Sometimes in life you reach a point where everything comes crashing down all at the same time. It seems like no matter where you turn or what you do, a new obstacle is being put in your way. This past week has been one of those for me. It has been a combination of struggles all coming together in order to create the perfect storm. I’m happy to tell you there are ways through it. It’s not the end of the world but rather just a bump in the road. Like an entrepreneurial journey, we risk living in a way that could potentially make everyday like this. You just need to keep fighting through.

My life right now is a bit crazy. I have my first baby on the way in three weeks or less. Tons of client work and business trips that may turn into large clients plus life’s usual expenses. If you have ever had a child, you know that baby stuff is not cheap. I was floored when we first started out buying things for this new addition to the family. Like most new parents, you have faced with worries and stresses. You can’t help to think “Will I be a good parent?”, “Can I give this child the best life possible?”, “Can I teach them to be a good person?”. The answers of course to each are usually yes, yes and yes, but it doesn’t stop you from struggling with these questions and more forcing you to lose sleep and focus. I think any one who doesn’t probably need to reevaluate. The business trips on the other hand are quite an expense and one that is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it is fantastic that my name is getting out there but on the other the expense of travel, car rentals and hotels aren’t cheap so if nothing comes of the meetings then it’s all for not. It definitely makes for a bit of an unplanned venture. However, none of these pieces of the puzzle were part of the lemons this week. They are just life events that I look forward to taking on.

Let me tell you a bit more about what’s happened. The end of June marked the end of my freelance business quarter. This meant it was time to file with the tax man and pay them by the end of July. Being a legit business rather than an under-the-table freelancer, I try to be very organized and ready to deal with the government when I have to. When I first started out last year, I tried to keep all my finances organized myself. This was a nightmare for me and my accounts. Unless it’s something you love doing, I wouldn’t recommend it. Find an accountant that can help you. There are tons out there that focus on working with small businesses and freelancers. Mine has been a godsend. However, in this case he was the barer of some bad news. The amount of tax I thought I would need to pay wasn’t the actual amount that the government was expecting. The worse part was that I hadn’t budgeted for any additional cost on that front. I had three days to figure out how I was going to up with a few extra thousand without putting myself in financial ruin. I called in every favour I could think of and worked several extra hours for clients who weren’t expecting work from me for weeks. This still wasn’t enough. In the end, I took to my parents and humbly asked for a small loan. Let me tell you something there is no worse feeling then having a striving business on paper and still have to turn around and ask for help. I was embarrassed and miserable having to ask for this, but my parents being the amazing people they are helped me out no questions asked and organized a very fair payment plan with a reasonable interest. I have to admit I would rather be in debt to them than the banks.

As embarrassed as I was about having to ask for that loan, I learned that it’s not terrible to reach out and ask for help when you need it. Be humble about it. Own up to the mistakes that brought you to this situation and think in solutions rather than actions. You will find that the network and support system you have around you will jump at the opportunity to be your crutch for a short period of time. Just make sure that you return the favour, be trustworthy and respectful of their support in return.

I would like to say that the tax man was the only thing that happened. Unfortunately, I can’t. Within hours of sending the money to the government, I got back to work on some client projects, only to discover that my laptop had decided to slowly kill itself. You’ve heard the phrase “speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil”. Well that’s pretty much what my computer started to do especially hear or see. The logic board, I’ve discovered, in 2011 MacBook Pros tend to overheat especially if you are working on them constantly and if you are using programs like Creative Cloud that engage the graphics cards. First, my sound began to cut in and out. I could live with that. It was weird but it didn’t make my machines unusable. The real problem was the video and graphics cards. Both of these have apparently started to melt meaning that my computer if using a graphics program can’t keep the screen going and the program running all at the same time. I’m currently getting about 5 minutes of work done before having to restart and pray that my screen will pop up again. Otherwise, I’m faced with a glowing darkness that looks like something straight out of the movie the Ring. The final result of this happening is that a new computer is in my future. In fact, I need get one today so I can meet my client deadlines. Sure, I’m happy to have a new machine and big business expense. I’m not excited for the expense. Like I mentioned before, I had to use every favour and trick to make the tax man go away which left my coffers pretty bare. Like the saying goes “When it rains, it pours”.

When working for yourself and things are going well, it’s tempting to spend a bit more aggressively than you usually would. Fight this urge. Use your extra profits as a contingency fund. Hide it away. Make it a bit more difficult to touch than any of your other accounts, but not too difficult that you have to go through hoops to get at it. Keep your funds in check for those rainy day moments like your equipment failing. You never know when computers might crash, your car breaks down, or another business crippling expense will happen but you can plan ahead for these events by having funds set aside. Avoid using your corporate credit card if you have one. This will just put you in further debt and not really help you pay for anything.

Working as a freelancer means that your account receivables can sometimes be a bit chaotic. My lesson to you is find balance. Enjoy the lifestyle that will make you happy but always remember that there could be a new expense over the horizon that you need to pay out for. Find an accountant you trust and work with them to balance your books and keep your lifestyle in check. Remember only turn to your support network when you have no other choice financially and always repay them timely and with grace. We work for ourselves and have created lifestyles that allow us to work when we want and where we want but be reasonable and informed about the big picture in the end. That’s what I lost sight of here and it almost destroyed the career I’d been building. Turn those lemons in your life into lemonade. I know cliché but true none the less. Finally, remember that you are in control of your career path and only you can change the direction your life is going. Mark each of these moments as a life lesson that will make you stronger in future situations.