I know many of you are bloggers, crafters, freelancers, or have a little business on the side. Most of you would like to know how to make a full-time living off this. Because of that and the fact that this post has been so popular, I’m going to share a little bit on how I’ve been doing this for myself.

My Personal Madness

A little over a year ago, I’d just been fired from a job I hated. I shouldn’t have stuck around there so long, but it was safe. The job market sucked when I got out of college, and I’m a single parent. I was thinking of law school, but I’d heard the horror stories of lawyers who went straight to law school only to find they hated being a lawyer when they got out. So, I got a job at a law firm, quickly realizing that I did NOT want to be a lawyer. Instead of quitting, I kept the job. Be happy to have a job, right. So when I got fired it was a HUGE relief, but it was also ridiculously stressful due to those things we like to call bills. I didn’t have anything liquid {like an emergency fund}, and I had a load of debt.

Lucky for me, I’d started this blog and had experience in marketing and event planning. I offered ads here and sold a bunch of stuff I didn’t need or had never worn. Thinking back to a conversation with Lisi, I looked for work as a writer. I also picked up a gig with a big entrepreneurship conference in Miami, where I met some amazing people. All this helped me cover the bills while I started offering my services as a freelance writer and social media specialist.

Fast forward to today. I’m a full-time freelance writer, social media specialist, and consultant with a variety of clients, one of my most frequent being a Fortune 100 company. I donate my spare time and services to a really cool charity. I’ve written and had a book published. I’m in the process of writing another book. I’m not rolling in dough, but I’m making just as much as I did at that job I hated. I’ve managed to pay off most of my debt, have an emergency fund, and now have a retirement fund. I work fewer hours, and I do it from wherever I want, which means more time with my son and a more comfortable wardrobe.

And, you’re saying “That’s great, but how does this help me?”

So here is where I tell you the super helpful stuff. I read through plenty of blogs and books out there that helped inspire me, some of which you will find in that post I mentioned above. However, if I had to tell you to pick just one, I’d tell you to go for Chris Guillebeau’s Unconventional Guides and $100 Business Forum. For someone looking to start a very small business {full-time or on the side}, I think his stuff is the best. I was part of his and Pam Slim’s first group of $100 business students and it was amazing. I’m applying everything I learned to a current project that is set to launch next year, and it’s helped keep me focused.

I believe in his products so much that I’m offering 15% off any service on this page to anyone who purchases anything from the Unconventional Guides.

If you’re interested, but still not 100% sold on the idea, keep reading. {FYI: There’s another discount at the end of the post.}

Does any of this sound familiar?

“My Etsy shop and blog rock, but I have no idea how to make serious money off this.”
“I’ve got so much freelance work, I hardly have anytime to sleep, but I’m still not getting paid!”
“I have so many ideas, how do I choose which one to execute?” <– This one is soooo me
“I want to travel the world, but I don’t have the money!”
“I know I have talent, but I’m not sure I have what it takes to make money off it.”
“I’m a creative, I can’t run a business!”
“God, I HATE my job, but I don’t have the time to start my own business.”
“I can’t leave my job because the economy sucks right now.”
“I have a great idea, but I just can’t figure out how to get started.”

I thought it would. We’ve all heard them or said them. I’m dead serious when I tell you that there is a guide that will help you solve each of those problems and rid you of those doubts. I’m talking worksheets, exercises, one-on-one time, and then some.

This is where I gush…

Let me tell you that I have a huge admiration for Chris Guillebeau. He’s a big advocate of tiny businesses, has traveled around the world, and he believes you can do both with ridiculously small amounts of cash.

I highly recommend you read his blog if you’re a freelancer, travel lover, artist, or contemplating becoming any of the above. As for the guides, if you know someone who is itching to strike out on their own, but doesn’t have too much cash or seems a little lost, this is the gift to give.

Do it. I’m serious. You’ll never regret it.

{p.s.} From now until Monday, you can get 15% off EVERYTHING including gift certificates, the Empire Building Kit, travel hacking guides, and freelancing guides. Plus, 15% of profits will go to Charity:Water, so when you really think about it, your changing more than one life by gifting any of these guides or buying one for yourself. Just use the code Pumpkin at checkout.