The Truth Behind "Making It"

The Reality of Hard Work When Running Your Own Business

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash

Every now and then, someone mentions how lucky I am to work for myself. That I’m an inspiration...a shining example of someone who followed his dream and succeeded.

The comments are usually accompanied by the assumption that if I’m my own boss, I must enjoy daily leisure time and have weekends free to create and lounge with my family and friends.

There’s also an underlying belief that my income exceeds what I made in Corporate America, and that the money and freedoms I have lead to a carefree lifestyle.

Meanwhile, almost monthly, I encounter a writer who says if they can just write that one book, they’ll quit their job, and boom, life will be easy. They’ll finally make it. That’s when they can finally relax and write for a living. That’s when they’ll be happy, just like me and the other “successful” artists.

Sorry, folks, that’s not reality.

At least, not mine.

Yes, it’s possible. If one person has ever burst onto the scene and sold millions overnight, it can happen again.

But most of the people I know who create for a living either struggle to make ends meet, or they work so much, they’re overwhelmed to the point of exhaustion. Many times, they’re in survival mode and don’t know how to slow down.

On the other side of that, however, are some who have a wealthy family member helping along the way. They have the luxury of creating art, in large part, because their basic needs are already taken care of.

Me? I’m the former. I’m at the point where I’m thinking that maybe quitting my job at Boeing was a mistake.

I don’t say that lightly. I was so beaten down, I often hoped my life would cease to exist. Depression was a warm blanket tucking me in every night. Oh, man, there were some dark times indeed.

So yeah, my last job was rough, but my new job as an entrepreneur is too. It’s just hard in different ways.

For example, free time doesn’t exist. I bust my ass, working 40-60 hour weeks. And that’s real work, not 40 hours surfing the internet or joking with coworkers. If it’s not productive time, it doesn’t count.

I’m editing by 5 a.m. every day.

I work weekends. I work nights.

Sure, some of that’s my own doing. I want to do a good job, and I want the writers I work with to have a good experience and learn from it. I’m not some dude you’ll find on Fiverr, spitting out an edit in 15 minutes. If you work with me, you’re getting a damn good edit, and you’re getting someone who listens.

Still, money is tight. There aren’t enough billable hours in a day to earn what I made in my previous life. While my Corporate America buddies are traveling every other month, I’m working. Sure, many of them dream of something better, but at least they’re out there enjoying their free time.

And that dream where I publish a couple of books every year, too? Yeah, that hasn’t manifested itself yet.

Comics? Please! I’ve got two 4-issue minis written, but I have no idea where I’ll find the time and money to support such an endeavor.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. (Well, maybe a little, but that’s more about hopes and expectations not aligning with reality, which is why I’m sharing any of this in the first place.)

I love what I do. Sure, stress is my new warm blanket, but I’m grateful I get a chance to help others by doing something I’m not only good at, but something I enjoy, too.

Okay, wait. Doesn’t that just mean I’m a terrible business person? We see thousands of people every day who have their shit together. We don’t see them complaining, so what’s my problem?

What I’m trying to say here is that your big splash might not be the easy, everlasting reward you expect it will be. I hope you get there, but maybe temper your expectations a little. Don’t go into all of this with blinders on.

Then again, maybe I’m wrong.

Maybe there are more success stories than failures. But let’s take a look at some of the success stories I’ve seen over the last few years...

• I often overheard a friend telling others that he made enough money on his novels to quit his job. He only had to take on a few small side writing jobs every year to earn a living. That’s true, but it’s also true that his father passed away, leaving him a very large inheritance. And those side jobs? One paid $1000 every month for three hours’ work.

• I remarked on one comic writer’s continued Kickstarter successes. When I joked about him making enough money to fund his next three issues, I learned that he paid a team of people to market the book for him. He was also paying top dollar for artists.

• I once shared suggestions with a comic writer about how, with a few subtle tweaks to his storytelling, he could (hopefully) bring in more readers and keep them coming back for more, thus earning more money each year. He shrugged and said, “I got a promotion last year. I don’t have to care about that anymore.”

• Here in town, I’ve always been impressed at how our friends managed to turn their hobbies into paying gigs. Turns out, a wealthy aunt paid for their house and sends a monthly stipend. In other words, they have almost no monthly bills.

• I recently learned that a comic writer I admired for his consistent success on Kickstarter has been using credit cards to pay for the creation of his books, and that even with some wildly successful campaigns, he’s never come close to paying off that debt.

• Not long ago, a creator I admire for his continually increasing numbers mentioned he was on the verge of collapse. While the numbers certainly indicated he’d “made it,” he was constantly working, and his health had taken a hit.

Don’t get me wrong here. It doesn’t matter if someone seemingly has a leg up. Everyone I know who’s making art has sacrificed something, whether that be money or time with loved ones. And we’ve all struggled, too.

And I’m not saying give up on your dreams. Far from it. If you know me at all, you know I think we can all have that and more.

All I’m saying is not to believe everything you tell yourself.

I doubt you’re naive enough to think that one success leads to the promised land anyway. But we’re human. It’s natural to compare yourself to others. It often happens when we’re not paying attention.

We tell ourselves a story. We fill in the gaps.

But next time you feel the urge to put someone’s successes on a pedestal, or you want to compare their numbers to your own, take a moment to ask if you know the story behind the story.

Whatever “making it” means to you, I believe you can do it.

Just know that work and dedication will always be a part of your journey.