The Congressional Budget Office announced in March that the American Health Care Act, the measure created to dismantle the Affordable Care Act that Senate Republicans worked to fast track their own version of on Thursday, will cause the number of uninsured Americans to increase by 14 million in 2018, nearly doubling the figure from 2015. While we don’t know yet what the Senate version will look like, it’s likely that millions will lose their insurance. Among those that have been preparing for the drop since then are crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe and YouCaring.

“Whether it’s Obamacare or Trumpcare, the weight of health-care costs on consumers will only increase,” Dan Saper, chief executive officer of YouCaring, told Bloomberg. “It will drive more people to try and figure out how to pay health-care needs, and crowdfunding is in its early days as a way to help those people.”

Sites have seen increases in the number of medical-related fundraisers and donations over the past few years, to the point where that category makes up a significant portion of both sites. In 2015, GiveForward, which was recently acquired by YouCaring, reported that almost 70 percent of all its fundraising campaigns were medical, averaging a fundraising goal of $7,500 per campaign.  Since 2010, GoFundMe has raised over $2 billion on its site and $930 million went to medical campaigns.

While some may find the American reliance on crowdfunding to pay off medical expenses to be troubling, GoFundMe CEO Rob Solomon finds it industry-defining. He has said that medical fundraising “helped define and put GoFundMe on the map” and helped accomplish the goal of becoming a “digital safety net.”

That safety net might need to grow wider because of the AHCA’s Medicaid plans. Preliminary results of a study done through the University of Washington/Bothell found that most personal medical fundraisers done through GoFundMe came from people living in states that chose not to expand Medicaid under the ACA, like Texas. The Huffington Post reported that even moderate Republicans are backing provisions that would eventually cut off federal matching funds for the law’s Medicaid expansion, which 31 states have taken advantage of.

This applies to more than just those who receive insurance through Medicaid, however. According to an NPR, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study, 26 percent of adults in the U.S. said they have serious financial problems due to health care costs, with 44 percent of them having to set up a payment plan with their provider. Additionally, the Kaiser Foundation found one in five of all working-age Americans with insurance reported having problems paying medical bills.

Saper believes in the potential of this safety net. He stated that medical crowdfunding is “highly, highly scalable and has a ton of runway. The growth rate of the industry is showing that this can absolutely be an impactful safety net for a lot of individuals and communities to help each other.”

But the current crowdfunding model has repeatedly proven that it is far from equipped to handle the campaigns of every person who could use one. Just over one in 10 health-related online campaigns reached their goal, according to a study at NerdWallet, and the study done at Bothell found that 90 percent of the campaigns they followed failed to reach their goal, only reaching 40 percent of what they asked for on average.

Dr. Edward Weisbart, who chairs the Missouri chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program, mentioned that a lot of these missed goals can be attributed to a sort of fatigue donors feel over time as they receive more and more requests to donate.

“When you get your first request, you probably give a high amount. But as you get besieged and realize how common these requests are, donations will go down. We can’t keep on giving to everyone who asks,” she said to Bloomberg.

Even when people do give, they’re more likely to give to the campaigns with stories that touch our hearts or are just outright extraordinary, according to the creator of GoFraudMe, a website that exposes fraudulent campaigns on GoFundMe, Adrienne Gonzalez. For example, two of the “most active” campaigns on Generosity.com are one raising money for a woman who was struck by lightning, and one for a woman hoping to cover “co-pays, travel expenses, food, lodging, essentials” as she takes care of her 19-year-old daughter who is awaiting a kidney transplant.

What this could create is droves of uninsured individuals all vying for donations toward their medical expenses, hoping that their story wins in a competition of moral equivalency in the minds of donors. As dystopian as this sounds, this would not necessarily be the worst scenario for crowdfunding sites. GoFundMe receives 7.9 percent for donation and processing fees, plus 30 cents per donation, according to its website, meaning it has received $158 million in revenue from its total donations, and just under $75 million from medical campaigns alone.

Saper is well aware of these figures and seemingly sees that there’s profit in helping people raise money for their medical expenses.

“We rely on voluntary contributions from donors [to run the company], so our big thrust now is how do we get the word out about it,” he said. YouCaring has ramped up its marketing and operations teams in preparation for a new wave of customers that will use that site as a platform to broadcast their need for help paying medical bills because the system in place will soon abandon them, if it hasn’t already.

Gabe Fernandez

Gabe is an editorial intern at Law Street. He is a Peruvian-American Senior at the University of Maryland pursuing a double degree in Multiplatform Journalism and Marketing. In his free time, he can be found photographing concerts, running around the city, and supporting Manchester United. Contact Gabe at Staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Crowdfunding Sites Could Benefit Immensely from the AHCA appeared first on Law Street.

Artisti Ai Weiwei is back in the headlines this week for his battle with Lego over “censorship and discrimination.” According to the artist’s Instagram, he requested a large-scale shipment of Legos in September, but was denied because Lego does not support the use of the blocks for “political works”. However, Weiwei argues that Lego dismissed him for financial gain: the company announced plans to build a Legoland in Shanghai this month.

Ai Weiwei planned to use the blocks for an upcoming exhibition in Melbourne but without a bulk shipment from the company, completing the installation on time seemed impossible. Overnight, the #legoforaiweiwei crowdfunding movement was born. The news spread like wildfire across social media, with fans around the world volunteering to donate their own Legos to the artist. Ai Weiwei is now establishing collection points, the first of which is a parked car in Beijing, where fans can drop off blocks. Crowdfunding has, until now, been a cash transaction–Kickstarter and GoFundMe let donors add to a recipient’s bank account, not their stash of plastic toys. Does #legoforaiweiwei signify a shift in crowdfunding or is it an isolated phenomenon?

Who is Ai WeiWei?

In order to understand his fans’ enthusiasm, it is first necessary to explore Ai Weiwei’s artistic and political importance. Weiwei, a Beijing native, has been an active artist since the 1970s, beginning his career with film and animation studies but ultimately focusing on sculpture and architecture. Weiwei’s work has explored topics such as human rights and freedom of expression, but his artwork is not the only factor in his transformation into one of China’s most prominent dissidents. In 2006, he launched a controversial blog that openly criticized the Chinese government, signifying his transition from an apolitical artist to a political figure. One of centerpieces of his blog was the “Citizen’s Investigation” he launched to explore the inefficient response of the government to the Sichuan earthquake of 2008. Weiwei attempted to testify in court in support of fellow dissident Tan Zuoren, but was beaten so violently by the police he had to receive emergency brain surgery in Munich to combat internal bleeding. His blog was shut down in 2009 and in November 2010, Weiwei was briefly placed under house arrest.

A year later, Weiwei was arrested for unclear reasons–it was initially reported he tried to leave the country without the proper documents but the Foreign Ministry later claimed he was arrested for economic crimes. Weiwei was held for two months without being formally charged with a specific crime. The arguably false pretenses on which Weiwei were arrested sparked international outrage and led to the creation of FreeAiWeiWei.org and FakeCase.com. After a three-month sentence for “tax evasion,” Weiwei was released from prison but was forbidden from leaving Beijing for at least a year. For several years, Weiwei’s movements were closely monitored and restricted by the government, until July 2015, when his passport was returned and he was permitted to leave the country. Unfortunately, Weiwei’s freedom may only be superficial–this October, Weiwei found multiple listening devices in his Beijing studio.

Crowdfunding and Art

Over the past several years, artists have taken advantage of the crowdfunding movement to finance everything from studio space to paintbrushes. There are even crowdfunding websites tailored to the needs of the art community. When artists want to sell their work, they can use Etsy and Amazon’s new “Handmade” marketplace to set their own prices and connect with individual clients. As the artistic process becomes more reliant on digital interactions, art becomes a more attractive and financially stable source of income.

Yet Ai Wewei’s case is unique in that he was not sent funds via PayPal or Venmo that he then translated into a creative product. He was explicitly banned from purchasing Legos in bulk, which required others to not just send him money but to deliver the physical components of his artwork to him. This is a far greater commitment than anything artists have received thus far from the crowdfunding movement. Granted, dropping off Legos in an abandoned car has a certain adventurous appeal that doesn’t parallel with delivering palettes and canvases to an artist’s door. Yet, if Ai Weiwei’s fans feel comfortable going the extra mile to ensure he can complete his installment, will other popular artists receive the same support? Weiwei did not explicitly ask for donations–that occurred organically through social media. Should other prominent artists who promote their art as a political tool receive the same donations? This time next year, Yayoi Kusama and Shepard Fairey may be getting paint delivered to them in the mail by fans every week instead of buying their own–but I doubt it. The impetus for #legoforaiweiwei emerged not from Ai Weiwei asking for Legos, but from Lego’s response to his request.

Lego’s Complicated Relationship with Art and Politics

Ai Weiwei used Lego blocks in his 2014 project Trace, which presented massive portraits of 176 political prisoners across the globe.  In the wake of this week’s scandal, Lego spokesperson Roar Rude Trangbaek said

We refrain — on a global level — from actively engaging in or endorsing the use of Lego bricks in projects or contexts of a political agenda…. [we do not accept] donations or support for projects — such as the possibility of purchasing Lego bricks in very large quantities, which is not possible through normal sales channels — where we are made aware that there is a political context.

Although Lego did not block Weiwei’s 2014 exhibition, they have asked other artists not to use their products in artwork in the past. Multiple political and advertising campaigns have used Lego characters and blocks, only to be asked by Lego to remove their photos and videos. Legos were also used in the infamous model of a concentration camp created by Zbigniew Libera in 1996. In Libera’s case, Lego donated bricks to the artist but had no idea what the piece would ultimately become. Once the final product was revealed, Lego attempted to prevent the exhibition of the artwork.

While it is clear that Lego’s leadership is uncomfortable being associated with controversy, they are usually responsive to consumer complaints. After a seven-year-old girl wrote a letter complaining about the lack of female Lego action figures, Lego promptly launched a set of female scientist toys that promote gender parity in STEM fields. With the massive outpouring of support for Ai Weiwei, it would be smart for Lego to adapt and roll with public sentiment–yet at the same time, if Weiwei’s fans are purchasing Legos in massive amounts to drop off at donation centers, the company still turns a profit. The initial pressure from Weiwei’s fans may have seemed like a public relations disaster, but now that Weiwei’s project is steaming ahead,  Lego has no reason to acquiesce to Weiwei’s demands.

Weiwei’s fans seemingly reacted strongly to Lego’s statement because it contradicted their past involvement in Weiwei’s work. Fans immediately categorized the company as a hypocritical lackey of the Chinese regime. It was ultimately a perceived violation of morals and free speech that led Weiwei’s fans to crowdfund the Lego project. A quick scroll through Instagram reveals that the artist’s fans consider Lego’s refusal to be a demonstration of solidarity with Chinese oppression. With Lego painted as a capitalistic demon shaking hands with a corrupt government by many,  it is no wonder that fans have had a strong reaction. Ai Weiwei’s popular appeal lies not only in his talent as an artist but in his ability to mobilize political sentiment. Most artists don’t have a complicated past with a major company nor do they have a fan base with strong political and moral beliefs–therefore, Weiwei’s case should be considered an isolated incident, not the start of a new age of crowdfunded art. An artist running short on supplies does not pack the same emotional punch as a man only just freed from prison being denied his right to freedom of speech. Ai Weiwei has done a masterful job of morphing the Lego project from an artistic statement into a grassroots political movement.  Donating Legos lets fans protest the Chinese regime, but not in a way that puts them in any danger or requires a significant time commitment. Ai Weiwei may have found the solution to the collective action problem: let them buy toys.

Conclusion

Ai Weiwei’s artwork and political activism makes him a controversial figure but that does not necessarily give Lego the right to deny his request for a bulk purchase. Weiwei’s fans have reacted with a powerful, well-organized display of support by buying him individual Legos but their donations do not signify a larger shift in the crowdfunding movement. Artwork that is tied to political motivations can elicit a strong reaction and rally supporters around a cause, but in this case, it has not changed the policies of the Lego corporation.

Resources

Primary

Instagram: Ai Weiwei

FreeAiWeiWei

Additional

CNN: Ai Weiwei is not alone: LEGO’s history of hiding from politics.

Barnaby Martin: Hanging Man: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei.

The Guardian: Ai Weiwei

For-Site Foundation: Trace.

BoingBoing: The World’s Most Controversial Lego Model

The Atlantic: Ai Wei Wei vs. Lego

Jillian Sequeira

Jillian Sequeira was a member of the College of William and Mary Class of 2016, with a double major in Government and Italian. When she’s not blogging, she’s photographing graffiti around the world and worshiping at the altar of Elon Musk and all things Tesla. Contact Jillian at Staff@LawStreetMedia.com

The post GoFundAi: Crowdfunding and Ai Weiwei’s Battle with Lego appeared first on Law Street.

Need a lawyer? Well soon, we may have an app for that.

Currently there’s a project on crowdfunding website Indiegogo called Sidekik. The idea of sidekik is based on the fact that many Americans have found themselves in situations where they are confronted by the police, or other security force, and may not know their rights. In such a situation, the Sidekik app can be used for a few different things. It will be able to audio and video record the interactions that the user has with the police, and then upload it to a server where it can’t be deleted by just deleting the physical file off the phone. And it can connect the user, in real time, to an attorney who can help. Here’s a more thorough explanation of the idea:

The idea hasn’t really taken off on Indiegogo — so far, just over $11,000 has been raised of the $250,000 that Sidekik estimates it will need to get off the ground. But according to the founders, that initial money is enough to start developing the preliminary stages of the app.

I think the idea, at its core, is an interesting one. I do agree with the founders that most average Americans don’t necessarily know their rights, although if you’re curious, this guide on what to do if you’re pulled over by Lawstreeter Marisa Mostek is an excellent resource. Given the debates the nation has been having about police militarization and fairness, the Sidekik app could play an interesting part in ensuring that civil rights violations are avoided. I highly doubt that an app like this would have saved Michael Brown in Ferguson, but I could see it preventing some more minor civil rights issues.

There are some serious logistical issues though that need to be worked out when it comes to contacting attorneys. Presumably, you only have a few seconds between being pulled over and the cop walking up to your window. There’s no real time to tell your mobile attorney what’s going on, which will probably make it difficult for the attorney to be of real help.

Sidekik is also built on the fact that it will be in contact with attorneys within the jurisdiction where the user is interacting with the police, and be able to send the calls to those attorneys. It’s assumed that attorneys will pick up because of the desirability of client leads. I think that’s a great idea — during normal business hours. But what if you get pulled over at 2:00am? Will Sidekik be able to find a lawyer for you then? It’s certainly a tough guarantee to make, when it involves outsourcing to third parties.

Issues with the “contact an attorney wherever” logistics aside, the recording and uploading to a remote server is a decent idea. It will certainly allow you to chronicle your interactions with the police officer and ensure that the file can’t be deleted permanently if the phone is confiscated or destroyed. There are other apps that do the same thing, but maybe Sidekik will be able to make itself the go-to authority on secure recording.

I have no idea if this app will take off, but I think what it says about the state of American police is significantly more interesting than the app itself. We’re increasingly mistrustful of our police forces, and with more stories coming out every day, the paranoia is understandable. An app that’s based on the presumption that an officer is going to try to trick you or impede your civil rights is concerning. Whether or not Sidekik ends up being successful, it’s an interesting look into our national state of mind.

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Anneliese Mahoney (@AMahoney8672) is Lead Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

Featured image courtesy of [Jason Weaver via Flickr]

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Sidekik: An Attorney in Your Pocket? appeared first on Law Street.

When you decide to start a business, you need to get all of your ducks in a row. Financially. Mentally. And legally.

The JOBs Act has helped a lot of new businesses sprout up over the last year, and crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter have proven to be the catalyst that a lot of budding entrepreneurs needed. Crowdfunding and earlier access to funding is making it easier for people (especially young people) to start their dream of being self-employed sooner than ever before.

While all of this new business development is lubricating our economy, creating opportunities for employment, and adding to the overall landscape of innovation and creativity, it is also raising legal questions.  As I’ve touched on previously, the SEC has gone through many adjustments and set in place regulations to protect both the entrepreneur and the investor.

Here’s a list of the most recent crowdfunding regulations (thanks, Forbes!).

• The amount an issuer can raise is capped at $1 million in any 12-month period.
• The amount a person can invest in all crowdfundings over a 12-month period is capped at 10 percent of annual income or net worth (incomes of $100,000 or more) or the greater of $2,000 or five percent of annual income or net worth (incomes of less than $100,000).
• Crowdfunding must be done through a registered broker-dealer or registered “funding portal.” Broker-dealers and funding portals may not solicit investments, offer investment advice or compensate employees based on sales. Traditional investment banks have shown little interest in crowdfunding, leading to speculation that crowdfunding will be facilitated by lesser-known financial institutions with little or no retail investment track record.
• Crowdfunding requires a disclosure document to be filed with the SEC at least 21 days prior to first sale, and requires scaled financial disclosure, including audited financial statements for raises of more than $500,000.
• Unlike Regulation D Rule 506 private placements to accredited investors following the JOBS Act, crowdfunding does not allow advertising except solely to direct investors to the appropriate broker/funding portal.
• Annual reports must be filed with the SEC by a company which completes a crowdfunding round.

Law firms specializing in business law need to accommodate the new influx of startups and stay up to date on the ever-changing and developing market, and I can’t stress enough the importance of speaking to someone who knows the exact you need to take. Startups have high risk potential, so it’s important that when presenting your idea to investors or to future clients you have everything organized appropriately. Many law firms, such as Manhattan’s Cohen Schneider & O’Neill, are taking note of the new potential market opportunities. One of this firm’s main areas of focus is on entrepreneurship and startups, for which they offer a comprehensive package for those ready to venture out on their own. For example, they can help the budding entrepreneur with particulars such as: required document preparation in the appropriate jurisdiction; compliance requirements and training, drafting and executing bylaws, resolutions, and stock issuance; tax ID registration; as well as brainstorming and consultations with a legal startup team.

So, basically, although things are getting easier in the market for new businesses, you still need to lawyer up, because it’s never easy when things aren’t done by the books. Save yourself some time and lots of money and take care of the legalities before you finish designing your logo.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Have a Great Startup Idea? Find a Good Legal Team First appeared first on Law Street.

Last year, when actor Zach Braff  launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for his movie, Wish I Was Here, it made the headlines. Some people couldn’t wrap their heads around giving funds to a guy who is already better off than the majority of us, but Braff quickly responded that that isn’t the point behind a crowdfunding effort.

Now Braff’s campaign is in the news again. The movie premiered at Sundance over the weekend to an enthusiastic audience. Fans cheered when the credits rolled and the 46,520 Kickstarter backers were listed. Within 24 hours of the film’s debut, Focus Features acquired it for about $2.75 million. In the indie movie arena, that fee would usually be used to repay the financial backers of the project; however, that is not the case for Braff’s Kickstarter campaign.

Producer Stacey Sher assured backers that they will be getting everything that they were promised upfront, though not reimbursed for the donations they made. The backers allegedly seem fine with this arrangement. The production team is keeping the promised schedule of meet and greets, showings, and paraphernalia. Before anything else, Sher says that they are committed to print t-shirts for and schedule visits with the film’s supporters.

So, is this fair? Yes. They are keeping their commitments and being consistent with their word. Though not traditional, this might be the new normal. This situation is another example of how crowdfunding and new ways of garnering investments are navigated. The Security and Exchange Commission is still orchestrating the logistics and legalities of exactly where The JOBS Act, micro-financing, and crowdfunding leaves investors. What does this mean in the long run? It means that rules are changing. Traditions are evolving. It means, though, that when you venture down this slightly less traveled terrain, you have to be all that more careful about specifying your promises and making sure to proceed with honesty to completion. Sher stated that a crowdfunding effort like Braff’s “is not to be entered into without a very serious commitment to your backers, and an understanding that these people are your champions, your cheerleaders, and your market.”

Courtesy of Mathieu Marquer via Flickr.

Don’t worry, Zach! We still heart you. Thanks for the t-shirts!

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post I Helped Kickstart Zach Braff’s Movie and All I Got Is a Lousy T-Shirt appeared first on Law Street.

I had the opportunity to discuss the topic of job searching with someone who knows it best. Jack Farrell, recruiter-extraordinaire answered my questions from his insider perspective and I’m sharing his wisdom with you in this two part edition of Capitalista Careers.

We’re starting with his advice for the five best tips to keep in mind when you’re interviewing. Here they are! Straight from the horse’s mouth. Recruiters see the good, the bad, and the ugly.

1. THE STORY. Go into the interview prepared with the story of how you ended up there today. How is this job, and this interview, a culmination of all the other things you’ve done, places you’ve worked, and spots on your resume?

2. SUCCESS STORIES. Use success stories from different parts of your career to demonstrate your resume. Use examples. Practice these. It’s important to rehearse a few of these highlights before the interview so you don’t forget and leave them out when the time comes.

3. WHY YOU? Remember that people are selfish creatures and at the end of the day, employers are no exception. They want to hire someone who will make them look good. Don’t be afraid to express how you’ll be an asset to the company.

4. THE SCRIPT. Think of the resume as a script and memorize your lines. Internalize not only the points on your resume, but how to make them work for you. Why did you leave that job? Why are you transitioning? Tie it into the story in a positive way. You want the resume to be conversational and fluent. Do mock interviews. Rehearse in front of the mirror. Put in whatever preparation time needed to make yourself stand apart from the competition.

5. BODY LANGUAGE. Keep this in mind. How you present yourself is very important for making a good first impression. Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake. Smile and maintain eye contact. Keep your phone off and away.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Capitalista Careers when Jack tells us the biggest mistakes you could make in an interview.

Jack Farrell & Associates is a recruitment firm that offers career coaching, resume repair, and interview assistance.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [Alex France via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Interview Tips – Part One appeared first on Law Street.

We’ve all been there. Many of us stay there — in a job that just doesn’t feel like our career. What do you do about this? Lose your will to live? No. But some people do fall down the slippery slope of losing their will to work. Or at least, to work hard.

It’s tough to stay motivated in a job that isn’t motivating. This wasn’t your goal. Wasn’t your dream. Maybe it wasn’t even your second or third or tenth choice. It is how you pay your rent.

In my previous post, we looked at the internal struggle people face who are looking for more from a work situation than just a paycheck. This generation of people entering the work force crave more than clocking in and clocking out. But sometimes it’s just all about the bills. It has to be.

That doesn’t mean that your dreams need to take the back seat. Today’s society is a breeding ground for a whole new model of entrepreneur. And guess what? It could be you. That entrepreneur is more creative than lucky. The great thing about the surge in technology, and other social advances, is that you can have so many things going on on the side. You want to start a business? There has never been a better time. With crowdfunding possibilities it might even be simpler to fund than ever before. You want to be a writer? You can start a blog. Self-publish a novel. The list is endless.

Maybe there is a way to have it all. At least as far as work goes. Maybe slinging cappuccinos isn’t your forever-and-always career. Maybe your administrative position really is just a way to make ends meet. You can still develop yourself and hone your skills. It takes time and dedication. It will feel like you’re working two full-time jobs. But maybe this will lead to the full-time day job that you’ve always wanted. So, develop a plan. Look into your funding options. Think about your goals. Put in the work after work. You never know where it might lead.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post What’s Love Got to Do With It? appeared first on Law Street.