If there's one thing that going live without a net will teach you, it's how much of your life is really up to timing & coincidence. And how important time is. Although I thought I knew this when I was working on a salary - even salary & commission - it's so much more apparent now. Before, my time was worth $20/hour. No more, no less, so if I didn't get as much as I could done, well, it didn't make a difference. Now, 24 hours can be worth nothing, while one moment can be worth half a million dollars. The trick is knowing which one and getting it right when it comes along. I haven't had any half million dollar moments yet, but I'm working towards them.
I'm also learning just how important credit is - it really smoothes out the bumps. Before, it was something to be protected, jealously guarded, not used. Now, I need it, and thank goodness I have it. Sometimes I have trouble making payments, although the mortgages are being paid on time every month - I'm making just enough to ensure that. The rest comes when it comes. I haven't had a moment to finish up my taxes yet - but it's on my list. Hopefully I'll finish it out during the long weekend. Looks like my plans for the Fourth have fallen through, so I'll have plenty of time.
Well, kind of. I'm still trying to paint my bedroom. If I can just get this done, I can remove so much clutter from the living room and perhaps even make a private oasis from which to work, where there's no tv to distract me :( It's not so much when I'm alone as when my boyfriend's home - he's got that thing on all the time. I've been sleeping in the living room for the past week. The painting's going slowly, and before I finish I have to paint our pavillion so he's not sleeping in a sieve this Pennsic - the new tent still not having been finished :( But I need an industrial sewing machine for that, and that's way down the list of things I need to spend my money on.
I have begun tithing 10% of my income to charity. I've always enjoyed giving to charity, and this ensures that I can do so on a regular basis. I'd also like to start tithing to my SEP IRA - that's to come.
In just two weeks I will have been pursuing this lifestyle for five months. Not doing as well as I thought I would, but I'm starting to see some things peak. I need to create systems, and I also need reconfirmation from my boss that he still has faith in me. If not, then I may need to start over somewhere else. It would be a shame, though - six months is thought to be the real starting point in a real estate career.
So I'm going to sign off, do some housework and prepare for a bunch of those half million dollar moments that will come my way soon! Happy Fourth to all.
