Wish me luck, hold my hand...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wish me luck, hold my hand...
3
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 11:26pm

Well, I'm finally taking the plunge again. We are in debt because of an aborted business attempt right after the 9/11 attacks. My husband had been out of work and I was trying to support the family with my freelance work. We lived on credit cards.

Anyway, I bring all that up again as background for my announcement: I'm trying again!

I've been gestating this business idea for a long time and suddenly the pieces are falling into place. Where my previous business simply provided copywriting and design services to small businesses, my new company will actually help them learn better communications skills for themselves. Dh and I are going to be offering in-house and on-location communications seminars to small businesses in our area. On my timeline for my first introductory (and complimentary) lunch seminar, I had marked next week to call the company I hoped to borrow space from. Well, Tuesday *they called me* out of the blue and asked if I could put some marketing materials together for them! I mentioned my incipient business plan to them, and what I wanted from them, and they said, "Yes, let's work out the details of a barter arrangement. When are you available next week?" Woo-hoo! The space is perfect for what I am doing. THEN, to top it off, I was meeting with another company, a full-service PR and marketing firm, on another matter entirely, and they brought up the thought of trading some writing for their services. Well, I am in need of so many materials in the next couple months I'm not sure how I was going to get it done--I can put it together myself, but it would be time consuming and expensive. But this company is going to do it on barter--I'll copywrite a few brochures (which is easier and quicker and cheaper for me than actually producing an entire marketing package for myself) for them, and they'll put my marketing package together.

I already have my neighbor, who is a caterer, lined up to do the lunch (I pay only her cost, which is minimal), so all my little ducks are falling into line, and I am so happy.

This time, dh is keeping his job, so paying our bills will never be in question. I will be funding the business out of my freelance writing, and then eventually I will be able to stop doing the freelance as the business will be self-funding (that's the plan, anyway).

But I'm still nervous. It will be syphoning funds that could be paying down debt. But it is for a bigger goal--eventually we want to be free of the corporate world, be our own bosses, and live in the country without having to commute. We want to choose our location, and work and raise our family together.

So I think it's a good thing, but it still makes me nervous. I also have to be careful with myself--I get excited and it makes me feel important to do these things, and last time I let it interfere with what is truly most important to me--being mom to my boys. This time, if an engagement or opportunity presents itself that will be detrimental to that, no matter how important or impressive or lucrative, I am simply going to say no. I hope.

Anyway, wish me luck. I think this is really going to work this time. I think we are going to have a really, really good year. It helps that dh just got a fat bonus and fatter raise.

Thanks to anyone who got this far. Anyone know a good support board around here for new entrepreneurs?

I'm going to bed now. Good night,

Heather

P.S. This may mean I'll be awol a lot in the near future. I'll still be checking in and I'll try to keep up. :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
Fri, 12-31-2004 - 5:40am

Dear Heather,

Best of luck to you!!!!! I hope you are very successful and will enjoy this, too!!!!!

I don't think you are taking an unreasonable risk. We have to take risks sometimes within reason to get ahead, move to the next level, spice up our lives!

You sound like you've got it all together, and I know your students will benefit!

Littlesbigs

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-06-2004
Fri, 12-31-2004 - 11:27am
Hi! And I second that emotion. Please go forward, it sounds very good to me. Nothing beats a failure, but a try. Good luck to you and yours. I wish you and yours a very Merry New Year! Take care and God Bless.

 

Avatar for mymartes
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 12-31-2004 - 3:47pm

Best of luck. I'll keep you in my prayers. Some times we have to take chances in life.

MYM