Cheers- to all my self-employed friends and colleagues and those transitioning to self-employment.
Today is the last business day of 2017. I celebrate you. I celebrate your mind and your heart and your actions. I celebrate you sharing your heart and showing your work… especially here on FB.
Sometimes our families and personal friends hide us or dismiss our work posts between photos of the kids and dogs and vacations and food. And God knows they rarely share or applaud our work- often seeing it as over-sharing and annoying rather than encouraging or supporting us.
But I see you. I see you sharing your voice. I see you putting your creativity in the world so that you can not only share your work- but also so you can support your families.
This is not just a job for you- it’s your heart and soul work and it takes guts. Guts that many don’t understand.
I know that you are often ALL the employees in your small company. You are the boss, the admin, the marketing, the sales, the copywriter, the IT and web developer. The photographer, the bookkeeper, and the janitor. And. if you have support- you are the HR manager, too.
Well done, BAD ASS. I celebrate you.
I celebrate you for continually learning and doing professional development at your own expense. I celebrate you for solving tons of problems. I celebrate you for managing your thoughts when the weekly freak out and doubts show up. I cheer for all you do behind the scenes that no one sees.
I celebrate and give a standing ovation to your experiments and risks and failures. I celebrate your successes, too. Well done on all accounts!!!
I understand that it can be lonely and sometimes when you post or share or make an offering, it can feel like crickets- and keep doing it. I think you are amazing and the world needs your work.
Someone is listening.
Most likely they won’t say a word- but your work is having an impact. It is contributing to mankind. Product or service- it matters.
Cheers to you. ?
And a special cheer and celebration of my husband Bill Flanigin.
After 29 years of a paycheck on the last workday of the month – my super sexy and talented husband has been putting himself out there as a writer. He has had over 45 pieces of work published and been paid for many of these. He’s written 2 drafts of a screenplay and he’s taught a writer’s workshop for teenagers (and is looking to teach more locally). He’s experimented with new styles of writing. He’s stretched his comfort zone, he’s pitched his work over, and over. He’s been ignored, rejected, and accepted.
Honey- I’m so proud of you. Welcome to the life of a self-employed small business owner! I’m so proud of what you’ve created and are creating.
Keep up the good work.
And if you are reading this and not self-employed but know or love someone who is- you liking, commenting, and sharing their work matters. You aren’t obligated, but even a thumb’s up and simple comment help expand something that is VERY DEAR an IMPORTANT to the self-employed creator or service provider. Give a word of encouragement every now and then. It makes a monumental difference.
If you are reading this and have bought a product or service from a small business owner- THANK YOU doesn’t even come close to our appreciation for you. YOU make it possible for us to do work we love.
Cheers!
Ps. My editor is on vacation so excuse the typos.