Show Me the Money!
Read more about: Overcoming Obstacles
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Ever feel like Cuba Gooding in my favorite movie of all time, Jerry McGuire? I sure have been lately. Both my husband and I seem to have some kind of cosmic money dam in place - and we’re both owed a combined $10K on back commissions, outstanding invoices, and the like. In the meantime, as we wait, and wait, and wait, we’re constantly “coaching” each other to stay positive and stay focused on our outcome instead of the current situation.
But just when I thought I had it bad, an email from an entrepreneurial friend today put it into perspective - and she’ s probably about to lose her home because of a business she sold more than a year ago.
And I’m whining because we can’t go boating - shut me up now, please. 
I wrote about it all on Inspired Business Growth yesterday and today. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Sparkplugging Founder Wendy Piersall is dang passionate about helping people start & grow a business while maintaining life balance (somehow).
Dawud Miracle has one focus: to help you get it. The it? How your website, and blog, can change the way you do business. You can find out more at 
Teresa Morrow manages online book publicity and event promotion for authors, speakers and writers with her company 
Then shut up now
That’s one of the inconveniences of living in a rich (and therefore expensive) country. Here in Chile, $10K is close to be enough for my family for an entire year. Yes, we are just my wife and me, but we live in a nice dept., we have a car of the year, we go out every time we want, we pay the highest possible health plan, and we even can save almost 30% of the money without problems.
Your friend’s situation is sad. I don’t know where she’s from, but if she’s from the US she can’t fall very deep in the hole. If she were here, and with her same amount of doubt, she may lose more than just his home :(. I hope she can reach a better situation soon, and you too
Hey Roberto! Thanks for the slap up-side the head and putting it into perspective for me!
Both my husband and I agree that where we live is really a much higher cost of living than we would like. We’d love to move farther out into the country - but I’ll be honest: $10K still wouldn’t get us very far.
I mean “debt”, not “doubt”, hehehe, that’s one of the inconveniences of not being a native english speaker
Well, now I’ll shut up.
I knew what you meant
Oh - and you can speak perfectly great English and still make a typo like that one (speaking from experience, that is…)
You will get it all done and it will work out. Hang in there….
Yeah I know, and Ops! I found another mistake in my first comment
I’m not glad this happened to you, but since it did, I’m glad you’ve been blogging about this, Wendy.
I really REALLY want to work for myself. But I’ve often wondered how it works. Sort of like - what comes first, the chicken or the egg? Do you get paid first or do you do the work first.
Sounds like the work gets done and then you hope the client pays. I should have known this from working from consulting firms, but I guess it’s always different when you’re thinking about doing it for yourself.
Anyway, I hope you get paid!
You bring up some great points, Nathania, and actually not all work is done before hand.
Some clients pay once work is completed.
Others pay a portion up front, then balance is due upon completion.
My advertising clients (CPM, at least) pay for all advertising up front, period.
So, it depends on your business model as to how revenue comes in…
I’d write more, but I think this is another post in the making!
I am (sort of) happy to read this. To be honest I’ve always seen all you probloggers as pretty wealthy people (or there abouts). It is not usual too see people make around 8000$ a month from their blog alone. I guess that isn’t always the case and of course it can go down hill for every body. I am just glad to see you are focusing on the positive!
Well, I will say that this blog beats the previous month’s revenue each and every month, and I’ve been above ‘four figures’ for a while now.
But that doesn’t mean that sometimes cash-flow isn’t a problem!! I will do trades from time to time if a client has a problem making a payment, and remember, we blew through our savings to get this site started, so we have NO cushion at all anymore when things get tight.
Oh, yeah, this is definitely a bigger post in the making. I’m feeling it getting written inside already!
Wendy… if it’s any consolation, I’m still waiting for a $35,000 bill to be fully paid after about 14years. Maybe in your new post you could address when to write off a bad account.
I’m sure it will work out. I hope it does. And if it doesn’t, kick the faultees in the nuts.
$8000 for blogging how on earth can you make $8000 blogging? Good lord I would love to be able to make at least my first payout on Cafepress I am still figuring things out with blogging. I will admit I would love to make money but I want legit ways to do it.
I hear ya on the boating wish–we spent $40 to tow the kids around the lake a few times on Memorial weekend. Needless to say, we’ll be cutting way back this summer and eating more soup.
Hang in there!
Hey with the amount I owe people 10K would really lessen it up. I’m attempting to solicit direct sponsors and have no clue how to do it but I’m trying!
I’m happy with the money I make so far it always seems to come in at the right moments
Stay cool! I think one of the big challenges for e-moms at home is being liquid, especially when the resources are needed the most. Having multiple streams of income helps a lot. Assigning fix income types to fix expenses and the “wants” can be adjusted as the resource arrives. For projects, I also find being clear on payment terms right from the start creates a strong impression that you are not happy about delays.
Yeah, Wendy. I don’t know what you’re thinking…although I get cranky when I can’t go boating too.
We all need a slap to keep things in perspective at times. As far as I’m concerned, life is fairly simple; not much comes in, not much goes out, but we’re happy.