Although part of me is nervous about speaking too soon, I’m relieved to say that things seem to be finally falling into place.

I’ve talked a bit here about my experiences since finishing full time work with the government (three years ago in September) and making my seachange. I have absolutely no regrets about my decision but it’s been a lot harder than I expected to find work.

I didn’t expect (nor did I plan) to find the sort of job here I had before. I was on a good wicket in my old life (though I’m not sure I always realised it)… a good income and using my skills and qualifications in executive liaison and project manager roles in government. I’d done a lot of different things over the previous 20 years, lived in a few different countries and met a lot of great people.

But I wasn’t happy. For a myriad of reasons. Hence the move.

Mortgage-free for the first time in over a decade, I decided to spend my days writing and try to find a job (any job) to pay the bills. I assumed temp jobs would perhaps be an option or something part-time.

However… it’s proved much harder than I expected to earn a living. Mostly I’ve been over-qualified and I’m not saying that in an arrogant, I’m-too-good-for-this-shit way. While there are some things I don’t want to do (I’m really not cut out to be a waitress for eg), I’ve approached my post office about sorting mail and put my name down to be a driver for the home doctor visiting service.

Earlier this year finding a job seemed improbably so I decided to try to do some freelancing locally and pimped myself out at a few business drinks and sent unanswered emails to a dozen or so local organisations—suggesting I could write their online / website content or email newsletters. The deafening silence has been depressing. Plus selling myself leaves a nasty taste in my mouth… it’s just not for me.

And out of the blue a company I’d done some work for asked if I’d do (up to) a day per week project management work for them. It’s a type of work I thought I’d left behind, but something I’m more than happy to do because their work is interesting and I enjoy working with the team and appreciate their informal environment.

And, almost at the same time I found out about some administration work going with a local health-related service. It’ll be intermittent for a while, but that’s okay as it might pick up down the track.

I’m not going to be going on any overseas (or even) interstate trips soon, but I’m excited that I’m not going to be dependent on government hand-outs in the long term. It’s demoralising and has been worrying me for some time.

I apologise for the over-share. But I’m excited. And hopeful. For a change.

I hope the good fortune continues and I can again earn enough money to live on and… I look forward to ditching any plans to do paid writing for other companies. I’m going to focus my attention on pitching my own work to magazines and websites; my blogging; and my partially-written novels and hope the work I’m starting takes care of the rest.

Do you find good things happen all at once?

Very belatedly linking up to flog by blog With Some Grace.

Image in post from jaymantri.com (with some added words for extra nourishment).