The Value of "Patchwork Economics"

Being independent. Self-employment.

Goodness knows that it can be difficult to make a living working for yourself, especially if you're pursuing an altruistic path in the healing or helping professions. Of course many people like getting good advice... but a whole lot fewer actually want to pay for said advice.

Setting up shop for yourself-- especially if your background involved some kind of stable job with a regular paycheck-- can be daunting and scary. In fact, a lot of people with really good ideas never make the leap for fear they will not be able to support themselves doing what they love most.

Much has been written about how to "create success" and how we can get the things we really want, if only we move towards them "with intent."

My own path has been somewhat unconventional. I don't have "a thing" or "a specialty" that is my vocation. Instead, I have "Patchwork Economics."

I am not entirely sure who invented that term, but I am pretty sure that it wasn't me. Patchwork economics is what you end up with when you put together a number of "microbusinesses"-- none of which, by themselves, have the capacity to support you-- which jointly add up to "making a living." Of sorts, anyway.

The appeal of patchwork economics is that it allows people to take those "I'd really like to, but I can't make a living at it" ideas, put them together, and come up with something workable.