Ever Gone Through a Breakdown Phase?

Hey Guys,

Lately I keep wondering if I'm going to make it with my web design company and other websites. I just started the web design last month and I've made over $2k so far and that's from business on the net only and not locally. I keep wondering if I'm going to be able to get up to $50k+ a year, some times I feel like giving up. I've been doing websites now for little over 6 years and love every single second of it and it's my true talent I have, but I also need to provide a place and food for my loved one and me. I've never filled out a work application in my life nor have I worked for anyone else but myself and that's seomthing I want to always try to keep and be proud of, I've always made money by myself off websites. Has anyone else had this kind of breakdown inside of your mind yet? I'm just afraid of failing or not being successful. Please tell me what I can do to fix this.

Thanks,
Scott

 

Most people (especially men) go through periods of time where they feel like you do.

I haven't, so I can't offer any insight.

Maybe you could be more aggressive. This is a cold world and nobody else is going to help you. You have to help yourself!

You obviously have the talent so it must be something else that is worrying you. Make sure that your current clients are referring your services. That's hands-down the best way to grow your business.

 

I'm just worried that I may have to give up this job that I love to do every day to make more money to support the love of my life and me, but it's something I'm willing to do because love means more than money of course. And I'll take your advice on being more agressive because some times I don't try ahrd enough I'll admit that. My life goals is just 1) Take care of her and love her. 2) Never work a day in my life in meaning find something I love to do that makes money and just enjoy it.

 

I don't think you ever give up your dreams, you just delay them some times due to circumstances that are hard to control. No matter what you do, never lose focus of what you'd really love to do someday ... and before you know it, you will

 

Hey Scott! Welcome to DP.

I know exactly how you feel. I've been working for myself off and on since 97, mostly doing web design and publishing. I definitely have times where I feel like things are at the breaking point, but I've been at it long enough that it's not about money anymore...it's really just a natural human struggle to want things to be bigger/better.

You really do have to hustle sometimes if money is not coming in.

I'm not a salesperson at all, so it took me a while to find the best way to approach prospects and find my groove. Don't be afraid to work your clients...ask them for referrals and references. Word of mouth brings in 90% of my business. I also canvass friends from time to time, especially those that work for mid size corporations. Those are the companies that can pay well for web design services, but don't necessarily keep a designer on staff.

Also, be sure to optimize your site and research SEO if you haven't already. I get a ton of email leads just from having good rankings in Google.

It's basically a numbers game...you have to realize you're not going to book every project you bid on, but you will book some of them. So the more you bids you can get out the better your chances of landing projects. You also have to target the right type of clientele. If you know your minimum project is several thousand then be sure you're approaching businesses that can afford that. Consider what their average yearly revenue might be.

Keeping a running business plan can help motivate you a lot...I never bother with a traditional one; I just use a binder tabbed with sections for finances, marketing, project goals, etc. I add, edit, and delete from this quarterly. It really helps me stay on track.


Oh yea...and if all else fails start talking to the guys here that run Adsense on their sites. We have quite a few successful folks here on DP that you can learn a lot from.

 

You're not having a breakdown, you're having some doubts.

Work smarter, not harder, as they say. As in, don't be sitting there at the computer all day and night saying, "I must work more, I must work more ..." with the excuse of "Working for the business / us / the pot plants". All that accomplishes is an ever decreasing output and eventually burn-out.

Give it a time limit as a business of say, one year; with realistic prices, hours and effort. If it works, you're on the way and if it doesn't, go get a job and run the web design as a sideline.

 

Well I guess I was worrying over nothing, the one I said I loved and wanted to take care of lied to me and cheated on me...

 

Ouch!- sorry, man!

Better that you found out now than later I guess.

 

Sorry to hear that, man. I agree with Rob, better to find out sooner rather than later. Walk away and don't look back.

 

Sorry to hear this...been there, I know how painful it can be.

How about growing your biz so you can spoil and take care of yourself?

 

Yea, I cared about her a lot and always treated her good. Right now I can't even believe this is happening, I'm lost for words. Thanks though for the encouragements.

 

I went through a period several years ago - during the dotcom crash. Nobody was spending money and I was out of work for about 4 months. Job offers and projects came in left and right for a fraction of what I was worth and I just refused to accept them - figuring if I halved my income it would be close to impossible to fight my way back up. It's hard to explain why you are worth $40/hour if you take work for $20/hour - you know what I mean?

It was hard on me and my wife. We were days away from not being able to make a mortgage payment for the first time when things finally turned around. If I can give any advice about the dim times it is to step away and have fun with your family when things get hard. Stressing and being depressed in front of a PC does not mean you are working. You work harder and more productively when you have a break and a positive attitude when you sit down to do it. It's hard to step away when things are a little bit rough, but it will save your sanity and make it easier for your loved ones to support you through it.

 

Scott, even presidents and celebrities feel like that daily and if you are very driven you will always feel like that from time to time.

NevetS has it spot on - step away & enjoy life then think and plan. Work the details, work cleverer.

No offence, but I doubt you will easily make $50,000 selling $50 templates. (1,000 is alot of templates). So, raise the game 50 $1000 sites is much easier to sell + less work for example.

 

I don't just sell templates only, that is just one little thing I have going on right now.

 

Just listen to "I've got 99 problems, but the beatch ain't one" over and over again and it will be ok

 

I learned one thing, nothing comes easy. You have to believe in yourself, and remember you will succeed in life by doing what do you best.

 

Isn't that what teenagers do?

 

Can you think of a time in your life when you were more confident and happy than your teenage years? Yeah, there were all those self esteem issues, but lets face it - as a teenager we all knew EVERYTHING!

 

No way man...I'm loving being in my 30's!!!

I would never redo the teenage years again. They were seriously painful for me. I can't say I have very many friends who think of those years fondly either. You must have been blessed with a great childhood.

 

This is the reason that she cheated. Women don't like over the heel love puppies. they want to feel that they need the man and not the other way around.
Learn the lesson and get over it, there are lot more fishes in the ocean.