News And Updates
My goals for the new year?
To focus less on blogging and more on publishing independent pieces in additional online and print publications.
To save up the money for a career coaching certification program.
To stop worrying about money.
To fit into my jeans again.
Lofty and admirable goals all, not to mention unimaginably daunting.
How can I set the right goals for 2009…the types of goals I can actually accomplish?
[Photo via]
Aaaand I’m back, thanks to a new wireless g USB network adapter. Yes, I spent the bulk of today losing my shit as my Internet connection went down every five minutes. As a result, I was able to squeeze in three Modern Materialist posts, but not much else.
But that’s not the only reason it’s been quiet around here this week, and that’s why I’m writing this post.
After a brief literary detour, I’ve finally returned to my favorite genre — career/self-help — with Megan Hustad’s How To Be Useful.
The book is thus far sporadically useful in itself, but I did find two especially interesting tips worth mentioning in its chapter on networking and “the Master Mind.”
After the jump, make the most of networking events, connecting with the people who can help you eventually take over the world! (or some such thing)
It’s been a busy month, what with two weddings, a magazine deadline, evenings in the city, a day trip to New Hope, and a triple date to go apple picking. All that and I obsessed for a full week about what I should wear to a costume party that finally took place the other night.
Not surprisingly, my blogging suffered, both here and over at Nerve, and I’m only now getting back into the swing of things.
Of course, all of this could have been avoided if I had just stockpiled. After the jump, what I usually do before busy times.
Um.
So.
Posting frequency has been a bit erratic here lately (obvs). With the folding of the New York Sun, I lost my main source of income, causing me to rethink my goals and my ideal work situation. In addition, as I wait on several checks, I’m terrified of the money running out before I can pay all of my bills. Though such instability can be a common occurrence for the freelancer, the situation has left me feeling depressed and unfocused.
I still can’t deny, however, that it’s a definite treat to be able to spend so much time writing from home. So how do I keep myself motivated?
I feel only semi-conscious today. Last night, Lusa went wild, systematically knocking the objects on my dresser onto the floor, playing with plastic bags and bubble wrap, running wildly across the bed every time I had finally found sleep and, worst of all, flinging her body across my pillow and tangling her claws in my hair (ouch!). I didn’t get much sleep.
Aside from crazy cats, the only other things that typically keep me up are my racing thoughts.
I experienced a plethora of unforeseeable problems upon casting off the shackles off full-time office work and proceeding with freelancedom:
- I don’t want to wake up. Ever.
- When I finally wake up, I’m too lazy to even shower. Besides, my fuzzy, Cookie Monster pajama pants are way comfortable.
- I’m not quite sure what to do with myself.
- By the time I figure out what to do, I’m ready for a lunch break. This leads to a four-hour America’s Next Top Model marathon.
- Due to guilt over the lack of daytime productivity, I work late into the night, when I should be preparing dinner, or bonding with my husband.
Obviously, despite my eagerness to leave behind the 9-to-5, I still required some semblance of a schedule. A few moves that keep me on track: