Update (3/24): This decision is a little scary. I thought I should mention that. 
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I may as well let this cat out of the bag.
I’m working part time at my day job now, transitioning to no day job. I decided to give full time freelance writing and speaking another try. The first time I quit a job, I had no writing or public speaking experience and no idea what to expect, but I managed to sell a few pieces. Now I have numerous published clips, several I’m really proud of, and experience speaking to large groups (for money!). I’ve made editorial contacts, done radio, and I’m a “blogosphere reporter” for MSNBC.
I feel strongly that I need to strike while the iron is hot. I’ll be 38 years old in May (no spring chicken), and time is of the essence. Working full time, especially doing something you care little about, sucks up precious time and much-needed energy.
To keep my stress level low and maintain a little decorum, I won’t blog about my employer (not the DC government). The nature of the place is such that I’ve had to refrain from skewering D.C. government officials (clients of my employer, so to speak), something I’m itching to do. My last day will be sometime next month. After that, it’s no holds barred, baby. 
I’ve got over two years worth of pent-up frustration to release.
Sorry to have kept you interested readers waiting, but I’m still not ready to reveal the name of my home-based business because the web site’s not ready yet. Soon. I even have a client. I’ll also be doing some consulting work with a very enterprising young blogger.
Thanks to my half-day schedule, I’m on my way out the door. When I arrive home, I really should make the most of the time and blog, research or develop an article or two. But not today. Instead, I’ll spend this dark and rainy afternoon watching one of my favorite old movies, Mildred Pierce.
Related post: Help Me Name My Business
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Congrats La Shawn. God is definitely guiding your walk. Keep your eye on His prize and all will work out for the best.
I am very proud to say I frequent La Shawn Barber’s Corner
Congratulations on your decision to go full time writing, LaShawn. I am very excited to watch your rise to success. You are one of a kind….and much needed in this society. God bless you, Edi
Although I don’t agree with everything that you have said, I find your commentaries quite interesting and I look forward to more as your time permits. Congrats.
That’s great! I’ve been freelancing for years and once the spiggot is on, work keeps coming (if you’re good, which you are).
Hey LaShawn,
I’m behind you 100%. When the Lord Jesus Christ gave my brother and me a vision and called us to lead a Christian conservative revival in America with first getting Mike Pence elected for President in 2008, I had to give up my job. But where was money going to come from??? We were obedient and faithful and the Lord has provided for us and blessed us immensely. We have traveled all throughout the state of Missouri, been out to Washington D.C. and back and been to several expensive conferences. How did we pay for them?? The Lord Jesus Christ always provided, rather people would give us hundreds of dollars the first time they met us or David Barton allowing us to attend his two hundred dollar conference for free, or a volunteer lady who after crying from hearing our personal testimony gave us free tickets to a 500 dollar conference, the Lord has been as faithful to us as we have been to Him. So don’t worry about money. Seek His kingdom first and all else will be provided. He cares about us and loves us. Well, just wanted to encourage you and encourage your faith in Jesus Christ who shall provide all for those who work for His kingdom alone. God Bless
Thanks LaShawn. You’re brave enough to do the hard things. And thanks for the link…we educators need folks like you.
I love people who don’t let fear rule their life, and aren’t afraid to take a risk.
Obviously, being a risk-taker has paid off big for you, LaShawn.
I can’t wait to hear all the juicy details about your “employer”.
Excellent! Go kick some butt. Er, in a loving, Christian-ly fashion of course.
Good for you! You are doing the right thing. God bless you.
Congratulations on your decision to take the plunge into self-employment. May God bless you and give you His vision to further His kingdom.
I think I know who that very enterprising young blogger might be – her first and last name have the same number of letters.
Not that I generally nitpick (or is it nit-pik?), but I think you wanted to say “no holds barred”, although if you want to blow holes through some of the stuffed shirts in DC (figuratively, not literally of course), go for it.
I did mean that. Thanks, Marc.
I am completely confident that you’ll do splendidly. You’ve shown plenty of courage so far, no surprise to see that you are willing to take risks. Besides, no one ever got rich, working for someone else.
Um, re your current employer after you’re finished there: “no holes barred…”? That’s often written, “holds,” as in wrestling. However, some adult movies use it as you wrote it, and perhaps that’s exactly what you meant.
Best of luck! We can’t wait to reed more, as you are able to right more.
It’s typos galore for you, too! Thanks. – Admin
LOL! OK, I sea what you mean, now.
La Shawn – I love Mildred Pierce!! Perfect movie for you to watch right now in your life, it seems. Best of luck to you – I always like checking in and seeing what you’re up to.
I am very excited for you Miss Barber!!!
I pray God’s grace be upon all of your endeavors.
Way to go, La Shawn! Hardly a leap of faith, though. You’ve got a huge following and you’re going to flourish even moreso when you leave that pesky day job! Congratulations!
Go get ‘em girl! I’ve been freelancing in the computer industry for nearly 13 years now, and I’ve been transitioning to internet media in the last couple of years. It’s rough getting started, but nothing worth having is easy, eh?
Good luck nad Godspeed!
Congratulations, La Shawn!
Wishing you great success,
Well I could say you go girl!!, but IMHO it’s a bit cliche.
So instead, I’ll say what my father used to say to me: Kick Ass and Take Names!! i.e., tear it up!
Congratulations La Shawn!!
Even though I’m not always in agreement with you, I must say your life story inspires me, partly because, in some ways I cannot reveal here, it reads a bit like mine.
Congratulations! And be careful when lashing your employer – it’s very dangerous territory, especially for someone with an influential opinion like you’ve got.
I have no plans to “lash” my employers. I will lash the DC government, which isn’t my employer. Me, influential? – Admin
Hey, La Shawn!
What a terrifically well-worded piece that echoes exactly how I feel. Though I’m only 22, the clock ticks endlessly, warning me to move on about my life and do BIGGER things than what I am currently. You’re where you are today because of the time and work you’ve put in. I don’t mind putting in the years of time and work to be somewhere different 10 or 15 years down the line, though I must say the thought of instant gratification is intriguing.
And I know what you mean about writing too much about your job while still working. While my own termination last year was for other founded reasons, I still often feel I was Dooced (http://www.dooce.com/archives/daily/02_26_2002.html) for things I printed in my previous blog, though nothing job-related was ever divulged. So, I feel you in that respect.
Mildred Pierce, eh? Never seen that one. I’ll have to check it out. Old movies are totally an addiction of mine. I’m currently scraping up old Vincent Price horror movies. What good fun!
Great move La Shawn… I’m confident of your success and wish you the best… I’m proud to be able to one day look back and say, hey… ya see that La Shawn Barber there… she left a comment (or two) on my blog… heck, that’s almost as good as an autograph…
Godspeed to ya lady…
Way to go brave lady! I pray that God will light your path clearly and hold you steady upon it!
Congratulations La Shawn! I know how difficult it is to have to work all day at a job you don’t care about, just waiting to get home and start writing.
You’ll definitely be successful in this new endeavor and couldn’t be happier to hear about your newfound freedom.
Good Luck and God Bless!
I’m guessing that whatever you put your keen intellect to, It will be a winner. Our family will be watching. Best.
Following your dream, eh? THAT is a good thing. Being a DC resident, I personally am ALL for the skewering/scourging of the DC gov’t. With your intellect, insight and (acerbic) wit it should be a BLAST. Oh, and 38 is young. You have 40 years (at least, hopefully) to stimulate the collective consciousness of this nation. Just don’t run for office on us. Peace.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
You will do well, LaShawn, because you have a heart to do good. Don’t let the enemy confuse you about doing the right thing and ‘being nice’. Being nice never got anyone anywhere!
Your drive to go after your dreams have inspired me to fulfill the dreams God has placed in my own heart. May God bless you always!
Congratulations, La Shawn. I made the same decision 18 years ago, and at age 65 have never regretted it. My wife and I own a little graphic design and production company, doing mostly non profit work, and it is very rewarding. I do the writing, and my wife is the creative.
I looked at the naming suggestions from January, and might suggest “Do it Write”. BTW, yours is one of my favorite blogs!
La Shawn: Deo Vindice and Good For You! I was wondering, is that your kitty in that picture?
Congratulations La Shawn!
I suppose I better start watching your bandwidth
Congratulations. Very inspiring, indeed.
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