100k. What do you think of when you hear it?
Money
Money. That’s the usual answer. A goal for many of us, once upon a time. Still for some, I’m sure. A measure of worth, based upon pay.
So often it is the professional’s measure of having arrived. Financially at least. These days, it may be relatively early in one’s career. And for women? Once upon a time, it meant the world to some of us to pierce the six-figure barrier.
I did that once, as did my friends, somewhere around the age of forty. And yes, after many years of study, educational debt, 70-hour work weeks. It was sweet. Very sweet. But it seems like another life.
Of course, the money would be fabulous, but as a measure of worth? No. That was a different me. That is not this me.
Milestones 
Those days of that particular earning power seem distant. Dusty.
There’s 100k of another sort that’s been on my mind lately. Yes, a goal. A marker.
- Do you have milestones that you’d like to achieve?
- 100k of one sort or another?
- Your first $100,000 in revenues for your start-up?
- 100,000 Twitter followers?
Perhaps your 100k is part of an explicit plan, or maybe you don’t speak of plans, of your most special agendas. They may live in your childhood dreams, or new dreams. They may be grand or small, seemingly ordinary, but very important to you. Achieving a milestone feels like a deep breath. Celebrated publicly or privately; reached, and then set aside. To pursue another dream, another goal.
More. The best possible “more.”
100k
For me, 100k is something else. A measure of a very different sort.
100,000 hits. Page loads. Part of an experiment begun not quite one year ago. It is a small victory. A moment of !!! Never part of a plan. Never expected. And part of a writer’s private smile. Satisfaction. Yes, a moment of happiness, knowing that it’s just arrived. This milestone. And this thank you.
100,000 hits on Daily Plate of Crazy. Not a finish line. A beginning.
congrats!!
keep up the great work!
Wow! Congrats, BLW! Or should I say, !!! indeed.
My 100k?? The amount of miles I’m hoping my car will get to before it kicks the bucket and requires me to once again have a car payment. Fun times. Cross your fingers. =>
That’s terrific, BLW!! Congrats!
As for me…my 100K goal is words. I’m writing a book (of course) and I just cannot seem to get past the first 1,000 words no matter what I do.
That is exciting, BLW! A great 100K to strive for, and in just a year through so much travail!
I remember when I worked for the big insurance company for 18 years and my pay just kept going up and up and there was gratification in that and a lot of expertise, but I knew how much I could do the job but wasn’t suited to it. Going part time, and halving my income, was the first of my steps towards escape.
Well, here’s to a witty and interesting blogger. I wish I had your insight and vocabulary. Well done .
Congrats!! That is quite a feat in a year in particular!! Awesome.
Thanks, Jolene. (And sort of a surprise. Of the nice sort.)
Congratulations! That is indeed a milestone to be proud of!
*blushing*
Seriously? I went back and looked at my first post, early this morning. I was writing to keep discipline. To set myself a time limit and crank out words as though under deadline, as in my newspaper days. To make sure I wouldn’t stop “just doing it.” The daily act of observing, thinking, writing. I never thought anyone would actually read…
Jason – thank you! (And thank you for reading at this little spot that sometimes gets girly… I know.. all that SATC jazz, right?)
Stacia – 100k miles on a car? Wow. Go for it! (It’s definitely worth avoiding ye old car payment.)
Linda – Remember those days? Those years and years of slogging away? (The only real way to get a jump in salary was to leave one company and go to another. Back in the days when you could actually do that!)
Natalie – 100k words. Let’s see. How many pages might that be? 200 pages or thereabouts? If the first 1,000 words are a problem, write the end first? Or the middle?
Dampdynamite – “witty and interesting” – I’ll take it! Thank you!
Wow. No seriously. Holy crap!! This is huge, Wolfie! CONGRATS.
Good work, BLW. You have become one very good deadline writer. And you have something to say. That’s no small achievement. Congratulations.
So cool! I’d be interested to know where 100K would take you. How many trips to Paris? Perhaps off to Argentina for the night to tango with a Latin lover? Maybe you’d share some miles with not-so-frequent flyers for a 5-for-10 party? Do tell!
You mean 100k in bucks, Kelly? If I were irresponsible, I know where it would take me (*smiling*)… right back to my favorite city in the world… and then on to Italy, and then back to my favorite city in the world… for an indefinite period of time. However, as I’m not irresponsible (dammit), I’d pay for things for my kids, pay a bunch of bills, and maybe leave a little leftover for 10 days in a small hotel in Paris. And, um, tango lessons, in one beautiful new pair of shoes. (What would you do with 100k?)