When should you quit?

This afternoon I found myself filling in for a former college friend at an event he was to host. He called me at noon or 1 p.m., asking can I be there by 3 p.m.? When I hung up the phone I, literally called him back and it was too late - it went to voice mail. All I could muster up where the words, "are you sure you want ME to do this?" and quickly hung up and stared at the phone waiting for it ring back.

I am super busy and super broke. Last year was a bad year, really bad year along from a whopping 3k income and the marathon fights with Verizon, I was constantly sick. I think I am immune to most antibotics on the market right now. How am I suposed to show up and do this with confidence. I am usually am not a quitter, but he sounded so terribly ill, I knew he really wanted me there.

I wish I had read this article earlier in the day, because as I read it, I thought to myelf I'm doing 80% of the stuff on this list - and NOT even getting paid for it. Hell, I didn't even quit my job to do it. Organically there are some things I gravitate to that I would do for free because I enjoy doing them. The thing is, I'm trying to get paid NOW in real life, in real time.

If I was retired on a pension, with my mortgage fully paid, I would probably be doing exactly the same JOBS I am doing now. I am working with three non profits consulting with them all and there are days I walk away, thinking "damn I am good, but shit, can I get a paycheck?" Or simply, "damn can you pay me within a month window??"

When my former college colleague asked me to step in, by the time I got there, it had all worked out, his organization had their own opening speaker /MC and all I had to do was just do the closing remarks. It was not as stressful as I imagined, I recognized a few people, connected and may have possibly gotten two part-time hires for my organizations (a writer/editor for one and publicity person for the other). (They'll have to find out for themselves how low and infrequently it pays.)

On the way home, I got drenched (literally through to my underwear), my umbrella flew away, my toes where squishing in my boots, but even with the bad weather, I was pretty cool with the fact I overcame that fear of speaking to a group. Am glad I did not quit.