Time has been going by unbelievably fast. Just a little over a month ago, I only knew where I wanted to be and hadn’t the slightest idea about where I’ll end up. After six weeks, I’ve got client work scheduled through August. Heading looks good. Course still uncharted, but who cares? Who would have known?

I’m learning new things along the way too. Which is the reason I’m doing this in the first place. They’re little lessons that come from my constant examination of everything I do: interacting with clients, making the pitch, closing the sale, gleaning what’s really needed for a project, and refining process. I don’t have any groundbreaking revelations and, I’m sure, anything I’ve got to learn on that level someone has already written down somewhere as a piece of advice for us all.

Motivation

I’m so much more motivated now that I’m out on my own than I ever was in school or in full time employment. I wish I would have done this sooner. I don’t think I was born to work for anyone other than myself.

Sure, client work can be seen has just having a rotating set of employers, but guess what: I choose who I work with. Simple as that.

To be honest, I have no regrets whatsoever about having worked for 8 months in a big company environment. I learned a lot about who I am, what I want to do, and–just as important–what I don’t want to do.

Business is good

A good friend/ex-coworker of mine asked me last Friday how business is going for me. I hadn’t really given it much thought until then, but I checked my calendar so I could give her an honest approximation and the answer: good. I turns out that I can’t accept anymore work for the next three months.

To be straight, I’m not rolling in cash now or anything. I’ve talked to a few people who seem to think that I’ve got quite a bit of cash since I’m not schticking the 9-5 for The Man anymore. Not true. I’m just your regular guy being compensated an appropriate amount. I just get to choose.