Image by Sonja Guina

I need to close the gap between a good salary and zero. Here’s how I plan to do it.

Welcome to the Editor’s Journal; A daily thought on writing, the creative process, art, work, the world and how it all goes together. Every morning I rise between 5 and 6 am, I sit here in the quiet of my kitchen and I write whatever’s prominent. I have a bunch of article ideas saved, so I’ll either pull from them or write something new. I also write at larrygmaguire.com. I hope you enjoy the read.

I’m leaving the financial comfort of a job in a week’s time to do my own thing again. No big deal, I just need to bridge the gap between a reasonable salary and a big fat zero.

The missus is a little concerned, given that before I took the job I’m doing right now I was earning fuck all.

That’s understandable, and although it did cause a lot of stress and resentment I just wasn’t very motivated to do anything about it.

It was strange really because if you know me you’ll know that lack of motivation is largely out of character for me.

Broke as a pie crust so I was and I didn’t care. But something is different now. There’s a different energy to things. It’s difficult to explain, almost like I’ve nothing to do with it.

The time is right.

Ploughing My Own Furrow

Last October I took a management position with an engineering company here in Dublin and went to work for someone else other than me for the first time in 17 years.

These guys, like all firms in the construction industry, expect you to make your job #1. They want their pound of flesh. Everything else has to come second and I was fucked if I was giving up my private time.

The construction industry is a fickle, backstabbing industry that’s built on controversy and confrontation. Work associates pretend to work together but really are out to protect themselves from exposure. Colleagues spite and work against each other.

It’s bad for the soul.

Shire horses ploughing by artist Gerald Coulson

It was fine short term, but recently I’ve found that I can only go by other people’s rules for so long before I get uneasy. Like I wrote before, being a pawn in the game is not for me.

It absolutely goes against everything I stand for. I need to plough my own furrow.

I intend to build my backlog of books so that it brings me an income, but that’s gonna take time. Same with my charcoal portrait art. So in the meantime I need to get my name out there.

Yeah I hear ye, don’t quit your job until you’ve something else established. Well, that’s not my bag. It’s time to go now. That’s how I roll turkeys.

So I’ve a couple things in mind to get started.

The Artist’s Manifesto is a short book about staying true to our art. It is a call to Artists and Creatives like you to create from the heart with passion and integrity, disregarding the need for applause and recognition. It’s available from 13th May 2017. Grab your FREE copy here.

1. Build My Services Pages

I’m not offering a pile of services, only elements related directly to writing. The name of the game being to keep it narrow. I’ve been guilty in the past of offering everything that I know I can do, but this just confuses people. Thanks to Sean McCabe’s free Audience Building Course I began to realise this. I’m working on this currently and should be finished later this week.

2. Tell My Friends & Family

This tactic may not reap any new writing gigs but I’ll let them know anyway. I’ve changed my mind so many times over the last few years my friends and family are probably confused about what I do. Can’t hurt anyway.

3. Email My Business Contacts

Part of this element is to not only email my business contacts, but also to phone and meet those who I think are best positioned to help me get off the ground. These are people I know and have worked with before. They are people I have a good relationship with already

4. Write To 100 Tech Companies Marketing Managers

Back in 2000 when I first started in business I wrote to property managers and landed a couple steady gigs that led to other things. It snowballed. So I know this works. Besides, everyone is emailing these days. Hardly anyone sends a personal letter.

I’m choosing tech companies because they know the online world, are savvy regarding digital marketing and so I have no convincing and educating to do.

5. Email My List

I’ve a small list, about 1200 people or so. They are a mixture of artists, craftspeople, tradespeople, small business owners and people who simply like a good read. There’ll be no hard sell here, just a quick note to say hey, here’s what I’m up to.

6. Write An Article Announcing My Services

Once I finished my services page I write an article breaking out the details of what I’m offering then share the bejasus out of it on social media accounts. I’ll email it to my list too. I might even run a couple Facebook ads to drum up a bit of traffic although I’ve not fully decided that yet.

Some Work To Do

So I have work to do, but I’m energised for it. I’m not interested in hiring staff and growing this thing as with previous businesses, that’s just not my bag any more.

It will just be me with the use of other freelancers whenever necessary. Once I start shifting some of my art and books I’ll be less reliant on the freelance work.

I’ve been here before, I know the drill, now’s time to get to work and go with the flow of the energy of it.

Until tomorrow…

Larry

The Artist’s Manifesto is a short book about staying true to our art. It is a call to Artists and Creatives like you to create from the heart with passion and integrity, disregarding the need for applause and recognition. It’s available from 13th May 2017. Grab your FREE copy here.

Like Some More of This Kind of Thing?

Howdy, I’m Larry, Writer & Artist. Thanks for taking the time to read my stuff. I write about art & creativity. When I’m not doing that I write short stories about the ordinary lives of people and the challenges they face. My stuff can be edgy, hard hitting, and sometimes controversial, but never contrived. If that’s your bag you can Sign-up To Sunday Letters Here.