WTF am I DOING, here?! (just gotta stay strong)

(was doing a search on the net and ran across this post I put up 3yrs ago... it still stands relevant, today.. hope it helps)

First, let's talk about the harsh reality of it all...
Yeah.. its a b*tch. You're basically walking into a situation where you'll find very little if any offline support from your support-base, (family, spouse, friends), if they don't already understand what it is you're trying to do. And most don't.

If you're low on funds, or worse, out of work.. it makes things even harder because the amount of time you need to spend never seems like enough; with very little if any return on investment. Not to mention those that look to you for financial help and/or support tend to get impatient with you because understanding what it is you're doing, (or trying to do), is beyond their imagination really. Even with all the hype surrounding the Internet, right now.

You'll be hard tested to find anyone you can actually TALK TO about what you're so involved in. If you DO find someone genuinely interested in hearing and/or learning more about what you're involved in and trying to do, more times than not they're wanting to plug you for information rather than supplying you with a good sounding board to bounce ideas off of.

Its a very very lonely road you're on. No doubt.

Now, lets talk about the positive reality of it all...
Anything worthwhile is going to be hard to achieve. Anything that promises great rewards is going to kick your a** all over the place and challenge you on a regular basis testing your fortitude to see if you really want it.

Do you? Look in the mirror and actually look yourself in the eyes and ask... "do I really want this?"

Now, if the answer is yes, I do.. then, (maybe not what you wanna hear but), you gotta suck it up and bite the bullet. Because, you're gonna get your a** kicked, period. No ifs, ands or buts, (only butts heh) about it.

BUT, (pun intended)... think about this.

There's something else that a LOT of people are doing that has many of the same qualities that I've outlined above. The only difference is, enough people have done it to fruition for people who are not doing it to understand the benefits. Even the government gets involved with it and will allow you to go into debt doing it. There's reported 6.6 billion that goes unused every year worth of grants available for it; its so well accepted.

Can you guess what it is? Yup... being a Student at a College/University.

You study your a** off for a minimum of 2yrs with NO compensation outside of a couple hours of work study; (and a lotta people are limited there due to restrictions on their financial aid packages). You get your a** kicked every 6wks or so with mid-terms and if you fail any of them you gotta start all over again in that course. If you don't maintain a decent GPA, even IF you pass all your classes with a C average you're probably not gonna find a decent job once you're done... and the list can go on and on...

BUT, (no pun this time), you look at it as something with prestige. Working to get that piece of paper; that degree. At least 85% of society looks at it as a major accomplishment and a very worthy goal; even with all the job insecurity in the world, right now.

What you're doing right now is basically the same thing. Yet, its better.

How?
Well, once you're at a point where you can whip stuff off without even really thinking too hard about it because its just second nature; you're not working FOR anyone. You're working for yourself; major job security.

You're able to create your own hours, (granted you still gotta have discipline); but, you're pretty much in control of your own destiny more so than ever before at that point.

You have the respect and admiration (and humility) from all your support-base, (family, spouse, friends... remember the ones that gave you a hard time?).

You're in the hard knocks University of Internet Commerce; (not just Marketing); working on your accelerated Masters Degree. Treat it as and Think of it as such.

"Success is awarded to those that have the fortitude to stay the course."
~Dean Whitter

Stay in school!
PLP,
tecHead