Last week I presented a promotional workshop at the Texas Library Association’s annual conference. This week someone asked me if I’d teach an introductory class for librarians on how to maintain Web sites. Yesterday someone asked me if I was taking freelance clients for online marketing projects.

Wow! When did I become an expert?

At this point I’ve been working in public relations for 12 years. I’ve been working with Web sites, in one capacity or another, for more than nine years. I’ve been manager of a division for nearly four years. I think I may actually qualify as experienced.

Today I’m at work, coordinating a volunteer on a digitization project of my office photo archives. Some of them go back to the 1970s and are in slide format. It should be interesting to see what’s in those boxes.

Gotta go. My expert opinion is needed.

Baby:

So many skills! That’s a real good thing!

Now you need to think about your future! Become a consultant, get paid for your knowledge, I call it a hustle; I do taxes on the side! You’re probably wondering why? The number one reason is that you start building your portfolio and always have a little something to fall back on. The second reason is the tax breaks! Report your modest income; and write off all you’re your office expenditures; your computer, your online service, your cell phone, and your home office. Being a single person with very few deductions this could be economically advantageous! You can take a paper loss on your business for up to seven years NO QUESTIONS ASKED by the IRS, just save all your receipts!

Just an example if your home is 1400 square feet and you use a 400 square foot room as your office you can deduct 30% of your Rent or Mortgage, 30% of your utilities, 30% of your insurance.

Your car also becomes a business expense; just keep track of your mileage and repairs.

JUST A THOUGHT!