Welcome to my personal blog about changing my life and running my business full-time.
I started my business, Libro, in August 2009. I’d been doing bits and pieces of editing for people on an unpaid basis for years, and had lots of experience in various jobs, but it was when a colleague at the Library where I worked (full-time at the time) asked me if I could proof-read a couple of students’ dissertations that I decided to go for it, set up the company, registered with the Inland Revenue and went on an HMRC course to find out what to do.
Since then, my roster of clients has grown; rather than work every hour of the day on both the day job and the business, I decided to go part-time at the Library, dropping one day a week in January 2011 and a further day in May. I’ve kept spreadsheets of how I’m doing against target, built up my customer base gradually, diversified so I now offer proof-reading, copy-editing, writing, typing, transcription and localisation, and I could see through November that it was time to make the big move and take the business full-time from January.
So, I finish at the Library on 12 December (because of University General Holidays and some leave I had left to take) and then it’s Libro All The Way!
I’ve started this blog because I want to record what it feels like doing this, and how it goes. I’m about to turn 40 and this feels like a really important time in my life. At the moment, it’s busy-busy-busy – TOO busy, really, and I want to take a few moments of reflection along the way.
Some boundary setting: I won’t be talking about my clients by name or by identifiable features (so don’t worry if you’re reading this). I don’t know how often I’ll update it, so you might want to subscribe to the feed or just check back for new posts every now and then.
So: welcome to my new, more personal, blog. I’ll still be maintaining the Libro blog about language, writing, Word and business, but you’re welcome to drop by here to see how my new life is going …
oakfiling1
Dec 01, 2011 @ 13:39:16
I luck forward to reading about your journey, best of luck!
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Liz at Libro
Dec 01, 2011 @ 13:49:36
Thank you very much!
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Arthur
Dec 01, 2011 @ 13:57:33
Wow, Liz, that’s great (and exciting and perhaps a bit nerve-wrecking)! I really hope it all works out for you! Arthur
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Liz at Libro
Dec 01, 2011 @ 15:13:22
Thank you Arthur! It’s exciting: it’s time to do it and I’m looking forward to reclaiming some bits of my life, too (reading … )
Hope your new start in life is going well too!
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Arthur
Dec 02, 2011 @ 01:35:52
It’s working out great, thank you! Have been here barely 2 months and I’ve got my first abstract for a conference in. Canada itself isn’t too bad either, it’s getting cold but it’s not too bad so far (-2ºC atm).
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K. O'Moore-Klopf (@KOKEdit)
Dec 01, 2011 @ 15:12:05
You’re an inspiration, Liz!
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Liz at Libro
Dec 01, 2011 @ 15:13:38
Thank you – and thanks for your support and advice, too!
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Nathan Littleton
Dec 02, 2011 @ 01:23:43
Ooh this will be interesting! Excited and happy for you, Liz. Good luck!
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Liz at Libro
Dec 02, 2011 @ 05:51:47
Thanks, Nathan!
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AnnabelleB
Dec 02, 2011 @ 10:53:28
Great post, Liz… I’ll be watching this space!!
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Liz at Libro
Dec 02, 2011 @ 11:17:51
Thanks Anna! I’ll be using all your tips and hints as I go, too!
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Linda Gillard
Dec 03, 2011 @ 16:23:25
Best of luck with this! (Where do you get your energy from?!)
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Liz at Libro
Dec 03, 2011 @ 16:35:49
Thank you, Linda! Turns out my energy does have a limit – as I’ll show in my next post, “A Week in the Life (before)”, it’s getting a bit tough to do the two roles at the moment, just when the end is in sight!
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eraser carver
Dec 03, 2011 @ 21:29:04
Good luck with going full time, that’s wonderful news 🙂 Wishing you all the best and I look forward to reading all about your experiences.
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Liz at Libro
Dec 04, 2011 @ 07:43:38
Thank you so much!
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