Shortly after July 4, 2007, I called my former boss up and told him something like, “I’m sorry, sir, but we appear to have irreconcilable differences.”

Within two weeks, I fashioned the idea to start my own professional copywriting business, and by my last day at work, August 17, 2007, I had a website, a business name, a client, business cards, a logo and a really big knot in my stomach.

Feb. 17 marks the 6-month mark for my official jump off the corporate bridge. Here’s a summary of some milestones along the way…

• August 1: First business period – From my former colleague, long-time friend and owner of the new business Pelotonics. Beth, this seems to be perfect timing. This first project, a hefty 30 hours a week for a month, propped me up as I started off. I was so dang lucky!
• August 21: First business from the blue — We are a start-up instrumentation company in San Diego and our native language is not English. We need somebody specialized in instrumentation and flow control/meters to check our datasheets if they look/sound good in instrumentation English. I charged him $100 for two 14-page datasheets, which took me about 10 hours to complete. Hmmmm. Not so good with estimating yet, are you, Beth?
• August 24: First big-ticket brochure — Hi Beth – Please do add me to your database. I was actually going to email you about a need we have for a training brochure (print and electronic formats). We have some really raw material and tons of PowerPoint slides. Can you give me an idea of your schedule and some ballpark figures on cost? This one sent me into the courtyard of my apartments with joy — happy dancing, knocking on neighbors’ doors, cupcake celebrations.
• Sept 5: First connection with a non-fit client – I finished a $150-job for them, and though they said they were happy, they never used me again and haven’t paid me. Hmmm.
• Oct 2: First business from the blog — Ok, it ended up being the only business I’ve ever gotten directly from the blog, but the client remains a big account.
• Nov 13: First firing (only firing, thank goodness! UGH!) – Thank you for the information you have emailed. However we have decided to go a different route. At this time we will not be needing your services. Thank you for your effort. If our needs change we will contact you. I still get sick when I think of this. I started off making the one guy happy, and the head sales woman really hated the direction I went.
• Dec 12: First business trip — Off to Madison, Wisconsin, in December to do a marketing analysis/planning session with a client’s leadership team and sales people. Fantastic!
• Christmas week: First attempt at a few days off — a dismal failure.
• Jan 28: First time I turned work down — The project changed from a writing project to an admin project. I told him I couldn’t do it. It felt good.