Member Articles

I had been flip-flopping about freelancing for the longest time, about if or when I should take the plunge. My initial plan was to wait until the end of the year to make the big move.

I worked my butt off this year, though, and much to my surprise and joy, I realized I had reached a point where I could take the solo plunge much sooner rather than later. Amazing! I’ve been astonished, to tell you the truth.

But is it safe? How do you know it’s time to leave a steady paycheck for something more? Well, you don’t.

Any advice for people who dream to have their own business and yet find it hard to make the leap?

Make the leap before you’re totally ready. I read in a magazine once that you should never be 100 percent ready to have kids. If you think you’re 100 percent ready, you’re missing something. I think the same thing applies to business. If you wait until you’re 100 percent ready, you’ll be dead before you launch. Be 80 percent ready. Do the best you can and just go for it. ... Jump, and the net will appear.

Something about this quote really struck a nerve with me. I literally have the quote up on my bulletin board as inspiration!

When my husband and I were deciding when to have kids, I had said to myself that I was not 100 percent ready -- I don’t think you truly can be! You just have to decide when you are “ready enough” and trust that the rest (knowledge of parenting at that point, running a successful business now) will come naturally!

Well, this is a similarly life changing event, just in terms of career rather than family -- although in actuality, they do all connect as part of the circle of life.

So, there I was, planning on a big conversation that was about to take place at work. Not one I was particularly looking forward to, I admit. But the outcome of which was something that I had been dreaming about for such a long time now!

It was time to put me and my family first. I deserve this! I’ve worked hard, and I deserve to be successful.

I’m so ready for this move, and can’t wait to start this new phase of my life. And now, it's official -- I'm FREE!