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
'making a living' doesnt mean as much as 'making a life'
for me that means having the ability to hang with my family..
Posted at 11:02pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
The quote , 'Life happens while your making other plans.' comes to mind. And the difference of making a living and making a life. As an artist I need to create by following ideas, but when those ideas have to solely support me financially, they begin to twindle and my energy becomes low. So I am always in the process of balancing that by giving myself a creative day or two without an agenda. As I proceed, I find things are easier the more organized I become and that I'd rather have a working studio than a new car.
It's really great you have an opportunity to come upon your original path again Rob, best of luck with that.
Posted at 11:05pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
'Making a living' to me isn't about how much one gains, but how much one gives. If there's enough to give away, it means I already have what I need. At the moment my needs consist of a place to live, food and tuition.
Posted at 11:05pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
I take it to mean making enough money to cover all of the bills - shelter, food, transportation, insurance, utilities - plus enough to sustain the business and (if desired) grow it.
Posted at 11:05pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
making a living = if i do x, i wont starve to death when/if my parents kick me out
Posted at 11:05pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
being able to provide for my expenses with enough left over to spend on having fun
Posted at 11:06pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
Making a living to me means being able to support the lifestyle I want (or can realistically achieve). This includes things like health insurance, a decent apartment, retirement savings, traveling (which is very important as my family don't live in the States), an active social life and not having to worry about making purchases like new clothes etc.
I am different from most people here in that I love my corporate job so working for myself isn't as high on my list of priorites as the things I mentioned above.
Also, I am in my mid-30s so these things are much more important to me than they were when I was in my early 20s when sharing a 3 bedroom house with 11 others was an adventure.
Posted at 11:08pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
To me it means making enough to cover my basic expenses, which I'm not doing at the moment :S
Posted at 11:09pm Dec 27, 2008 EST
What a good question!
What "making a living" means to me is covering all necessities (food, shelter, electricity, insurance, etc) and having a bit more so as not to worry in tougher times. It gives you the freedom to live life and enjoy it.
Good luck, Rob!
Posted at 11:09pm Dec 27, 2008 EST