"If your justifications are peppered with words and phrases like "should," "makes sense," "is the responsible thing to do," and "I can't back out now," this is a sign that you are fooling yourself. A quick test is to listen to your answer to the question "How do I really feel?" Trust the answer." - Pamela Slim,
Escape from Cubicle Nation
Last week I pruned my part-time position at
Horizon Hobby out of my life. Horizon Hobby had been more than flexible with my new schedule as a Mommy Freelancer. Letting me work from home & come in for needed meetings when I had childcare. I was working on a thought provoking & challenging project with a great team of people. I had even held onto my favorite benefit: a membership to the
Fitness Center.
September 30th approached. The day that upper management had set as a reevaluation date in May when I attempted to quit. I began questioning if staying on with Horizon Hobby was the best thing for myself & Jessie Marie Studio. Throughout August the answer was it "is the responsible thing to do."
New opportunities began to present themselves.
I was asked to redesign a cover for
Storybuilders. A great fit for my talents. I accepted. The client loved what I created. She can't wait to work on a larger project with me.
 |
| The redesigned back cover, spine & front cover. Completed last Wednesday. |
Connections in Maine started to present themselves to promote
Adventures with Ranger Roy: Acadia National Park in the place we see as our book’s natural home. Someone had to follow up.
 |
| First Prospective Vendor Packages sent to Portland, Maine today. |
 |
| USPS + JMS |
I was asked to create an installation piece for
40North's SIGHTSPECIFIC - a rotating series of storefront exhibitions in the
downtown Champaign area. I was challenged with creating a piece to be shown in the ticketing window of the Art Theater. An idea was gaining traction in my head. Time was needed to create.
 |
| Photo of Chad Knutson pulling... |
 |
| his six month old daughter, Janet from last Friday. |
 |
| Jill & Clara Knutson enjoying the same afternoon bike ride. |
My time is limited as a Mommy Freelancer. I have between 20 & 25 hours a week dedicated to
Jessie Marie Studio. Half that time is spent attending to any administrative work, business planning, brainstorming, emailing, social networking &
photography fun. The other half is dedicated to my client's projects & building the
Adventures with Ranger Roy empire.
A choice had to be made. I had to deliberately pick which client's projects I was going to focus on. It seemed between August & September God created a clear path of new opportunities. The path didn't "make sense" - or bring in a consistent paycheck. But I had to trust Him.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test & approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing & perfect will." Romans 12:2
