Some days I may feel like this – LBD day (no, no Little Black Dress. Lousy Black Dog)

Others, I feel like this – kicking arse and affirming my position

Then, there’s the revved-up mode. On Friday I tweeted about how I had a list of to-dos as long as my arm, and out of that small action, there could have been 2 scenarios:

- OMFG I’m never getting this done. Let me put my pjs on and watch The OC while I eat my body weight in Ben&Jerry’s cookie dough ice-cream

Vs

- Ok. If I do ALL these things, I could get a substantial amount of cred (early deadline deliveries), income (see here for details) and a clean desk

Lucky for me (and you!) I chose scenario 2.

It meant working a substantial amount during the weekend, which I promised I wouldn’t do unless necessary – and it was necessary!

• I knit 12″ of a new sample in 2 days.
• I graded and wrote 2 patterns, sent one to an editor, another to a magazine.
• Finally finished the details on a garment that had languished for weeks.
• Scheduled some posts so I could work without interruptions on Monday and Tuesday.
• Mind-mapped
• Wrote outlines
• Took 2 post-its off my Big Wall of Tasks

Focused more on the long-term GOAL

instead of the short-term PAIN

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Why is it in such big letters? Well let me give you my allegory

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Being a freelancer seems to be a lot like having a kid

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No, I have no children, but I’ve heard the wonderful happy stories of how delighted you are when your kid gets a gold star for paste art, and how proud you are when they show their learning progress, and how a smile can turn your heart and brain into pudding.

All this, peppered up with painful “oh holy cow you’ve no idea how painful it is to shove a melon out of your…” and “I was in labour for 37h!” and “I couldn’t sleep for 40 weeks”

My pain is knitting until my arms hurt. Writing until my fingers are hooked. Sketching until I’m happy with a design. Banging my head against the desk because I can’t size something as far as I’d like.

Small, time-limited tasks that really amount to nothing in the grand scale of things

My happiness?

Dozens signing up their interest to my course. People buying my patterns. Knitters making my garments. Emails that sometimes come in from friends and strangers appreciating my work. Knowing I MADE THIS INTO AN AWESOME THING.

The long-term, unlimited footprint that vastly transforms the grand scale of things

So,work through the pain and forget about it when you’re done –  focus on that goal.

What are you waiting for?

 

PSA- the awesome Dannielle Cresp has finished my new site, and it should go live any time this week.

If the site seems wonky for a bit, excuse us while we change dresses – I can guarantee you’re going to love the new one!