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My bookkeeper has been over the past two weekends. She only comes at year end. In all honestly, it hasn't really mattered that she came more than that because I've allowed myself to land in the lowest tax bracket, not really needing to know the $ numbers for the most part. Just go about my work and pay the bills. No big deal.
Well, this weekend was somewhat of a game changer. The numbers showed I nearly made as much with my blogging gig (aka passion thing) vs the sign biz. Whaaa??? I didn't see that slip by!
I cut myself a deal awhile back. When I can surpass my blog gig beyond my sign gig, I am allowed to quit the dayjob. But not a moment sooner.
And just for that added little extra push, my main dayjob client told me about this mandatory new thing that will require me there even MORE in 2014. I don't want more, I was banking for less.
I have less than a year to make the final flip to avoid that ditch. And I'm going to give it all I've got in order to do it.
I turned 51 on Saturday. My ploy isn't to get all these bday wishes. Not even close. My point is, if I can start over at this age....
Well, you know the rest.
Just do it.
[ April 07, 2013, 02:01 PM: Message edited by: Donna in BC ]
Here's to making the switch to your passion. This is an inspiration to all who dream. Our dream (realized when I turned 59) was to build our dream house. We hope to move in in about eight weeks.
GO for the dreams and work with our passion.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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When I first came to Washington state from California, I had no clients. I took a job running the signshop at a local amusement park. I worked there for six years. Job had medical/dental benefits as well. But as time went on I was able to build up a clientel even though I am smack dab in the middle of some of America's finest signshops. Then one day I told my manager I was leaving. He said 'But you make such nice signs here." He couldn't understand my logic of leaving a hourly job. That was in 2002, I have never looked back since. Go for it girl, like the song from the Mary Tylor Moore Show, "You're gonna make it after allll!!!.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3814 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Congratulations Donna! Go for your dream and make it happen.
Happy Birthday!
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1694 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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Happy belated Donna. I commend you for your success in following your passions. When you have so many talents, you have so many choices...your hard work is paying off, good on you. (Dan, you too!)
-------------------- Susan Banasky Source Signs Nanaimo, British Columbia sourcesigns@shaw.ca
When in need....go directly to the "Source"!
Proud Supporter of this "Knowledge Network"! Posts: 1323 | From: Nanaimo, B.C. Canada | Registered: Oct 1999
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Grandpaw gives junkmaker a high four! We aren't aging Donna,....we're evolving. "sign" will always be in our blood even if it isn't in our name anymore. I'm moving toward furniture making and back to photography.... It's all good!
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It looks like a birthday wish has come true, life is good after all.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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How did you monetize your blog? . What you and Dan said is inspiring; I'm 53, but what's interesting is that I seem to have gained a certain discipline that allows me to think clearer now than before.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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quote: Grandpaw gives junkmaker a high four! We aren't aging Donna,....we're evolving. "sign" will always be in our blood even if it isn't in our name anymore. I'm moving toward furniture making and back to photography.... It's all good!
Well said!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ ΈΈ.*¨*♫♪♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥Happy Birthday!♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ ΈΈ.*¨*♫♪♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ To You ♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ ΈΈ.*¨*♫♪♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥Happy Birthday!♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ ΈΈ.*¨*♫♪♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ To You ♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ ΈΈ.*¨*♫♪♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥Happy Birthday!♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ ΈΈ.*¨*♫♪♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ Happy Birthday! ♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ ΈΈ.*¨*♫♪♪♫*¨*.ΈΈ♥ Happy Birthday! To You!
James, I monetize with 'ugly' ads right now to play along with the blog game thing. But Dan is pushing me hard to ditch them and make my own way. I'm getting there! Some side online gigs are helping but I already know what the main game changer will be... ugh. The hardest and longest one of all. Gotta get that ebook writing complete!
Thanks everyone! I had a wonderful bday with friends and food all day long. And even a nap just like Raymond!
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Your dream will be your reality! awesome! and happy birthday!!!!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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There's no doubt in my mind that your dream is going to come true. You are a very special lady - there's something inside you that is very different. It shows in your passion for your work and your love as a mother. Follow your heart.
And...Happy Birthday..a little late. If you could find a way to bottle whatever secret you have for looking forever young at 51 you could make a mint.
Naps are never wrong.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Raymond, I think it's the water out there in Yarrow. Look at those lovely ladies, Janis, Donna and Bec. It's like a fountain of youth. It doesn't seem to work for men however. But, that could be because Coke isn't made from local water.
Many years ago we used to chat and you let me know that you had surpased $100K gross for a year. That inspired me to try to attain that target, and I did.
Thank you for letting me know it was possible for a one person operation!
Now that I am on the other side of retirement, please let me give you this small bit of advice...Pay as much as you can into CPP during the next 9 years...You will enjoy the benefits after age 60. Also, if you haven't already, start up an RRSP account.
You are 51 now, but the years DO creep up quickly and you need to assure your future.
Just a comment from an old fart that used to be 51!!!
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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Lady Donna, or are you more prone to MaDonna from Cody? there is a book that you might find inspiration from Do WHat You Love and the Money Will Follow Let me know if you ever get it and care to comment. Belated Happy Birthday again, and again, and again.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. Charles Mingus Posts: 6714 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey Dave, There are a whole bunch of us getting perilously close to retirement. I think it will be like starting a new sign business. You, fret and plan and analyze. You procrastinate, you dream, you think you have all the answers. The next minute you're scared and really wonder if you can do it. Then all of a sudden, boom you're there and this is your new life. It's all kind of scary and you wish you had a mentor. Instead, you plow through, one day a victory the next day a failure. Up and down,forward and backward. When it comes to retirement, there is literally no time for failure or even trial and error. You and Shirl, as much as anyone I know, seem to have made a smooth transition to this new business of retirement. I would love to see you start a thread on the topic of Retiring from the sign business. A good open exchange of thoughts and experiences that people like us can relate to and participate in. Cheers...
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Thanks Duncan...And it did take a few years to go from planning to fruition. At your suggestion, I'll try to put together a description of how we planned it. But not tonight!!!
Stay tuned tomorrow.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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