My pals Lauren Bacon and Emira Mears, authors of The Boss of You book and blog, ran a Q&A with me this week. I loved that they asked me this question so much that I’m reposting it here. Before you read it, I’d like to point out that Amazon is currently running a deal where you can pick up both my books + Lauren and Emira’s book for just over $30 — in other words, you get all three books for the price of two. To snatch these up and start your year off right, see the Amazon page for My So-Called Freelance Life or The Anti 9-to-5 Guide.
Okay, enough with the Billy Mays impersonation. Here’s the post…
Lauren and Emira ask: We hear from a fair number of freelancers who got into their careers unconsciously — it’s like they woke up one morning and realized they’d become a freelancer, without necessarily planning it that way. What advice would you give someone in that situation?
I answer: I agree. So many people find themselves freelancing in the wake of a layoff and before they know it, they’re running a full-fledged business. If you too are an accidental freelancer, take stock of the work you do and the clients you do it for. Are these the types of projects you want to be working on and the types of people and organizations you want to be working with? If not, list the kind of freelance projects that interest you most and the names of at least ten organizations you’d love to work for. Then tap your professional and personal networks to see if you can find a way in. If you need to acquire any additional skills or portfolio samples to make yourself attractive to these organizations, get cracking.
Even if you are happy with your clients and workload, it’s important to revisit your freelancing goals – income, creative milestones, client wish list, and so on — at least once a year. (January is a great time for this.) Get too comfortable and you’ll quickly get bored, burn out, or start to feel like an employee all over again.
December 20th, 2008
Let’s play a little game of open thread. Rather than talk about how we all want to land a pile of dream clients, sell more articles/photos/illustrations/tea cozies, and make buckets of cash in 2009, I thought we could discuss something that’s been near and dear to my heart lately: how to streamline the mountains of admin work that can plague self-employed professionals (as well as those working for the man or simply looking for that one decent gig that will get them back into the workforce after being laid off).
If you read my new book, you already know that I’m a spreadsheet junkie. A couple other things I’ve done recently to cut down on the thicket of admin work on my plate so I have more time to focus on writing:
- Hired a virtual assistant to help with some of my book promo activities. This has been a godsend. Thank you, Jackie for saving my hide time and time again.
- Hired a WordPress designer to make technical updates to my blog instead of trying to figure out the blasted code myself. (Duh. I should have done this ages ago.) Thank you, Liz of CMD+SHIFT DESIGN.
- Added a somewhat strident FAQ to this site’s Contact page to cut down on the many, many requests I receive for free product plugs on this site and free career counseling. (It’s working so far — and may have even landed me a couple new consulting gigs.)
A few more things I plan to do in the new year to further streamline my admin work:
- Hire a blog/social media intern. Stay tuned to this blog for the job listing. Or if you can’t wait, email me. (Note that this will be an unpaid position. For this reason, it may be best suited for a student.)
- Have the fabulous Liz continue to improve this site — something I’ve been threatening to do for months now.
- Finally automate my expense tracking (beyond the Excel spreadsheet I’ve been using) with a program like QuickBooks. (I know, I know. I’m old school.)
- Set up more rules in my inbox so that every last press release, newsletter, and media list (that is, those I actually want to receive) goes to a special “to read later” folder far, far away from my inbox.
- Finally read Gina Trapani’s Upgrade Your Life.
How about you? What tangible steps do you plan to take in the new year to optimize your worklife?
December 16th, 2008
Yesterday I ran an interview with author Ian Sanders (LEAP! Ditch Your Job, Start Your Own Business & Set Yourself Free and Juggle! Rethink Work, Reclaim Your Life) about what self-employed women can learn from their male counterparts. (You can read his simultaneous Q&A with me on what self-employed men can learn from women here.) Because Ian has such an impressive entrepreneurial bio, I decided to make him the first male anti-nine-to-fiver that this blog has featured. And because he lives in the UK (and I am a seventies-rock dork), I threw in a “favorite British rocker” question at the end.
Q. You’ve had quite an impressive business development and marketing career. What prompted you to strike out on your own?
A. I’d reached that glass ceiling where I was being pigeonholed to do just one thing: I was managing director of a radio studio business but wanted to do loads of other stuff and I wasn’t permitted that freedom. On a personal level, I had burnt myself out – I was stressed and unhappy. I needed a change.
Q. What was the most unique or innovative way you wooed and/or landed a client?
A. All my business has been won by word of mouth alone over eight years so I don’t have any amazing, jaw-dropping secrets. It’s dead simple. Be nice to deal with, be a safe pair of hands, make a difference, and people will use you and recommend you.
Q. What would you do differently in making the leap to self-employment if you could hit rewind?
A. What would I do differently? Have more confidence from Day 1 to charge more money, to pick and choose what I do, to choose what I don’t do, to only work with people I respected 100 percent. I would have been more true to myself from Day 1. But hey, those things come with time.
Q. What advice would you give to hopeful entrepreneurs looking to make their own leap to self-employment in today’s credit-crunched economy?
A. If you have a great idea, if you are resourceful, if you are a ‘grafter,’ and if you have buckets of optimism and passion, there are still stacks of ideas out there. A recession is a good environment for incubating new ideas. For a recession, I think opportunity not threat. All my clients want to retain their competitive edge, so they still need to spend money on hiring me in a downturn!
(more…)
December 16th, 2008
My email pal Ian Sanders and I are running simultaneous interviews with each other this week on how men and women approach the self-employed life differently and what we can learn from each other. Ian owns a creative agency in London and is author of LEAP! Ditch Your Job, Start Your Own Business & Set Yourself Free and Juggle! Rethink Work, Reclaim Your Life. He’s also a dad to two toddlers. Part 1 of my interview with Ian follows; part 2 headed your way tomorrow. You can read Ian’s interview with me on his blog.
Q. Do you think men and women are driven by different factors in business?
A. Essentially I think men and women are both driven by being enterprising; they may have different approaches but they want the same goal: success.
Q. What do you think self-employed women can learn from men?
A. As soon as we start talking about gender differences we are of course generalising! With that caveat, I would say women can learn something about having guts to “just do it,” which sometimes men posses to a greater extent. Having that self-belief to be bold. I think women are better team players than men, so when they are working for themselves it can be tougher if they are not part of a team.
Q. What do you think self-employed men can learn from women?
A. Self-employed men can learn a few things from women, as I think women can be more adept at juggling a mixed portfolio and have the bandwidth to handle the varied tasks. Men are better at one thing at a time (apart from me of course!). I think blokes can be good at going out and winning business but sometimes lack the ability to simultaneously be across everything, the trivial and the detail. Women can also be better team players – personally, I find working relationships with women co-workers can be more stimulating and fruitful than with men.
Q. Do you think either men or women are better (in general) at separating work and play and keeping a balance between the two?
A. I think men are better at separating work and play; women are used to mixing it all up. Incidentally I think that mixing it all up is the way forward, and I’m no good at separation.
Q. What is your single most important survival tip for freelancers and people making the leap to self-employment?
A. My single most important survival tip is Focus. Focus on building revenues; focus on one area of business at a time, then diversify and build once you have foundations in place; focus on delivery of a project. Because a project not executed is just an idea.
December 15th, 2008
My Global Career ran a short excerpt from My So-Called Freelance Life last week. Here’s the start of it…
Clients who don’t know what they want can chew up countless hours of your time with exploratory emails, phone calls, meetings, and requests for more details if you let them. Ditto for blood-sucking zombies who milk you for free advice but have no intention of ever hiring you. Here are some suggestions for “training” indecisive clients and weeding out the bloodsuckers:
Cap getting-to-know-me meetings. Bloodsuckers are fans of meetings with agendas like “let’s spend the next four hours talking about how you’d execute our project were we to actually offer it to you.” For this reason, I have a rule about complimentary getting-to-know-me meetings: One hour max is all you get — by bat phone, webcam, or in the flesh — and then I’m billing you for it. Likewise, I don’t dress, drive, and give up my morning for just anyone. Unless there’s big money, repeat business, or real PIE potential, I phone it in.
Use templates. Although I have a bio and work samples on my website, I still need to email interested clients my references, additional samples, and a more detailed bio or resume from time to time. The materials I send vary wildly, depending on whether I’m talking to an arts organization that wants me to teach, a potential copywriting client, or a news website that wants an article written. Rather than reinvent the wheel each time, I have a nice collection of templates I employ: ShamelessInstructorPromo.doc, Fortune500Bait.doc, and MediaWhore.doc.
You can read the rest of the excerpt here.
December 9th, 2008
This promises to an action-packed week. First the mediabistro holiday party I’m hosting on Tuesday, then the DIY-tastic Urban Craft Uprising holiday fair this weekend, where I’ll be signing books both days.
I’m looking for a volunteer or two for Tuesday’s party, to help me greet guests at the door and take a few photos. Could be a fine opportunity for a freelance or media newbie to meet some of Seattle’s most seasoned writers and editors. I’ll throw in a free copy of one of my books too (your choice!). If interested, see event details below. If still interested, email me by Tuesday afternoon. Thanks for playing.
Mediabistro holiday party - December 2
When: 6 to 8 pm
What: Holiday party for freelance, staff, and laid off media professionals. mediabistro’s sponsoring. I’m playing hostess.
Where: Grey Gallery & Lounge, 1512 11th Avenue, Seattle
Cash bar: Happy hour prices till 7 pm
RSVP: Required. RSVP on mediabistro.com.
Book signings @ Urban Craft Uprising - December 6 & 7
When: Saturday signing 12 to 1 pm. Sunday signing 1 to 2 pm. Craft show open from 11 to 5 pm.
What: Fourth annual Urban Craft Uprising, a rocking indie craft show with 130+ vendors
Where: Seattle Center, Exhibition Hall
Info: Free admission. More scoop at Urban Craft Uprising.
December 1st, 2008
A couple weeks ago, I was interviewed by personal branding guru Dan Schawbel on his Personal Branding Blog. We talked about everything from getting started as a freelancer to using a pseudonym to the personal branding benefits of collecting bylines. We also talked about how on earth a person can start freelancing on the side when they’re required to be at a day job from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. five days a week. Because I get asked this question several times a month, I’m posting the answer below. For the rest of my Q&A with Dan, click this here link.
Dan Schawbel asks: How could someone manage to write, while having a full-time job?
I answer: Because it can take weeks, months, or longer to build up a solid, full-time client base, keep your day job for as long as humanly possible. Some part-time freelancers do their writing and research before work, some do on the bus or train they take to work, some do it during their lunch hour, some do it evenings and weekends, and many do a combination of all these.
Last summer, I worked a part-time contract gig for four months because the opportunity and pay were too good to turn down. Fortunately I could do 75 percent of the work from home. But when I had to go in the office, I edited my stories on the commute (if I was bussing), came up with article introductions that I saved via digital recorder (if I was driving), snuck in interviews with sources during my lunch break (from the cafeteria, complete with Bluetooth and laptop), and worked again after dinner when I got home. When you cut back on “Law and Order” and lengthy phone calls with your BFF, you can accomplish a lot. You just have to be disciplined.
I hear single, child-free people lament all the time that they’re stuck in a cube from 9 to 6 and couldn’t possibly meet clients or look for freelance work. These people haven’t tried hard enough. I have yet to meet a majority of my clients, as many of them live 3,000 miles away, and we do the bulk of our business via email, not phone. If you can shop online, IM your friends, and update your Facebook status at work, then surely you can research new freelance job leads, hobnob with other self-employed professionals online, and email potential clients. Just make sure that you use your own computer or mobile device and that you do your freelance work during your lunch hour or scheduled breaks. If this isn’t possible, then you’ll have to learn to wake with the birds. It’s the only way.
Bonus answer: I can almost hear those of you who work 60 hours a week and spend every other waking hour tending to your children saying, “But what about me? How can I possibly freelance on the side with my schedule?” Let’s be realistic. You can’t. Unless you’re one of those rare freaks of nature who doesn’t require downtime or sleep. That old saw “You can do everything — just not all at once” applies here. The only way someone in your position can find the time to freelance is to reduce your hours at work (not always possible, I know, especially given the crappy economy) or find a less-demanding day job.
November 21st, 2008
I’m writing a column on job seekers who hire a career coach (or career counselor) to help them polish up their resume, ace an interview, negotiate salary like nobody’s business, and essentially land a new employee position. If you’ve hired a career coach (or counselor) in the past few years for this purpose, I’d love to hear from you. Email me here. I don’t need to use your real name or your coach’s name. I’d just like to know how the experience went for you, approximately how much it cost, and what suggestions you have for others interested in hiring a coach.
Please note that I’m not interested in hearing about life coaches or self-employed folks who hired a business coach to help them grow their business. This is due asap, so if you don’t get to email me by Tuesday afternoon, don’t worry about it. Thanks so much.
UPDATE 11/21: Here’s how the story turned out. I managed to use the word “pulverizing” in it, which makes me happy.
November 17th, 2008
I have loads of events scheduled for the next couple of months. In Seattle, I’m hosting mediabistro’s holiday party for freelance and full-time (and pink-slipped) media professionals, signing books at Urban Craft Uprising, and doing one last book reading at Third Place Books.
In the new year, I’m giving a couple of teleseminars, including one on dealing with hell clients, sponsored by the Freelancers Union. And in February, I’m heading down to San Francisco mid-month for a couple of talks and signings. (I’m open to more Bay Area events if you have something in mind. If so, email me.)
Event details follow. To stay up to date on my events, visit my Events page or subscribe to my mailing list.
- SEATTLE -
Mediabistro holiday party - December 2
When: 6 to 8 pm
What: Holiday party for freelance, staff, and laid off media professionals. mediabistro’s sponsoring. I’m playing hostess.
Where: Grey Gallery & Lounge, 1512 11th Avenue, Seattle
Cash bar: Happy hour prices till 7 pm
RSVP: Required. RSVP on mediabistro.com.
Book signings @ Urban Craft Uprising - December 6 & 7
When: Saturday signing 12 to 1 pm. Sunday signing 1 to 2 pm. Craft show open from 11 to 5 pm.
What: Fourth annual Urban Craft Uprising, a rocking indie craft show with 100+ vendors
Where: Seattle Center, Exhibition Hall
Info: Free admission. More scoop at Urban Craft Uprising.
Reading, Q&A and book signing - January 15
When: 7 pm
What: New year, new president, new job for you? Come ask me all your burning questions about freelancing.
Where: Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park (North Seattle)
- SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA -
Reading, Q&A and book signing - February 10
When: 7:30 pm
What: Go ahead — try to stump me. Bring your toughest questions on freelancing during a recession.
Where: Books Inc. in the Marina, 2251 Chestnut Street, San Francisco
Info: Books Inc. or (415) 931-3633
Business tips for professional organizers - February 11
When: 6:30 to 8:30 pm
What: Seminar, Q&A, and networking for professional organizers
Where: The Doubletree Inn, 835 Airport Boulevard, Burlingame, CA
Info: National Association of Professional Organizers, San Francisco Bay Area chapter
Registration: $20 members, $25 guests
Co-sponsor: Books Inc.
- ONLINE / VIRTUAL -
Freelancing teleseminar - January 21
When: Time pending
What: Lecture and Q&A for new and seasoned freelancers of all industries
Where: Your telephone
Sponsor: Downtown Women’s Club
Registration: Details to come
“Dealing with the Client from Hell” teleseminar - February 25
When: 7:00 to 8:30 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST)
What: Lecture and Q&A for new and seasoned freelancers of all industries
Where: Your telephone
Sponsor: Freelancers Union
Registration: Details to come
November 14th, 2008
I have a guest post on Marci Alboher’s Shifting Careers blog in the online version of today’s New York Times. The intro follows. You can read the rest here.
Despite the fact that I’ve gone from greenhorn to grizzled veteran in my 16 years as a freelancer, I receive calls and e-mails like the following at least once a month:
“We really love your work. And we have a great opportunity for you at our exciting new media venture.”
Translation:
“We’re launching a new Web site/magazine/start-up and we’d love to have you do some consulting work for us. For free.”
My hopeful client will then explain that his or her company is poised to be the next Google or that some former “Apprentice” contestant who’s long since faded into oblivion is on the advisory board. All this is meant to butter me up for the next line, which happens to be the sentence in the self-employment lexicon that I hate the most:
“It will be great exposure for you.”
No one ever filled a gas tank or bought groceries with exposure. The 20.9 million Americans working as consultants, freelancers, small-business owners and independent contractors are not keeping a roof overhead by getting paid in exposure, or “PIE,” as I’ve taken to calling it.
But writers, illustrators and other creative types aren’t the only ones who routinely get asked to donate their time and talents to clients devoid of outsourcing budgets. Business consultants, virtual assistants, bookkeepers, programmers, publicists and all other manner of self-employed professionals get offered platefuls of PIE, too.
Sometimes the PIE — with all its promise of fame and fortune at some vague date on the horizon — will sound pretty delicious, especially if the economy’s in the gutter like it is now. Sometimes you’ll convince yourself that a little sliver of PIE couldn’t possibly hurt your bottom line. But usually these gigs are as empty as the calories at your favorite bakery counter.
Read the rest of this post here.
November 10th, 2008
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