Acquire resources that enable your projects (or it’s all about the equipment!)
I have been having a little bit of a debate with myself on how much I should spend on resources that enable my blogging. I pay for a Flickr Pro Account (which I just renewed, that’s precisely what sparked my inner discussion), I pay for a web host to host all three of my websites, and I have been considering buying a new camera (paying as little as I can).
Things DO cost money, and given that I live a fairly budgeted life, I have been pondering what benefit do I get out of paying for the resources that enable specifically my blogging. And as soon as I start debating “should I or not renew my Flickr Pro account” I remember that, while I don’t get direct income out of my blog, I do need to have an online presence. I enjoy blogging and it’s brought me a number of amazing opportunities I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t spent the money to maintain my websites, and to make them attractive (e.g. being able to insert photos at will). As I emphasized yesterday in my workshop at FreelanceCamp Vancouver 2010, some things are just NOT free.
When I make decisions like these (e.g. whether I need to pay to renew stuff, or to buy a new laptop bag, or pay for premium versions of stuff), I remind myself that nothing is entirely free, and these are investments I need to make to enhance my activities, as a blogger, as a consultant and even sometimes, as an academic. Sometimes, you just got to pay for stuff, in particular, for the resources that enable your projects. And at times, one of those resources is even a house cleaner!
Related posts:
- My 2012: A reduced blogging schedule with fewer projects and more collaborators
- It’s all about the equipment! – Weekend Edition
- It’s all about the equipment installment # 7
- It’s all about the equipment – installment # 5
- It’s all about the equipment – installment 3
