“I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” ~ Philip Yancey via my pal, Lisa, the lovely Charmed Yogi
About a year and a half ago, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at developing an independent consulting practice to freelance full-time on projects that are meaningful to me. A meticulous personal financial planner, I knew it would take me a year to put away enough money to feel comfortable to make this leap with my whole heart. I knew the final number I needed to have in the bank and set up monthly savings goals to reach it.
I made a deal with myself that I would try this lifestyle for 6 months, working my tail off to try to make ends meet. If I could cover all of my expenses by the end of 6 months, then I could keep going. If I couldn’t, I would look for full-time work again. And just to keep things interesting, I had to be very passionate about the freelance assignments I took.
June 15th of this year was Leap Day for me. I had my Mary Tyler Moore moment, wished my former employer a fond farewell, and off I went into the great big world of freelancing. While much of that time has been as close to career nirvana as I’ve ever had, these last few weeks have been slightly fraught with anxiety. December 15th is quickly approaching. I have turned down a fair amount of work because I just didn’t feel passionate about it. There were a couple of assignments I deeply wanted to secure that didn’t come to pass. I started to realize that I may not reach my goal, despite my very best efforts. A full-time job search looked inevitable.
And then in 24 hours it all turned around. I’m elated, over-the-moon, pleased as punch, ecstatic, and grateful beyond measure that I started a short-term assignment yesterday that put me in the black. With a couple of weeks to spare, I hit my goal of covering all of my expenses with freelance work by December 15th. I even have a little bit extra to put back into my savings and this gig has the potential to create a steady stream of wonderful, well-paid work into 2013.
Thank you so much to everyone who believed that this lifestyle could work for me, who cheered me on, who shared in this incredible journey in so many ways. I am humbled by your belief in me and deeply appreciative of the encouragement. I’ll find some way to say thank you that reflects just how much your support means to me. Happy holidays indeed!
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
9 thoughts on “Leap: My Freelance Life Will Continue Into 2013”
I have goosebumps – my hair is on end. CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTA!!! Happy holidays. And we get to choose to Make Every Day a Holiday By the way – do you have a copy of my book Songs of Freedom:Poems From a Healing Odyssey? If you’d be interested, I would send you one and ask that you review it if my poetry resonates with you of course – xoxo
Make Every Day a Holiday
Untie the knot in the solar plexus
unwrap the gift of the present moment
Every day is a holiday
a holy day to choose
Sacred life
honoring the Divine Being within
Celebrate and consecrate.
Life brings pain
Choose whether it brings suffering
or find blessings and opportunity
within the nuggets of crisis.
Rejoice and receive each new day
nourish mind, body and spirit
loving ourselves whole.
Wring out the old dripping with sweat
Breath of Spirit filling every cell
thoughts tossed that no longer serve
sparkle and shine life force from Source.
One more sip of air
resist the flow
create space
empty it all out.
Peace descends
Joy ascends
celebrating the mystery and wonder of every moment
breathing deeply
aware of the preciousness of our presence
the gift we share as One.
Thanks so much, Mary. Sometimes I can hardly believe that I actually got this to work. Thank you for all of your encouragement along the path! Would love to read your book.
What wonderful news Christa, so happy for you. Your journey is like a great novel in the making, the story is inspiring and I find myself coming back time and time again to see what will happen next. So glad you can continue on the path that feels so right for you. You are living “the dream”!!
In perusing the Internet to find like-minded creatives and freelancers, Christa, I found your blog. Clap clap on following your heart’s passions! Although I’ve been a freelancer of sorts since the middle of 1997 (when I quit the corporate world and relocated to CO from NY), it’s taken me a while to grok that I can be a creative freelancer and attract all manner of abundance. I wish you well on your journey.
Hi Helen – thank you so much for your comment. It feels great to be able to craft a life of my own design. I’ve taken this journey before, but never with so much at stake. It is empowering and I’m looking forward to a bright, creative 2013! Happy new year!
Christa Avampato 
I have goosebumps – my hair is on end. CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTA!!! Happy holidays. And we get to choose to Make Every Day a Holiday By the way – do you have a copy of my book Songs of Freedom:Poems From a Healing Odyssey? If you’d be interested, I would send you one and ask that you review it if my poetry resonates with you of course – xoxo
Make Every Day a Holiday
Untie the knot in the solar plexus
unwrap the gift of the present moment
Every day is a holiday
a holy day to choose
Sacred life
honoring the Divine Being within
Celebrate and consecrate.
Life brings pain
Choose whether it brings suffering
or find blessings and opportunity
within the nuggets of crisis.
Rejoice and receive each new day
nourish mind, body and spirit
loving ourselves whole.
Wring out the old dripping with sweat
Breath of Spirit filling every cell
thoughts tossed that no longer serve
sparkle and shine life force from Source.
One more sip of air
resist the flow
create space
empty it all out.
Peace descends
Joy ascends
celebrating the mystery and wonder of every moment
breathing deeply
aware of the preciousness of our presence
the gift we share as One.
Hold onto nothing
knowing nothing is everything.
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Mary. Sometimes I can hardly believe that I actually got this to work. Thank you for all of your encouragement along the path! Would love to read your book.
LikeLike
What wonderful news Christa, so happy for you. Your journey is like a great novel in the making, the story is inspiring and I find myself coming back time and time again to see what will happen next. So glad you can continue on the path that feels so right for you. You are living “the dream”!!
LikeLike
Thanks, Karen. It does feel like a dream – I keep having to pinch myself. I am a lucky girl and I am grateful beyond measure for it.
LikeLike
It’s been amazing to watch your journey, I’m so happy for you!
LikeLike
Thanks, Lisa! Thanks for sharing in it.
LikeLike
In perusing the Internet to find like-minded creatives and freelancers, Christa, I found your blog. Clap clap on following your heart’s passions! Although I’ve been a freelancer of sorts since the middle of 1997 (when I quit the corporate world and relocated to CO from NY), it’s taken me a while to grok that I can be a creative freelancer and attract all manner of abundance. I wish you well on your journey.
LikeLike
Hi Helen – thank you so much for your comment. It feels great to be able to craft a life of my own design. I’ve taken this journey before, but never with so much at stake. It is empowering and I’m looking forward to a bright, creative 2013! Happy new year!
LikeLike
From my own life experience, Christa, I understand. I wish you a happy new year, as well.
LikeLike