it, the other stuff was built like a tank and wouldn't wear out for decades. I will eventually need to upgrade but at least now I can really get stuck in to the work. My plan is to save 10% from each sideline job to buy quality equip in the next 12-18 months, though I may just use what I have until it falls apart so I don't feel so much like it was money wasted.

I've had no luck appealing the benefits decision, but it could be a blessing in disguise. Desperation has forced me waaaaaaaaaay out of my comfort zone. I'm cooking extra cheap meals using Jack Monroe recipes, being extra vigilant about not using gas or leccy, repurposing/making do/mending rather than spending, and I'm really pushing for more side work. I know I am up to the job so am changing my attitude of "can I really do this?" to "of course I can do this!!!" Needing to keep a roof over our heads is possibly the best motivator out there and will help turn the sideline into a full time job quicker than anything else.

Bobarella

You sound like you are doing great Misty. Very positive!