I love this...

...offline consultancy thingee so much I want to hoop and holla.

No, I didn't just get a contract worth $10,000 or more... though that'd be nice

But I was just going to send an e-receipt to a regular customer and I noticed where before my sent mails were pretty much not more than 20 or so, I now have over 700, and many of them are related to sending quotes, invoices, receipts, finished project notices and the like...

Why this made me so ecstatic... is that I can do all of my business from virtually anywhere on the planet I choose... nothing new there either but it just makes me feel awesome. In charge. It makes me think how some folks have to work so much harder in 9-5 jobs to enjoy the same financial benefits I do from the comfort of well... anywhere I choose

I can run my business just with a laptop and internet access, and phone--pretty much. I don't have to go see clients unless it is absolutely vital... some of my clients are even in other cities so it is impractical to go see them and they are happy to deal with me over the phone and via email and pay what they owe directly into my bank account and I just sit and watch TV while the deposit is being made... I here the Ka-Ching sound of when the money drops into my account--I think my wife loves that sound more than I do

And then I have to finish the transaction which doesn't mean much more than kick open my gmail, search through for a receipt template and receipt email template or type from scratch depending on who the client is and my mood etc, attach a PDF e-receipt and hit send. I'm still on the sofa watching TV at this point.

Next, I open up my favorite design tools, get on the web for inspiration etc, and start working on what I just got paid... maybe a few phone calls and emails have to be exchanged, sometimes nothing more needs to be exchanged but within a couple of weeks it will be time to let the client know the job is done and it's time to make the balance payment. Some of them delay but I have some who are so super at paying as agreed and are happy to do it without me leaving my sofa... so the next Ka-ching sound comes in, I send the last receipt for the job along with hand over material and a thank you note or text or call and that's that... New Flat Screen TV, house repairs, new dress for the wife, some toys for the kids, a night out or a visit to the beach, or whatever else needs to be done and I manage to do it pretty much all from my sofa.

I have to say... it is not all peaches and roses, there are crazy days and running around days and days I don't get paid on time and then there's the self marketing and managing the "paper work" and all that but frankly I can live with that because I can't think of another way of life I would rather have--I'm sure others will say the same of their own professions that they LOVE.

For me, this is it. I have spent half my adult life living like this and I don't look like retiring anytime soon... I just love it so much... there were times I wanted to pack it in--but I'm glad I stuck with it--this is a blessing I am truly grateful for.

Sorry for the long post, just had to shout WHOOPEE! I'm doing what I love, getting paid and loving it more and more... Wish the same on all y'all

Kunle