work because I like to, not because I have to

Last planned money earning activity happening next week – lots of big bods at a training event. Feel inadequate, but sure it will turn out ok on the day (it always does). Need to work hard tomorrow and Monday to make sure I finish the resources needed.
Then in 10 days time I’m off to start the PhD.
Want to find time to evaluate the last year before I start. Need to think about how to carry business through this period of education – I don’t want to lose what I’ve started to build – and I’ve learned quite a bit. I’ve also found out some of my weaknesses (prevarication, marketing…) as well as some strengths (flexibility, networking, creativity, diversity).
Will set aside two hours thinking time to this over the next week – Wednesday morning best time, at the gym, on the exercise bike. Will then create action plan of how to keep on in business whilst studying!
There’s the other strength and weakness: ambitious or likely to bite off more than I can chew.

My big “security blanket” contract has fallen through, leaving me with no income for the next few weeks. I’d given up trying to find more work because I’d enough to keep me going until the PhD funding comes through. How many swear words do I know?
Not fault of company I was working for: they’ve unexpected financial difficulty.
Could I have planned for this differently? Forseen this? Financial reserves running thin as we’ve had house disaster too.
Need to build up reserves so losing a contract doesn’t make a big stress.
Could try spreading work between more companies so I’m not dependent on just one.
This gives me a chance to try to tout for more work – not something I’ve had to do a lot of yet.

Earned more writing last week than I used to get each month teaching. Good good good feeling. Now I just need to make this happen every month.

Great day, really. I’m earning my living writing. (Act like total loon, dancing round living room to Gorillas.) I can’t believe this is working. I’m so lucky.

I’ve had a better week. Two lots of positive feedback from clients, although invoices all still outstanding. Enjoying the writing – I still can’t believe I get paid to do this stuff – but still unsure about some of the more innovative stuff. Have decided that this is probably a good thing – a sort of performance nerves – that keeps me on my toes.

Don’t feel like I love my job this week. I feel like a fish out of water and can’t seem to find my confidence. Just get on with it.
Money has been short. I’ve earned a lot in the last seven days, but didn’t earn enough in the previous month. Kids off school soon, then I’ll really be in trouble.

I’m not beginning at the beginning. I am already working in a job I really like, so I am working for the most part because I like to. I also have to work. So I guess this goal for me is about continuing to pursue bliss work rather than set myself to grinding away just to get the cash. It isn’t about being so rich that I never have to work again unless I’m bored.
I love my job. I sometimes walk along the street and grin because my job is so great. I am creative and independent and innovative in my business, and there is loads more to do and learn. I wish I had more time to spend developing my business, but part of being happy in my work is taking time to be with my family and meeting their priorities, not just obsessively working away.

So what is my goal? First of all, to make this lovely work more financially lucrative. I love my work but I’d like to earn more so that I can do more of the other things I want to do including putting the kids through university and other big life events. I also want to have a bit of security so that I will one day be able to retire (although I’m not sure I’d want to) and so that I can deal with emergencies when they happen. And I want to become more of an expert in my field, to be referred to to help others with their own work. I’d like to know loads more and really make this business produce results.