The Core

Over the last few years I have found myself getting more and more work from a single client.  They clearly appreciate what I can do for them and they have had a decent internal structure to act as professional go-betweens.

This client however, has been making technology promises to its own clients (massive global brands) which it can't honor (think 10K budgets to make 500K projects work)

During the past four months all of their internal IT team and half of their external providers have resigned because of the pressure to stand up in front of clients and lie about what they can deliver.

I am now in the situation where I have let most of my other clients go to concentrate on this one. It is paying the bills.  I almost have that employee mentality where I am afraid to leave.

Pressures are building for me to help them promise the delivery of undeliverable projects and every part of me says 'end the contract now!'.  However, I do have my bills to pay, and I have sub-contractors relying on me to keep them fed with work. As you might have guessed this is the first really big money gig I have dealt with.

I have enough to keep myself afloat for six months.  I 'think' that a kick up the arse like this will make me work 24/7 to get my old money makers (and the new ones on the list) earning.

I guess what I want to know is, has anyone else been in this situation, and how did you manage it?  Were you scared of the 'leap of faith'?  Did your plans work out and if not what came about to replace them?

Did you see 'Pirates of the Caribbean', when Depp walks off his sinking ship, on to the dock, just as his ship sinks?

You wanna do it like that:)

People NEVER follow my advice (at first) because I tend to tell them what they don't want to hear but I think you've already made the decision to leave.

I think you are right.  I am trying to plan as best I can at the moment.  I think I might just need to get over the fear of the leap.

Sounds to me your gut is saying "LEAVE."

Usually, I don't listen to my gut.  I listen to myself trying to make logic like "It pays the bills...etc"

Listen to your gut.  Seriously.  Advice learned the hard way.

What kinds of things would you LIKE to be doing in addition to writing a novel?

>Anyway, I'm ready to work hard at anything I can turn my hand to.

Then you will be successful.  Even if what you work at fails, you'll know to start something else.

If there's a will there's a way.
That's how I think...

If you want something so bad, you will over come any obstacles that get in your way.
You may have to back track, you may have to change things slightly, but you will get there in the end.

Good luck