What does "making a living" mean to you?
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Original Post
Hi all,
I'd like to know what "making a living" means to you. It could be anything from having a roof over your head, to having health insurance. Or it could mean working your own hours doing what you love, while having a family and teaching.
I actually started Etsy way back when because I wanted to start a furniture company. I put a woodshop in my bedroom (the first thing I built was a loft for my bed), and looked at the next steps. Of course I got sidetracked, and started a Web company instead, but now I'm back to focusing on that original challenge: the big leap from selling some things I've made to making a living from it.
I am building a website to meet this challenge, and an important first step is understanding what it means to you to make a living.
All answers are welcome, and thanks!
Rob
Posted at 10:56pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
Responses
1. Sustenance of self, family and chosen community. Making choices that help further the "plot" along. Not using more than needed.
2. Personal integrity.
3. Mental/emotional health
4. Being capable of doing EVERYTHING; not always perfectly, but well enough to never NEED to rely on a single human being for anything.
Posted at 11:10pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
well i guess it means a few things to me. By making a living off my craft i would have to live my craft..from beginning to end. What i reap from my craft would sustain my craft and a "normal" life.
i personally think the hardest part is getting to that point...until that point you have to focus either on other ways to make money or be a "starving artist"!
Posted at 11:13pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
To me making a living is making my life a happier world to live in. Life without creativity.. who needs it. Doing what I love and loving what I do makes getting up in the morning that much more fun. I'm not "making a living" with my craft yet, but all in due time.
I love my life.
Posted at 11:14pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
Being able to pay the bills and have enough left over to buy a few things I want. Nothing extravagant... just some extras.
Posted at 11:15pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
making a living would be doing something I enjoy that does more than provide the bare basics yet less than luxury living...
Posted at 11:15pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
Making a living means:
You are able to live on what you make.
A. "Live"= to pay for food, shelter, clothing, providing for your children if you have them, etc.
B. "what you make"= earned income, does not include gifts, parents sending you money, public assistance, trust fund, etc.
It's possible to do A (feed & house yourself and your kids) while not doing B. Thus you are living, but not living off what you personally make.
It's possible to do B (earn some money) while not doing A.
Thus you are earning money, but not enough to actually live on.
"making a living" requires both A and B.
Posted at 11:17pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
"Making a Living" to me means covering the basics with just a wee bit more. As an aside - it seems to be a sad phrase to me.
Posted at 11:19pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
To make a living to me means to be self supporting. Health insurance, food and shelter, etc.
For me, I have always had a home business, (22 years running a large family daycare) but my husband has always been the main support of the household, and my income is supplemental. It is what I wanted, because I wanted to be at home with my kids. Now, they are almost grown...1 out of the 4 is under 19...so I am ready to focus more on me!
Posted at 11:21pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
For me, it means being able to stay home and bring in some income so I can be available for my son.
The satisfaction of doing something I enjoy and working for myself is unbeatable.
If I can continue paying the mortgage payments & groceries from my Etsy profits, that would be enough to keep me happy for years to come. =)
Posted at 11:21pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
LeastLikely2Breed says:
"Making a Living" to me means covering the basics with just a wee bit more. As an aside - it seems to be a sad phrase to me.
I agree making a living does seem like a sad phrase to me also. Could we come up with a better term?
Posted at 11:22pm Dec 27, 2008 EST