I've passed the 1 year mark of working for myself, and I can't begin to tell you all the things I've learned through this experience, but it took me a while to learn the most obvious of lessons: that working hard really does pay off. Since it's my first year, I've still been adjusting to the cycle of things. I hadn't quite learned when my slow times would be, and when business would be booming, but I can tell you I found out pretty quickly that summer meant slow sales. On etsy, locally, everywhere. Things got a little scary without a steady paycheck to rely on, and I saw myself facing a reality that I did not want to accept. I was beginning to think that maybe it couldn't be done, and I'd need to find a "real job". My goal has always been to work for myself doing things that I love to do, and going back to the grind felt like I was failing, like I was giving up on my dream. I felt low. To have finally made it out, and to have to go back.. it was a heartbreaking thought.
I want to be an example that shows others who are trying to make it, that it might not be easy, but it is possible! So, your house might never get cleaned and you don't have much time for friends, family and fun stuff.. but you have to make sacrifices for your dream job.
I owe a lot to Bradley, the world's hardest working husband, for showing me what it really looks like to work. He has taught me so much about the importance of taking pride in your work and doing things the right way. Without him as my role model, it would have taken me a lot longer to learn that you really do get out of something what you put into it. Turms out all those cheesy cliches are onto something.