Archive for July, 2007
A freelance pal called me mid cleaning frenzy yesterday, wanting to know how long she needed to save old pay stubs (back from her bad old 9-to-5 days), bank statements, utility bills, you name it.
I told her I’d always “heard” you should save everything seven years but that she should call her accountant to be sure, as that was a very unscientific, uncredentialed answer. Not satisfied, my freelance friend pressed on: “OK, but what do you do with all your old-and-moldy receipts and financial records?”
I told her I have everything saved in my office or garage for at least seven years and that she should still ask an accountant if she wanted solid advice. But seeing as it was a national holiday and she was hell-bent on spending the day shredding papers she no longer needed, I googled this ultra-helpful Bankrate table on how long to save what. Note that the table is not geared towards self-employed folks, so you may want to check with an accountant to make sure you’re hanging on to everything you need.
Some items I’ve hung on to that I’d be sunk without:
- All my previous income tax returns. If you’re making a big purchase — say, a home — and you don’t have a steady employer, the bank will likely want to see several years of these.
- At least seven years of rental agreements, utility bills, credit card annual statements, expense receipts, and anything else that can be deducted as a business write-off.
- Annual retirement fund and social security statements. (Duh.)
Again, don’t take my word for it. Talk to your tax professional, financial planner, or business manager. Meanwhile, that Bankrate chart is a great place to start.
July 5th, 2007
A woman I’ve known for a long while recently gave me grief because (a) I bought a matchbook-sized cosmetic fixer of a house, (b) I’ve lived here two years and have yet to finish unpacking, paint the walls, and make the place sparkle like a newborn’s freshly wiped ass, and (c) my work is varied (though I believe “chaotic” was the word my acquaintance used), fluctuating from article assignments to book deadlines to one-week editing projects to four-month onsite temp gigs.
I know this woman means well and just has a hard time relating to my way of working/living and my (quasi-obsessive) creative drive, and I know I’m being overly sensitive here, but still. I went back and forth about whether to add this detail, but I think it bears mentioning: The woman in question — who, by the way, is childfree — wouldn’t have a home of her own, a housekeeper, the ability to not work for long stretches of time, and half the amenities in her life if she was not married. (I say this knowing her financial history, not as a judgment of married life.)
Not that there’s anything wrong with any of that. I’m not looking to start another careerwoman/stay-at-home-wife-slash-mom smackdown. In fact, if I ever merge households with my sweet beau, I could mayyyyyyyyybe see us trading off supporting each other so we could spend significant chunks of time focusing on our writing or whatever the heck floats out boats. (Maybe. After all these years standing on my own, it’s hard to wrap my brain around being kept or being someone’s sugar mama. But ask me if/when I get there…)
I’m saying this: Sometimes the digs against hard-working single women get really fucking old, know what I mean? And this is hardly the first time my freelance friends and I have been judged for our lack of housekeeper, breadwinning hetero bedwarmer, and predictable 9-to-5 lives. (Want proof? Read this book.)
I’m saying this, too: I’m so freaking proud to be a highly employable — and for the most part, decently paid — bootstrapping babe with multiple job skills/talents that put food on the table and insulate me with four mint-green-aluminum-sided walls. As in, you will neh-ver hear the words, “I just want to marry a rich doctor so I never have to lift a finger again,” seep from my lips. (Sorry, Grandma Etta.) So today I plan to celebrate all the self-made freelance and small-business-owning babes out there. Tonight, ladies, I raise my Roman candles, bottle rockets, and all other figurative TNT implements to you. Rock on, DIY women, rock the fuck on!
And if you need some financial inspiration, here are a couple of nifty resources I found this week:
- Fab new book! Whether you’re flying solo or shacked up, see On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance. Because, ladies, let’s be real: Financial life does not begin when you start sharing a bed with someone; it begins the second your parents cut you off. If you don’t have a financial clue, there’s no time like the present to get one.
- Fab web calculators! While researching an article on financing a career change (which I’ll link to once it’s live), I discovered that Kiplinger.com has a bunch of cool tools that can help you figure out such essentials as how long it will take to pay off your credit card debt, how much (if any) mortgage you can afford, how much raising a bundle of joy will run you, if you’re saving enough for retirement, and whether you and your sweetie can afford to jettison one of your jobs so the other can go back to school, write a screenplay, or stay home with that wee bundle of joy.
July 4th, 2007
Sherri Edwards, today’s second featured anti 9-to-5er, is a no-nonsense career coach I’ve interviewed for several articles on women’s careers, as well as the book. What I love most about Sherri is that she doesn’t mince words. If you were to hire her to help you nail a six-figure salary as an online marketing manager but you had zero experience in marketing and on the web, she’d probably say something like, “I’m a career coach, not a miracle worker.” But give her something to work with — say, those crummy negotiation skills you’d like to improve, or a resume that isn’t doing a good enough job showing potential employers why they should show you the money — and she’ll work her magic on you in no time. So without further ado, meet Sherri…
The anti 9-to-5er: Sherri Edwards, Seattle
My job: Career coach, consultant, and trainer. I officially started my business, ResourceMaximizer, in 1997. I help people develop career plans and build tools based on strategies tied to business (or not-for-profit) trends, current market conditions, and individual skills. This may include a path for formal skill development or other roles the person needs to build experience in, prior to becoming that “six-figure online marketing manager.”
What makes my gig anti 9-to-5: I work out of my home for the most part and work all hours. I offer workshops, facilitate a networking group, and consult with clients here. I do a lot of phone/email consulting. I also do training for organizations and businesses at their locations. I schedule work pretty much when I want to be available and tend to work very unconventional hours (or days).
What I did in my former 9-to-5 life: My last two positions were managing staffing businesses. Prior to that, I was in business management and sales in a number of industries. I always worked hard, but someone else made the profit.
How I made the anti 9-to-5 leap: I just decided enough was enough. It took no cash investment — only time. My business has been built predominantly on referrals over ten years and has continued to grow. I do a considerable amount of public speaking and presentations but do not spend money on advertising. I limit the bells and whistles and am able to keep my costs and fees lower than others in my field.
My biggest obstacles: Naivety. Expecting that what I had to offer would be sought after by what turned out to be some pretty unproductive targets in the beginning. Also, I didn’t say “no” when I was asked to offer pro bono [freebie] consulting / training / presentations. (I don’t do that anymore!) I learned the hard way to choose which venues / audiences were good investments of my time.
My tips for other cubicle expats: Actually, I have never worked in a cubicle, so I guess I cannot imagine someone adapting easily from a very structured environment to one where everything is a free-for-all that requires considerable juggling. I have worked in circumstances where I managed my own schedule for more than 25 years, and for at least 15 of those, I have worked out of my home.
My advice would be to know up front that it is important to be hugely organized and disciplined to be able create your own structure and be productive. In my business, I cannot dictate when people will need me, but I can schedule things in manageable ways to be able to accommodate most people without killing myself. I think it is less about the industry, but more about analyzing one’s style / nature before they jump off, to make sure they will be happy and effective in whatever they pursue. As far as my particular line of work, it is important to have an area of expertise and develop a niche. It may take research to determine more closely what that might be.
What’s that link again? ResourceMaximizer.com
Read past anti 9-to-5 profiles. Then fill out your own profile to be featured on this site.
July 2nd, 2007
Today we have two very different career coaches to profile. The first, Jenny Ward, is all about getting in touch with your de-stressed, happiest, most playful self. As I understand it, once you’ve tapped into your most childlike, playful mind, you’ll be better able to figure out what the hell you want to be when you grow up — and how the heck to get there. So without further fanfare, meet Jenny…
The anti 9-to-5er: Jenny Ward, Palo Alto, CA (interviewed for The Anti 9-to-5 Guide!)
My job: Play Activist and CEO Playward, Inc. Year I began to PLAY for a living: 2002.
What makes my gig anti 9-to-5: I am a big fan of challenging the rules. In a society that has forgotten that we are meant to ENJOY the ride, I find so much joy in laughing louder, feeling gratitude, hugging longer, and fully reminding adults to live life NOW — not after retirement.
Playward is way more then just “cartwheels and Play-Doh” (although both rock). We are creating a new way of perceiving how we express ourselves — whether it be in relationships, work, or parenting — it all can be full of adventure. Too often we take ourselves so seriously that we forget to see the gift in all of life.
What I did in my former 9-to-5 life: Broadway and TV actress. Professional dancer, yoga teacher, high school dean of the arts, loads of waitressing (including singing waitress), nonprofit work, and temping.
How I made the anti 9-to-5 leap: There was no way I could conform — my heart broke each time I felt stuck or like I was “going through the motions.”
My biggest obstacles: Cash and self-love. Both are inter-related. My worth is direcly related to how I am — my work is me. I am selling me — so I had to look at all of me — and that was messy. I learned that messiness is a part of play.
My tips for other cubicle expats: Look at why you feel you NEED to work. Look at the beliefs you have learned about SUCCESS… play make-believe for 5 minutes. What do you want to do NOW? Have fun and allow your imagination to inspire you… to live fully in the beautiful expression that is you.
What’s that link again? Playward.com
Read past anti 9-to-5 profiles. Then fill out your own profile to be featured on this site.
July 2nd, 2007
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