Electric-less interview
Sep 18, 2008 Writing, work work work
I have an interview to do in one hour and fifteen minutes for which I am woefully unprepared. So I’m writing about it in an effort to calm myself down.
Here is my usual interview prep:
1. Google the hell out of my subject and/or topic and take lots of off-computer notes.
2. Come up with list of questions.
3. Know stuff inside and out so I can also ask questions on the fly.
4. Set my phone up with my cordless Madonna headset so I can type and listen at the very same time.
Today’s interview prep:
1. Google the hell out of my subject but take no off-computer notes because I’m doing it at First Watch while simultaneously eating breakfast/drinking coffee.
2. Look at my list of questions and feel confused. What was I going to say again?
3. Hope I know stuff well enough to ask questions on the fly but feel nervous. Haven’t crammed since college.
4. Hope one of my headsets works with the cell phone since the good bluetooth one requires electricity. Feel slightly panicked.
I should have rescheduled the interview but I was in denial about having no electric. Wish me luck.
Possibly related posts
Tags: freelance, freelance writing, interview, interviewing, interviews, Writing, writing work
First day down
Aug 11, 2008 The Story of My Life
And no one died, burst into tears (ok Madison did once but it’s because she saw a spider) or fell down the stairs. Yes, we survived the day without Brett. It wasn’t easy — I had to make my own coffee and the children had to suffer through my Mac & Cheese, which isn’t as good as Daddy’s — but we did it.
The kids and I cleaned 3/4 of the basement, which made a pretty big difference. I also moved the bright light downstairs, leaving the living room in near darkness. But it’s worth it to know my children aren’t squinting at their toys.
Madison is a lousy cleaner having no attention span and being easily distracted by every toy we unearthed. Noah spoiled me with his focused, attentive cleaning by age four, I guess. I finally quit nagging her and just set her up out of our way since she kept tipping over piles of stuff we’d just sorted. Now she’s very happily playing with, I think, her duplos. (”No,” she says. “PLAYMOBIL!” Sorry. Missed that.)
I’m grouching about a couple of late checks — both large-ish, one spectacularly late and one the same late it is every month. I dearly wish every client would pay in a timely manner instead of making me send repeated reminders. It’s part of freelancing that I really, really don’t like but there it is. I don’t know a freelancer in the world who doesn’t contend with it.
Possibly related posts
Tags: cleaning, client, daddy, freelance, freelancing, grouch, kids, Madison, Noah, play, PLAYMOBIL, toys
Are you hiring?
Jul 17, 2008 work work work
Because Brett is job hunting. That’s why I’ve been so grouchy.
On the one hand, it’s a good thing. We need to build our cushion back up after this last year of entrepreneurship broke it down; we need more savings. And more money is always a happy event because we wouldn’t mind actually finishing that bathroom we started renovating. See? That’s all good. But we’ve been struggling to see the good in it because we, of course, wanted to be rich and famous by now or at least be living off our business by now.
I still believe that we can make this work (this being our business) and be a work-at-home family just not quite yet. And we did have one great year (mostly) and I very nearly made my financial goals (I mean, I’m only a thousand bucks short for the year so far) but it’s been enough “almost” months that it’s had too big of an impact on our savings. (Not helped by our trip to Portland and the check that got “lost in the mail” for nearly two months.)
See, if you’re going to be a full-time freelance, you gotta have room for those inevitable expenses and we did but now we don’t and so! Brett to work.
It’s going to be hard on him (because he loves being at home with the kids) and on Noah & Madison (because they love having dad home with them) and on me (because I love having built-in childcare) but it’s not going to be as hard as it would have been a year ago. I mean, we have the business in place, we’ve gotten over the worst of our learning curve, we understand what it takes time and money wise, and I’ll be able to get childcare when I need it.
Anyhow, that’s the news I’ve been reluctant to share seeing as how I was hoping for a miracle. (Hey, it could still happen!) But barring said miracle, if you know anyone who’s hiring and would like to add a handsome, talented, organized, friendly man with way too much experience in insurance benefits and customer service, hit me up. Because I’ve got just the guy for you!
Possibly related posts
Tags: Brett, business, childcare, entrepreneurship, Family, freelance, grouch, kids
I am mouseless
Jun 26, 2008 work work work
Just temporarily, mind you. My old mouse was busted so Brett got me a new one and I did the whole switch-out before I realized that the new one needs to charage. I use my laptop as a monitor though so I have a mouse — just not a convenient one. Basically my entry title is a big lie. Nevermind.
So yesterday my presentation went (I think) well! At least I had fun and people laughed and afterwards some people stood around to ask some advice and some emailed me to say thanks. Mostly it was FUN even though I sweating bullets up there, lemme tell you. There are some things I would do/say differently next time but this is the first time I’ve given a talk like this and not one that was writing-specific. I’m thinking of maybe putting together a longer workshop where there’d be assignments and stuff.
I’ve been having some career remorse lately because I was wishing that I had gone for that MSW or PsyD or something that would let me work with people and get paid. Although who am I kidding? It’d be awfully hard to make enough as an MSW to pay off my MSW loans.
My friend Alicia, who put together yesterday’s workshop, said that maybe I should be a coach but those coaches — some of them are downright cheesy and when I see a coach-type I always think they don’t know what they’re talking about. I’m judgmental like that.
I’m at a career impasse as far as my money-making career goes. But I think it’s that I’m struggling with a particular problem and I need to just trudge my way through it. (I’ve got some things set up re., trudging but haven’t had the meetings they require yet.) Sorry to be so vague — suffice to say that at every new level of this here full-time freelance gig, I have to revisit said full-time freelance gig. I never really want to give it all up but sometimes I wander around complaining that I do. You really can’t believe me when I do that and you need to hear the cry for help (and chocolate) beneath the whining. You can imagine how fun it is to be married to me.
Anyway! Today is Thursday but for me it’s not quite Thursday because I have work to do and can’t go play with friends. So I’m sending my stand-in (Brett) and then meeting up with everyone afterwards. I’m a little jealous of my stand-in but he deserves joy, too, I suppose. (sigh)
Possibly related posts
Tags: Brett, career, freelance, Friends, money, presentation, Workshop, Writing
Stating the obvious: It’s Thursday
Jun 19, 2008 Friends
But around here Thursday means go-go-go. Thursday is the day that makes me love my freelance lifestye. Thursday is the day where Brett is thrilled not to have a “real” job. Thursday is park day and evening with friends day and the day my kids hang with the community that’s known them almost as long as we have.
Ahh, Thursdays!!!
But Thursdays are also stressful because there’s work to do first and snacks to pack and a dinner to plan on the run. And it makes for a late night, which can make Fridays a bit of a bear but is it worth it? Yes, indeed it is.
I had a rant to write but a good night’s sleep and Thursday put me in too good a mood to really get down and crank on the world. Maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up less happy but for today? THURSDAY! And off we go!
