anyone else have inspirational images/quotes/super generic advice?

The middle one sums it up about right!

the more basic and real the need you fulfill
the more you are willing to do
the less you feel you are too good to do or 'above' doing
the harder you work
the more integrity you have- always doing what you say you will do and never lying or cheating
etc. etc.
the greater your chance of success.
my experience as a freelance carpenter: the first few years of learning were difficult, but by striving to always do my very best and doing whatever job was offered, i have slowly advanced in pay, respect, and responsibility. I now spend a significant amount of unpaid time learning about what i do and how it can connect with the permaculture vision. I now have about a year's worth of freelance work backed up including 3 fully potable rainwater catchment systems and a greenhouse. for me the graph has been a SLOW, steady climb, and this lifestyle might not make me rich, but its very enjoyable and beats working for someone else hands down.
also, the more respect you earn, the more likely people will be interested in at least some permaculture concepts you have to share and apply. good luck to all

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Check out the 15 min Short-umentary and the read story plus perks! (If you have a hard time hearing the audio, use headphones.)

Please share this link with your friends and have them contribute too!
"A person with $1 million can do a lot... but a million people with $5 can do a lot more!" -D. Bruce

My path looks a lot like the middle graph. I'm currently somewhere between WTF Happened!? and YES!

Stickwithitness- the ability to stick with it, when the greasy spatula of life tries to scrape you into the garbage disposal. Rage against the Teflon, friends.
Some cheesy advice from a dead guy (apologies for the light sexism.):

"If," by Kipling

If you can keep your head when all around you,
Are losing theirs and blaming you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowances for their doubting, too.

If you can wait, and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet, don't look too good, nor talk too wise.

If you can dream, and not make dreams your master,
If you can think, and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with triumph and disaster,
And treat these two impostors just the same.

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken,
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools.

If you can make one heap of all your winnings,
And risk it all in a turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about the loss.

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew,
To serve you after they're long gone,
And so, hold fast, when nothing's in you,
Except the will, which says, "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and not lose your virtue,
Or walk with kings, nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count themselves with you, but none too much.

If you can fill the unforgiving minute,
With sixty second's worth of long-distance run,
Yours is the earth, and everything in it,
And, moreover, you'll be a man, my son.

yeah, I'd have to agree with others that the middle graph in the first post really nails the experience for me, except maybe with different sized swings between positive and negative times. Some setbacks are only minor day or two inconveniences that give you a little boost once you overcome them, others are so bad you contemplate throwing in the towel every day for weeks. For me, though, it seems like it's at the end of one of these week-long pity parties when I finally dust myself off and say I will make it and then BAM! a major windfall comes my way that has me on cloud nine for a while.

I'm finally starting to settle in and be able to accept the ups and downs and have faith that there is always another upswing coming, I just have to be able to weather the downswing long enough to see the change.

I sooo agree with these two from Jonathan:

jonathan christ wrote:

In addition to the self-employed working 100 hours per week instead of 40, they've exchanged working for one boss (usually) to having multiple bosses who are the customers!

jonathan christ wrote:

As for this meme, I've heard many, many entrepreneurs say that if they knew all the paperwork, accounting stuff, legal issues, and other hassles they might run into with starting their own business, they never would have gone out on their own. It seems to be better to take a sort of blind leap of faith to just. get. started. The rest can often be worked in or fall into place as you go.

I think we're on the upward leg between "rough!" and "champagne!" with our new business. It's starting to actually help pay some bills, but not to the throwing money around on champagne stage yet.

It's a totally silly business, but so is our old business. Here's the new one: http://immenseminiatures.com/ We're probably having too much fun!

Here are a few more good ones ive seen lately