Has It Been A Year Already?
Today marks the one year anniversary of me starting my freelance paralegal services business, Olvera & Associates.
Saying that it has been a struggle would be an understatement. My income has been “surely” but not steady, I’ve been living constantly out of my comfort zone. However, I wouldn’t give any of it up.
Being self-employed has afforded me things that money can’t buy. It has given me the ability to see my daughter’s smile everyday that I pick her up from school. I have been able to attend professional development events that I previously could not have attended. It has allowed me to volunteer at the court legal clinic. It has allowed me to make more meaningful relationships with my colleagues and those whom I love. It has given me great satisfaction to know that every dollar I earn, was because of the value my work provided to others.
But most of all, self-employment has allowed me to grow. It has been a winding path of self discovery. Opening my own business brought my fears and weaknesses front and center. I had nowhere to hide them.
By facing my fears and having the right guidance (e-books, mentors, family, etc.), I have not given up and I’ve pushed through. I came to a point where I knew that I couldn’t give up because I didn’t want to go back to working as an employee. Also, my kids were watching my every step. They were looking to see how I handled challenges, I didn’t want to teach them to give up the first instance something became “too hard”. Now I know that whatever I’m afraid of, is exactly what I need to confront directly and overcome.
I know that I’m far from where I want to be, but I have definitely come a long way from where I was. I’ve been a year in business. I must be doing something right!
This post originally appeared on my blog at: http://elizabetholvera.com/has-it-been-a-year-already/