If you follow me on Mastodon, you are probably aware that I'm currently looking for a new gig (or two!). Yes, I'm low-key panicking about my financial situation, but also, in a bizarre way, I'm in my element. Weirdo.
I mean, this is almost my perfect life - the only thing missing is actually getting paid for what I'm doing 🤣
My current plate:
AgendaScope:
- Developing AgendaScope (bootstrapped project with awesome co-founder)
- Tweaking & rehearsing AgendaScope pitch for Takeoff Tokyo
Client and consulting work:
- Working on demo for promising new app client
- Re-building pitch deck for potential investor meeting
Personal business development:
- New site and repositioning XenoCode's (my personal company)
- Thinking through an innovative project idea for XenoCode
Life balance:
- Travelling to Takeoff Tokyo on Monday for 3 days of networking, pitching and other shenanigans
- Actually setting aside time to practice making music!
Despite it looking like a packed schedule, I'm finding it genuinely fulfilling, exciting and enjoyable. The weather is currently perfect too (gorgeous sunny spring weather), I'm on my balcony with the dog baking in the sunshine at my feet. Travelling to Tokyo in the morning (which I absolutely freaking love - especially when it's for a busy productive few days and meeting a bunch of friends while there). All is good.
I know from my social media posts it seems like my moods are up and down, but generally they're not at all - I love what I do, where I am and the amazing opportunities that I have - but I let frustrations, especially around work, get to me too easily.
I'm slowly getting better at noticing them for what they are - temporary frustrations - and not let them affect me too much.
I think a big part of the frustrations is a lack of control. I honestly love working, but I hate being told what to do. I love working with clients and companies that truly value my input and it becomes a real collaboration. While I enjoy working alone, working with a small team that I trust is incredibly rewarding and enjoyable. More than anything, I hate "we pay you to write code". Over time I've come to recognise that this is probably the biggest source of frustrations that lead to big down-moods for me.
So, the current situation where I feel like I've finally figured out an alignment of doing what I believe I am pretty good at (at least other people keep telling me this, so I'm coming to believe it) and something that is rewarding and enjoyable feels like a big breakthrough - now I just need to find a way to make it pay!
I guess that's the real challenge now : finding opportunities that align with all of this. Despite the current financial concerns, I'm feeling positive.
Thank you to Derek for the blog shout-out and the not-so-subtle push to remind me to blog again. I hope I finally get to experience your deck this summer!
