I've learned something new while working this 90-ish hour work week: I have time.

I had stopped going to the gym consistantly, reading, limited my volunteering activities because I didn't have a lot of free time.

Then I got a part time job. Working 50-60 hours during the week, I thought about all of the time I was now working I could have used. Now I really didn't have any free time.

Then I got freelancing work, 30 hours this week, on top of everything else, and am working 80-90 hours this week.

This week I also went to the gym, volunteered with the youth, spent last evening watching LOST with friends, spent time every evening with my wife, had a lunch date with my wife, and will be going on a date with my wife tonight, and won't be doing any work or freelancing on Sunday, just resting.

I had the time all along for the things that matter - I've proved it this week. If I'm working less than 90 hours (my dream - only working 12 hours a day or less!), it is no longer any kind of excuse for me to say I'm too busy to do any of the things mentioned above.

Here's what I think made the difference:

1. What I'm doing (that which has been added on top of my already busy schedule) is what I'm most interested in. My goal is to be doing business on my own, and that has given me so much more energy. And not just energy to do that, but energy and motivation to everything else as well.
2. There's a destination. I ran 16 miles one day in college. I got to a point where I stopped caring about speed, form, appearance, anything except for keeping my legs moving. If I didn't keep contracting my leg muscles, I'd fall over, and not be able to get back up. I ran 8 miles one direction, so the only way to stop was to finish the distance. If I didn't know there would be an end, I wouldn't have kept going. I would have stopped and taken long breaks or just stopped altogether and gotta frappaccino at the nearest starbucks.

Now I don't know what the timeline is for becoming self employed then starting my own business. But I know this is a temporary transition, there is an end. And it may be in sight. I've got a meeting in 20 minutes to discuss a work relationship with a company that has major website clients they need help with. I'll keep you posted.

What an exciting work week- 90 hours of work that I get paid for (60 as employee, 30 as self-employed), and more volunteer work on the side!

Right now I'm making the transition to being self-employed, then I'll incorporate and be a business owner.

If this side-work that I had 30 hours of this week becomes steady, I can stop working 60 hours as an employee for the two places I work for now.

I've had some great opportunities this week, and will for next week as well. I'll be meeting with a company to become a steady independant contractor for them, and another to talk about taking over the website services of the company. If these two things worked out, this could be the tipping point I've been waiting for.

Very exciting!

Now if I could only figure out how to get sleep back in my schedule. . .

I have small eyes.

I must.

Last week I spent 30 minutes at the optometrist poking myself in the eye trying to get contact lenses in, to no avail. Tonight I got my contacts in fir the first time, after only 45 minutes of poking myself in the eyes.

They're irritating, but I can see.

Kind of.

Everything's a little... smudgey. Not blurry as if I'm not wearing glasses as much as smudgey.

Then again, I just realized... I'm not sure my right contact is still in.

Be back later.

Looking on the Denver Craig's List just now I found the following post. It's mis-categorized, so I'm sure it will disappear soon, as it is in the jobs posting section, so I wanted to preserve it for your enjoyment. Other than removing the poor guy's name, everything is exactly how it is posted on Craig's. What a way to make first impressions. (Or maybe someone trying to make another person look bad?)

My Name is **,
I’m writing this because im currently looking for a job. Apparently no one hires anyone these days with out some kind of degree or cert which if ask me is kind of ridiculous considering the fact that me myself I have about 8 years or more exp in an assortment
Of things plus schooling not finished. For the simple fact is that either a. I moved b. needed to support my family or c. a family crisis and I had to stop school to take care of family needs. In my eye my family comes first over all. I’m settled down here in Colorado Springs just moved here from Florida so I and my wife can start our own family I'm 25. I’m currently well skilled in computers/software/web design I have about 10 yrs in that. I also have exp in other fields as far as construction in that 4 yrs Painting/ 1yr Framming/2 yrs Alarm installing/2 yrs land scaping so on and many more. To start I have a problem I'd been accused of something I never did so I had been charged as a accessory to a attempt of burglary I never attempted which in my case and opinion you get what you hang around well my so called friends got me in trouble and I guess I picked the wrong friends that was when I was 21. Now I’m 25 and it’s kind of biting me in the butt sorta speak so now even if I get a degree I’m not promised anything which sucks. My wish would have to be a computer company of sorts either web design or whatever I love computers I love to design I love to work on any computer related stuff. My wish would have to be a company of sorts like I said previously would hire me even though I have a crap record and no degree would give some one like me a chance and try me out to see what I have. I’m a hard worker. I'm passionate when it comes to anything about computers. I'm an honestly a quick learner. Just wish some one would give me the time of day and give me a chance to prove my worth.

Then again, the guy does have experience in "framming" and "scaping"...