Anyone Need a New Toaster

I understand that everyone else out there who is working is very busy, and I'm sure they're meaning to call me, and I understand all of that. But when I say I'll wait for your call, I mean, literally. I am sitting here, waiting for your call. My phone does not leave my side. Only when I'm in the shower, I guess.

Well, its paid off. Yesterday, while sitting and waiting, my designer called and we're meeting tomorrow to go over the project so I can work on it next week. I know, you say, "Nicki, tomorrow is Saturday. You do not work on Saturdays." Well what the hell do I care? I'll meet her at 3 am in some dark alley in North Minneapolis at this point. Besides, she's leaving town Sunday and don't I just look like the most accommodating little peach to her?

Then it paid off again. I got ANOTHER call today, from ANOTHER designer previously unknown to me. She was referred to me from "Tim," and he's told her all about me. All of that is well and good, except I don't know anyone in the industry named "Tim." So "Tim" if you're out there, I owe ya one! Anyway, she seems nice, a little crazy, hopefully in a good way. She studied design at the Parsons New School For Design, which is very prestigious. I didn't even know there were prestigious design schools until I was done with my school. I actually learned more about the field working in it, than in all of the classes I took. But seems to be that's the way it usually goes. So yeah, we're having lunch next week to swap stories and see what we can do for each other. She also calls herself a product designer. The first thing I think of there is toasters, but who couldn't always use a better toaster?

NLJ

Guidance In Balance

Started reading a book today. OK, get off the floor....all of you that just fell off your chairs after reading that first sentence. I did start a book today, and no, I'm not on vacation at a beach sitting by the ocean. Which typically is the only time I ever read. I managed to get a few chapters in between The Boy watching Barney, and then losing interest, and then wanting my attention, and then losing interest because Caillou is on TV.

I already learned a more about Italy and the Italian language than I did all through school. Not bad for a couple chapters huh? The book was a gift from my sister-in-law, hugely recommended, but mostly just sitting in my nightstand drawers waiting for the right time or next vacation. Remembering how much she loved it, and me needing something going on in my life right now, I started reading. From what I gather its about a woman who is trying to balance life, love, and God. Wow, deep. Really deep for me. Typically I'm not interested in much unless Will Farrell had something to do with it. But, I'm in need of guidance in balance. So, I'm entering it with an open mind and hoping it will be mind opening.

NLJ

Important Business

I'm a very important business person and I have very important business to discuss with very important business people today. (To be said in your best business person voice.) OK, I'm meeting with the accountant this afternoon, and its for our personal finances. I'm just excited its business, and its important, and he wants me there to discuss it. I may try to sneak in few "business" questions while I'm there. Like, what if I make money? Then what? You know, those kinds of hard hitting business questions.

NLJ

ND BONUS - Drinking game: Do a shot everytime you read the word business.

I'm Wearing My Santana Jersey

Not that its a competition, but isn't everything? As I wait around for the phone to ring, my super fantastic salesman of a husband's phone is ringing like mad. I kid you not when he received five leads yesterday. He dropped off some business cards at a realtor friend of ours' office earlier that day. Bang! The phone's going crazy. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly impressed and very proud. Plus, someone needs to be bringing in the bacon around here. Along with the fact that I can't compare my company with a company that has been in business for 8 years. But once this thing starts rolling, I'm going to kick his butt in our inter-office competitions. And I can't wait until tomorrow, it's "Wear Your Favorite Team Jersey Day" in our office.

I did get in contact with that designer yesterday and she needs me, but not for a couple weeks. So yay, but sigh. I think I'll take your guys' advice, enjoy the down time, and head to the liquor store. I'm only half kidding.

NLJ

Thumb Twiddling

I like to think this is just the calm before the storm. Right? I have to think that, so I can get through these beginnings. It was hard to get up, take a shower, do my hair and make up today. I have no appointments, so why do I need to go to all the trouble? Because what if the phone rings and someone needs me STAT. Because design emergencies are real. I was thinking, do I really need to waste that squirt of perfume today? No one is going to see me or smell me anyway. Can't I just wear sweats? No! I'm really trying to get into a routine, even though I don't have a schedule yet. Its hard, maybe harder than the actual job.

Its such a challenge to come up with a purpose in my day right now. Even though I am at home, I think its important that I don't spend it cleaning or doing laundry or whatever. Once the work does start coming in, I don't need the additional pressure of keeping house. I noticed that even when I went part-time, I feel/felt enormous pressure to have the house cleaned, laundry done, errands ran, and dinner on the table by the end of the day. When the real reason for cutting back at work was to spend time with the boy. Sometimes I have to just say screw it, and we live in messy squaller for a weekend, but we end up having so much fun. Who cares.

I'm supposed to have another appointment with another designer this week. I'm just waiting for her to get in touch with me to set it up. She was out of town last week, but said she'd get a hold of me this week. Hello? Where are you? I'm here. Waiting. You know what? I'm going to give her a call. Look at me! I'm such a go getter!

NLJ

I Need To Get Paid

Does anyone know how to run Quickbooks? If you do, I suspect you also know how to read Chinese. Honestly, the only thing I understood while setting it up was how to enter my company name and address. The rest was Chinese. I'd forget about the whole thing, but most of the designers I'll be working with use this program, so I need to know it. I don't consider myself computer stupid, and everything says this program is so easy, and its the most popular program out there. Well, I just imagine people that are self employed don't really find this so easy to use. Unless they are accountants, but people like me and my husband find it annoying, frustrating, and really a waste of time. I've spent two days on it, and still haven't gotten any farther than entering my name and address. I wish I was kidding.

NLJ

I Got a JOB

Turns out she likes me. Yes! Let's all just take a collective, deep, cleansing breath. One job down, not sure how many more to go. The meeting actually went really well. Sounds like I can make her life easier, and she can make my life a little more fulfulled.

One of the many benefits of being your own boss, is that fact that I can wear what I want to wear. And we at Paperwork Design, do not wear dress pants. Those days of ugly, ill fitting, bad fabric dress pants are gone. So I went to Anne Taylor Loft the other day and bought a new, preppy outfit to wear to this interview. This is going to be the new signature look of PD. I bought a pair of very dark, stylish blue jeans. Yes jeans. This is what we wear at PD. Nothing worn looking, nothing with holes, but nice, bootcut, dark, denim jeans. With stretch. Along with a classic, button down, white oxford shirt, and a kelly green sweater. Topped off with leopard print heels and a spray of Coco Chanel perfume, and there you have it. Its preppy and very tailored looking. This gives off the idea that you're organized and smart, but also have a slight edge and not overly trendy. I knew it was right when I took off my coat and she said that she loved the green, and it was her favorite color.

I'm really excited about working with the designer I met today. She seems to be a smart, interesting, and classy woman. It sounds like she has enough money that she doesn't need to work, but she said she still does because she loves it and because she's good at it. She doesn't work a lot, maybe 1 or 2 clients at a time, only because she can. She made one thing very clear to me also. The one thing that is her highest priority, is her privacy. She's been in the biz for 25+ years, and hardly anyone knows who she is, and that's the way she wants it. She has no desire to get published or be on the front page any design magazine. She feels she owes that to her clients, who trust her enough to come into their homes. She feels it belittles them, and disrespects them to talk about this job with that budget. I was told that if I'm asked what she's working on or who her client is or anything about her business, I am to say that I don't know anything. I found this to be very cool and very interesting. Designers, by nature, love to talk and to talk about they're work and what they're doing and who they're working for. Especially if its a big name, local celeb. Well, I still don't know who this client is that I'll be working for, but they have a 20,000 square foot home. And in 11 years, I've never worked on a house of that scale. Whoa. She must be doing something right.

NLJ

Channelling Sally Fields

No calls. No emails. Its ok. They're probably intimidated by my cute stationary. Or maybe they just assume that I'm already swamped. They're probably thinking, "What would be the point of calling the most efficient, organized, and fabulous assistant in the biz? She's probably so busy she wouldn't have time for me anyway."

In the mean time, let's take a look at my cute office. OK, I share a corner of the office with my husband, but I'll soon be taking over. Oh yes. And how sweet is my bro and his lovely new bride? Check out this great bouquet they sent me on my first day. Sugars.

Tomorrow things are looking up. I have an interview with a designer. I real live designer. We were supposed to meet yesterday actually, but she had to reschedule. Anyway, she has a big job she wants ordered in April, and she needs me to get the estimate put together. I'm not saying I have the job, its really an interview to see if she likes me. I hope she likes me. I hope she really, really likes me.

NLJ

Can You Say Franchise?

I spent the half the day sending out letters to prospective clients. Designers that are mostly one man shows, who somehow or another I've heard they could maybe use my services. I sent out 14 letters, and one to an office with 3 or 4 designers who work there. You just have to throw stuff against the wall and hope it sticks.

Being a self employed person looking for work, I then headed out to International Market Square to a.) have lunch with a dear friend/potential client, and b.) walk around the mart to whore myself out to anyone who would listen. I stopped in the showrooms that I've known forever, and have developed relationships with in the past years. I went in explaining what my business is about and asked them to keep a few of my cards on hand to pass out in case they hear of anyone that needs help. Everyone was more than happy to do this and were more than encouraging.

Here's what I heard: "Its a dream come true." "Do you know how many jobs I've turned down because I didn't have time to do the paperwork?" "I'm usually up until midnight working on my invoicing." "This is such a great idea." "You are going to be so busy, you're going to need to hire help."

Now don't get me wrong. There will be no counting chickens before they're hatched. But, the whole experience was so positive and encouraging, not to mention exhausting. Its completely wiped me out. So, let's see if the phones start ringing tomorrow. Once the phone is ringing and the "you've got mail" ding on my computer is worn out, then, and only then, will I franchise out.

NLJ

Open For Business

Today I am starting my own business. Its called Paperwork Design LLC. You may think I design greeting cards or stationary. But I don't. I am an assisant for hire to interior designers. I've been doing this for 11 years, got a crazy hair up my behind, and decided to contract myself out instead of working for "the man." I hope to keep a record of my down falls in order to not make the same mistakes. I will also record my success, if any, just because I like to pat myself on the back now and then.

I want to tell everyone, that if they too decide to quit a perfectly good paying job, there are steps that need to be followed. You MUST, first and foremost, go to the state department and have your business name registered. Even if you "think" you know you're name is available and you "think" it'll be OK just to mail the forms in with no problems. DON'T. The name Paperwork seemed to be available, but wasn't. I already got my tax ID number with the name Paperwork before I "officially" owned this word. Turns out "Paperworks" was already taken, so I couldn't have "Paperwork." This leads to a lot more paperwork to fill out both state and federal to make the changes. It also leads to changing the email address and webpage you already bought with the wrong name. Oh, and it leads to changing your company name on the spot without having time to really think about it - thus Paperwork Design. And last but not least it leads to a major melt down directed at your spouse that is largely uncalled for.

NLJ