I couldn't do it anymore.

Hello all, I'm a 40 year old guy from the Midwest USA. I finally snapped, I have wanted to be a graphic, and web designer for years, also do freelance photography when I can get work. (Not a lot of photography gigs in small town Iowa). I tried doing the freelance thing for design, just couldn't get enough work consistently to make it a viable way to live my life.

So, I started doing construction, with the thought I could make enough money to build up my portfolio and whatnot to quit, and do design for a living. However, they way it turned out, I was working sometimes 12 hours a day 7 days a week, yeah I was making good money, but I had zero time to work on doing what I wanted. In fact, basically my day job, became my life.

I finally snapped, I left my job about a month ago, and I'm trying to get some passive income coming in while get my design business to become a real option for survival. I have lurked on this site on or off for years, decided it was time to give this a go, and see what I can do.

So yeah, I guess that is my basic story. I'm sure it's similar to many others.

Best of luck to you my friend.

sobolanu said:

Best of luck to you my friend.

Click to expand...

Thank you, from the reading I have been doing on the forum, it seems if you put in the work, luck doesn't have much to do with it. That being said, I will take all the good luck I can get.

denialmedia said:

Thank you, from the reading I have been doing on the forum, it seems if you put in the work, luck doesn't have much to do with it. That being said, I will take all the good luck I can get.

Click to expand...

Well sometimes a little luck can give you a boost but yes, in the end it's all about the work because without it you don't have many chances to get lucky anyway

All the best bruv just invest your time in some kind of recurring business

7ZEUS7 said:

All the best bruv just invest your time in some kind of recurring business

Click to expand...

Thank you, that's the goal. Just have to narrow down what I'm comfortable doing, and what wouldn't drive me bonkers doing everyday.

sobolanu said:

Well sometimes a little luck can give you a boost but yes, in the end it's all about the work because without it you don't have many chances to get lucky anyway

Click to expand...

That's no lie. Thinking that could be one of the reasons I have never won the lottery. I never actually play.

Making money (online or offline) it is a skill that needs to be develop, it takes time, good luck.

patadeperro said:

Making money (online or offline) it is a skill that needs to be develop, it takes time, good luck.

Click to expand...

Thank you, I see you have been around awhile, I'm curious. How many people would you say come onto a forum like this, and just assume they are going to find like a program with a button they click and they are all of the sudden rich? I have a pretty full life under me, and have yet to meet one "rich" person in my life who didn't work there ass off to get there.

Welcome to the forum and read as much as you can, improve your skills.

CanonStriker said:

Welcome to the forum and read as much as you can, improve your skills.

Click to expand...

That's the plan, and oh boy, is there a LOT of information to learn. Thankfully I love learning new things.

Wish you all the best!

It's nice to see a 40 year old guy full of motivation and life energy. I'm always afraid of myself will I lose that when I get older (I'm 28). Because there are many guys who comes in their middle age and stop working on their dreams. They give up, start drinking, doing nothing useful and such.
That's why I feel happy when I see guy like you still with curiosity and life energy to push forward.

And you won't fail as long as you keep trying. That's a key and it's OK to fail. There will be mistakes, downs, but you just learn from them and they make you stronger in accomplishing your goal.

Sizus said:

Wish you all the best!

It's nice to see a 40 year old guy full of motivation and life energy. I'm always afraid of myself will I lose that when I get older (I'm 28). Because there are many guys who comes in their middle age and stop working on their dreams. They give up, start drinking, doing nothing useful and such.
That's why I feel happy when I see guy like you still with curiosity and life energy to push forward.

And you won't fail as long as you keep trying. That's a key and it's OK to fail. There will be mistakes, downs, but you just learn from them and they make you stronger in accomplishing your goal.

Click to expand...

Oh my friend, it's true. Sad, but true.

The real truth of the matter, I got in a slump, I was drinking EVERYDAY, while I was doing cunstruction, it was just what you did, you end up in another state working on a job, you don't know anyone, you end up at the bar. It got real bad. So, I stopped drinking, I quit my job, and got into a funk.

I wasn't answering my phone to friends, I wasn't drawing, or designing. I have all this equipment to create, and I was literally collecting dust and that was it. I just kind of snapped on day. I don't have a reason for why, it just kind of happened. I could lie on here, and even to myself and say this was the plan on along. But it wasn't. Anyways, I just snapped out of it. I got my ass off the couch, started drawing again, started creating, and decided it was time to follow through with this plan to work for myself, yet give myself enough time to do what I'm truly passionate about.

As far as failure, I agree 100%, I would take it a step further and say you really don't learn anything if it just works. I'm actually looking forward to failure. Because if I'm failing, that means I'm doing something that can fail. If I'm not failing, that means I'm not doing anything. I personally can't live with the thought of doing nothing.

Sorry, that was kind of long winded. I appreciate the time you took to write that. Thank you, and keep that energy going.

try free lance websites to get more clients

denialmedia said:

However, they way it turned out, I was working sometimes 12 hours a day 7 days a week, yeah I was making good money, but I had zero time to work on doing what I wanted. In fact, basically my day job, became my life.

Click to expand...

Your 40, entering a young person profession most people your age are at senior level if they were to walk into a studio tomorrow, not many are juniors at 40+

You gave up a steady job to work on your dream full time because you couldn't find enough time from a 12hr shift. Not being able to find an hour each night to work on your skills, network or get a portfolio brewing is and was just an excuse. Working for your self at the start is going to be 18hrs+ more so when you have bill pressures and other things to cover. It's not going to be easy. Your business has/will become your new life...

Take my hat off to you for taking the leap and wish you the best of luck. But it's not going to be easy and I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass. Prove me wrong.

All the best!

LNO said:

try free lance websites to get more clients

Click to expand...

Actually creating my upworks profile as I type this. Thank you for the advice.

If you have bills to pay, the immediate future is what you should be worried about. Figure out how much money your bills cost, and pick up a minimum wage job somewhere to pay these bills. Do you need $1000 a month? Looks like you need to start working 25 hours a week somewhere. Hell of a lot less than 12 hour days.

If you work from 8am-1pm, you better be working on your business from 1pm-12am. It's the only way your dream is going to work.

SPQR said:

If you have bills to pay, the immediate future is what you should be worried about. Figure out how much money your bills cost, and pick up a minimum wage job somewhere to pay these bills. Do you need $1000 a month? Looks like you need to start working 25 hours a week somewhere. Hell of a lot less than 12 hour days.

If you work from 8am-1pm, you better be working on your business from 1pm-12am. It's the only way your dream is going to work.

Click to expand...

I have savings for 3 months without making a penny. Plus, I do design work on the side. It just isn't steady work. But with three month lead way, and freelance work, I hope I'm find. lol

Thanks for the advice though, it doesn't go on deaf ears.

- Find a solid "hardball" cold call script
- Get on the phone and call 300-500 people a day

You'll have orders in less than one week.

Being only (one of a few) photographers/designers in a small town is already a good start!