Maybe there IS such thing as a free lunch..

Attention all blog readers! Here is a GREAT opportunity to get involved with Kiva.org with no money out of your pocket.

You may know about Kiva.org, the micro lending site. Here's how it works: Donors log in and pick an entrepreneur somewhere in the world that they'd like to support. Loans can be as small as $25. These loans go directly to the small business owner so that they can start, maintain, or grow their business. Many of these entrepreneurs are women in third-world countries who are working to support their families. 

Since 2008, Kiva has brokered more than $293 million in loans, with an amazing $98.91% repayment rate. Learn more about them here.

For a limited time, new Kiva users are given a $25 credit to spend supporting an entrepreneur of their choice, with nothing out of your pocket (although when the loan is repaid, it goes back to the financial backer of this promotion, not you). It's a great way to explore Kiva and see if you like what they're doing. If you do, you can continue to invest in other small business owners around the world!

I signed up this morning to support Petrona Madrigal, a woman in Nicaragua who sells grains and tortillas in her local community. Nicaragua holds a special place in my heart, as I used to live there. As Petrona grows her business, I'll get periodic reports on how it's going, and notification when my loan is repaid.

I'm really excited about this, and I hope you are too. Get involved today and let me know what you think!

Coming Soon...

As a small business owner, I am always excited to learn more about other small businesses -- especially those created by women. I love hearing how they started, obstacles they've overcome, and what inspires them. Over the next few months, I'm going to be profiling female small business owners of all stripes -- from creative ventures to social services, bloggers and more.

Stay tuned for this interview series, coming soon!

Do you own a small business you'd like featured? Email me at happilyeverclever@gmail.com

While Working at 11:30 p.m....

It's 11:30 p.m. on a snowy Tuesday night. I can't sleep and have so much work to finish up this week, I need to get some of it done! Sometimes, being a small business owner feels a lot like this:

Top 3 things NOT to tell a small business owner

People always ask annoying questions, in general. Remember when you were a senior in high school and everyone would ask what your major was going to be, before you even set foot on a college campus? Or, when you're graduating from college and everyone asks where you're working (as if finding a job post-college is an easy thing to do!). Or, when you're a newlywed and people ask when you're going to start having kids. The list goes on.

However (and maybe this is because I am just grumpy today), as a full-time freelancer/small business owner, I have gotten the three most annoying comments lately. Here goes...

1. "Oh, so you quit your real job?" Yep. I am now working with fake clients, on my fake computer, for fake money. Monopoly money, actually! Thanks for asking.
2. People referring to your company as your "little business". My career is not a baby or a puppy. The cutesy descriptors aren't necessary.
3. "Oh, so you're a stay-at-home wife now!" No, actually, just like everyone else, I work full-time, Monday through Friday. I'm not pretending to work so that I can stay home and let my husband make all the money. In fact, I work longer hours now than I did at my corporate job!

Sigh.

Big Life Changes

My dear, sweet blog has been a little neglected lately. Things have been crazy around here, and now I can tell you why!

I have loved to write since I was a little kid--I remember the first story I ever wrote, in second grade, about my dog Goldie. I continued to write through high school, and was my college newspaper editor. After graduating, I wrote on a freelance basis, while waiting tables and looking for a "real job."

I landed the "real job" shortly thereafter, and have worked my way up throughout the last five years. I started as an online editor and now I manage international marketing.

Over the past year or so, I've had a nagging feeling that I wanted to do more creative work, and work with clients directly again. So, I started picking up clients (old and new), and now am confident in the amount of work that I have lined up that I am going full time!

I've been so busy lately holding down the 9-to-5er, while still working with freelance clients on the side. I finally gave my notice at work last Friday, and I am now on my way to realizing my goal of working completely for myself.

I'm up for the challenge, and I'll document how everything is going here on the blog! It's definitely on topic, since it's a big step to give up the comfort of a steady paycheck.

Let the adventure begin! (oh, and check out my website)