Recently in Career Category

Scott has been so good at keeping this blog updated... me, I've just been busy. Too busy as a matter of fact. After the wedding, I ended up with 6 new clients and a whole lot of deadlines! It's been stressful and for the first time since I started my business, I am having to turn away clients. Crazy. Not something I should complain about but, I must say, finding a good balance in life is a constant challenge.

With all that said, hard work does pay off. I'm using this opportunity to announce the launch of my latest project -- Roots Television! It's an "online tv channel by and for avid genealogists and family history lovers of all stripes." It has some wonderful programming. My favorite up to now is The Call of Story, storytellers describing memories of family. I watched all the clips this morning and each one brought tears, not just one, a whole bunch... Peanut was laying in my lap and she licked them away. What a sweet puppy. If you have a moment check out the website and watch tv!

Oi from São Paulo! I've been down here since last Sunday, beginning an engagement with a new customer. It's a pretty good opportunity for me, both professionally and travel-wise. The meetings with the customer went well and I've really dug Brazil. People have been great, and I've even managed to pick up some Portuguese. I'm probably mispronouncing a lot and using the wrong words some times, but it's similar enough to Spanish that the learning curve has been eased.

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten out and around to do too much, but hopefully that'll change my next trip. This trip is about at an end. I'm heading to the airport in a couple hours, and will be back in Colorado tomorrow morning.

I decided if I'm going to take the new company seriously, then I need a real home office. The little architecture drafting table from when we lived in the loft, just wasn't going to cut it. Nor was my 3 year old laptop (still a beautiful piece of machinery but just too slow for the stuff I was doing!) In the past week, and with the proceeds of my first big freelance project, I bought a new desktop computer (20" iMac G5 -- it's fast!), a new desk, a comfy chair, and a bunch of design software (that cost more than the computer, desk and chair combined!). Yippee (all tax deductible too!). In the meantime, I've signed a contract with Scott's company to redesign their web site. So business is booming... at least for now. I'm working hard, too, at continuously networking so that I have projects lined up down the road. Friends and family have been helping me by getting the word out and I really appreciate that. Thanks to all of you!

I set up my new computer yesterday and it has a built-in web cam and this funny photobooth software that allows to you to play with different effects. Scott, Emilie and I were cracking up while psoing for photos. The results were hilarious! I'll have to make sure I turn the effects of when I am video conferencing/chatting with people.

Some of you mave noticed that I haven't updated my blog -- http://www.charlotteiest.com/weblog/ -- in months and that I haven't been very good at updating this one. I have a great excuse though!

Since the big lay off in January, I spent my time simultaneously looking for a new job and picking up freelance projects. Also, I took a bunch of workshops on starting your own business, worked with a career counselor, and started building a business web site for myself. I suddenly got very excited about starting my own company. It was something I considered years ago while I was freelancing but then thought it would be best for me to get some corporate experience. Hence, my previous job. But now, I am back to working for myself... which is not an easy task. You end up having to do marketing, sales, accounting, client interaction, project management, legal stuff... on top of doing what you're skilled at, in my case, web design and development. Well, I am up for the challenge!!