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who doesn’t love a graph?

January 16th, 2007 @ 3:06 pm | Comments
Filed Under: business owner

It’s that time of year again: tax season! I didn’t used to have to do much to prepare for the tax thing, but now with a business there’s so much to keep track of. And my high-quality accounting system (read: an Excel spreadsheet that is in SERIOUS need of reorganization) makes it even more of an adventure. Keeping track of income is only step 1. After that I need to track my mileage for meetings, receipts for meals and all the other stuff I buy for the office, the computer, software, etc. For the most part though, because I love lists so much.. I get a sick enjoyment out of it.

Like graphs, for example. As I was finalizing the update to my 2006 income list for all of my clients and projects and totalling everything up, I of COURSE had to make a graph. And as I was admiring the lovely upward trend that the graph takes in the last quarter of ‘06, I thought: I wonder what a 2004-2006 graph might look like? (For those who don’t remember, I started this crazy fantasy back in October of 2004) Well, I present to you: A Graph. With notes, of course.

How satisfying is THAT? (and yes, I removed the actual dollar amounts.. I don’t want to appear as a big loser or as a bragger, depending on people’s perspectives.) As you can see, there were a few months here and there with a less-than-awesome performance, but that happens. Overall though- wow.

It truly boggles my mind how I got here. How LUCKY I am. I love what I’m doing, I get to do it in my pajamas (well, except for when I actually have to MEET with customers.. I do put on regular clothes for that!) with my big fat pregnant belly helping to prop the laptop up for me, AND I’m actually succeeding at it? The timing of me quitting my job and the sudden spike in jobs… I’m not sure if it was a coincidence or that I just had more time to focus on quotes and ’selling’ myself as a designer (which I STILL feel so uncomfortable doing, I am so not a salesman.) Whatever it was- luck, divine intervention, hard work- I am thankful.

I think it really hit me when I realized that my income this year from Inksplash alone (that means, not counting the full-time job I had for the first 6 months of the year) is more than I made at my first two laboratory research positions. Now, that actually might sound WAY more impressive than it really is. Those of you at all familiar with academic research know that entry-level positions don’t pay very well (the guy changing the lightbulbs MADE MORE THAN I DID. And I was trying to cure cancer. ahem.) But even still- I am a girl who likes numbers and a bottom line. It’s tough in the day-to-day issues I come up against working for myself to remember that IT’S WORKING and I’m A Success. And I am so lucky to have this opportunity.

Of course, in a few months when our world comes crashing down in a storm of diapers and baby tears and burping and breastfeeding, remind me of that, okay? :)

comments

1. Melissa
   January 16th, 2007 @ 8:06 pm

   Congratulations!! That’s so awesome! :)

   You ARE lucky… I wishwishwish I could work from home. Healthcare pretty much requires a person’s physical presence, unfortunately.

2. Steph
   January 17th, 2007 @ 1:41 am

   Congrats on your success Jen! I never really took the leap of doing it full time - even though I was “laid off”. I’m working hard on it right now to get my name out. I didn’t really want to do it while I was pregnant in case I couldn’t handle it when the baby was born. But I’m seeing trends in Heidi’s sleep patterns and at times, if I decide to ignore other chores, I may actually have time to do client work. I’m even doing a couple of pro-bono gigs right now just for the experience working with a newborn.

   I just redesigned my business cards last night, and I’m going to put a couple ads out. Its just hard finding the money to spare to get it started again.

   Anyway, that’s awesome. I’m really happy for you. :) (Maybe you gotta share your price list with me! - I always feel like I’m underselling my worth. Sometimes I’d rather just have the client than make the money… but that attitude has got to change now. heh)

3. Steph
   January 17th, 2007 @ 1:41 am

   Hey Jen - I just commented with my old email address. If you reply, can you send it here? Thanks ;)