Today is the third anniversary of my self-employment.
Honestly, y’all, I didn’t know if I would still be self-employed three years after starting this full-time gig. When I quit my day job, which I’d had for 17 years, I wondered if I would have to go back to it, tail between my legs. In fact, for the first two months after I left, I stayed on as a part-time employee, available to fill-in for emergencies.
I only ever went in twice, and after the second time, I got the mother of all migraines. As I left that day, I told my boss to complete my severance paperwork.
And I’ve never regretted that, and not once.
I honestly can’t believe that I get to do this for a living. And such a good living! I am good with words but bad with numbers, so it wasn’t until I got my taxes done last week that I realized I’d broken six figures in 2018!
Now, the majority of that is hustle, not book money. You can hear exactly how I made all my 2018 money in this podcast.
I said in that podcast that I made $10,000 from retreats, which is true, but that was net. I actually grossed $30,000, and that’s what put me over into the six-figure bracket.
There are people, I know, who think I’m gauche to talk about my actual numbers (they have felt free to tell me!). But that’s completely okay. There should be more transparency in this industry, and God knows, if I was just starting out, I’d be looking for people to tell me the truth about what they made and how they struggled and how they were victorious. I’d also want to know about their failures, which is why I feel free to tell you about mine, too!
And truth: I only brought home about $42k after expenses and taxes, but I needed to make $36k to survive, and that’s more! Huzzah! (This is also transparency. I recently heard a 7-figure writer talk about his income, and I wondered how much he spent on ads – I spent less than $3k because I get nervous about ads. I should probably be a bit more aggressive. Someday.)
Mostly, I’m just so grateful. I’m grateful to the very middle of each of my bones. I’m soaking in and made of gratitude.
This morning, I wrote 4000 words in the Mills College tea shop. That was above my goal, so I felt pretty good about it. Knowing that this was my third anniversary, I had left my day pretty open aside from the necessary writing. I went to Trader Joe’s and bought a lot of groceries. (Aside, I’ve lost 12 pounds since last month’s prediabetic scare. Turns out I’m not prediabetic, but you definitely shouldn’t mainline three Cadbury Creme eggs an hour before you get a cholesterol test. And I have to mention I credit most of the weight loss to the fact that I’m tracking my food intake for the first time in my life. What gets measured you manage.)
Then I kind of had nothing to do.
Usually my days are booked from literal sunup to literal sundown. I’m a planner, and I like to know how I’m going to spend each hour. That doesn’t allow for much spontaneity, but it does mean I’m productive, which I have to be when I hustle for so many different income streams.
Today though? I called a best friend after I bought approximately 40 tons of broccoli from TJ’s, and sat at her kitchen table, drinking tea. We talked about books and life and the world, and I thought to myself, “this is part of my job. I can’t write if I don’t live.”
So I’m grateful, so very grateful for every moment I’m given. As I write this, Dozy is sitting on my lap and licking off my coconut-oil hand cream. Clara is snoring. Soon, I’m going to take a nap, because I have time to do that today.
I don’t take any of this for granted. And that makes it all the more lovely.
Happy three to me!
Hurray Rachael! Your happiness is inspiring!
Hurray!! also, I’ve always wondered if people are reporting gross or net when they talk about “breaking 6 figures”. Personally, I think net is more informative (because if you spend more on ads and then end up with lower net income from book sales, the gross is irrelevant). Thank you for sharing your numbers and the breakdown every year. It’s important. I’m glad you had a great anniversary day.
What a lovely post, as always, and congrats on breaking in to the six figure author club. I agree with you that part of giving back is being honest, especially as there are a number of people selling themselves as being perhaps a little bigger than they are, without perhaps telling the whole truth. If I make a million dollars, but spend a million two on ads, am I really a seven figure author?? (off to find calculator 🙂
“What gets measured you manage”… ain’t that the truth! That’s the only way I can keep myself accountable for so much… spending, food, time spent on electronics. If I track it it becomes real. Odd that… I know the food I put in my mouth is real, but having to look at it listed out (on paper or a screen) somehow gives it more… solidity.
Won’t lie… not sure I always like that.
Anyway… Happy 3 Years! And congrats on becoming successfully self employed doing something you love!!!
Hurray, Rachael, and congratulations! I have been reading your blog since the very early yarn a go go days and am so happy YOU are making it happen for YOU! I agree that it is good to talk about our financial journey in life, especially as women. We need to be educated about how money works for us and how we can find success in our finances. I’m a big Mr. Money Mustache fan (check him out if you don’t already know about him), and your depth year goals inspired me to do my own this year as a part of my ongoing focus of finding real happiness, vs. just more STUFF. Way to go, Rachael!
Oh, yes, I LOVE MMM! (Sad about his divorce!) Thank you for this, Ellie! <3
Yay!! So happy that you did the scary thing three years ago – I’ve loved watching you figure this out and do it so incredibly well. Your honesty and transparency are inspiring. ❤️
Thank you, sweet Erin!
Happy Anniversary! I’m one who appreciates your transparency. You inspire me. Enjoy!
Thanks so much, Patty!
Aside from all of the pearls of wisdom that you always manage to impart, this post in particular, hits home…
… I can’t write if I don’t live…
So true… so true…
We get all bent out of shape trying to fit in a full time job, writing, family and social commitments, etc.
I own my business, and now at the age of sixty one, I have actually started to live how I always wished my writing dream / journey to be.
This is not a ‘Fake it till you make it’ paradigm… more along the lines of actually stopping to smell the roses, taking time, and giving the proverbial bird to people who still think they can demand my instant attention.
It is working, and it appears that you too, are now embracing the small things…
Great blog, and waaaaay cool podcasts!
Go you!!!
Thanks so much, Ian!