Yesterday was a bit of a blur. I was here, but I wasn’t here. I’m working like mad to finish up two rather large projects by tomorrow, so my day was end-to-end work. It felt good. I’ll be done in time, but I’m one who would rather get done early and have some wiggle room than put it off until my back’s to the wall and something goes wrong.
I will say that a surprisingly short turnaround time on one project (the biggest one, naturally) had me kicking it into hyper-speed. I’d had the project in my hands maybe three days and was chipping away at it. The added pressure forced me to think faster. The result – my thoughts somehow became clearer. Weird how that happens.
Today is more of the same, though I’m well ahead of the work at this point. I’m about to get another large project in, so the more I do now, the less I stress later.
Did I mention I’m sporting a cold?
I did have a spare minute or two to discuss rates and things with another freelancer. Where she lives, the cost of living makes it possible to live really well on $30K a year. If I tried that where I live, I’d be eating the cardboard my generic macaroni would come in. Our cost of living is ridiculously high (in my small-town opinion), so $30K wouldn’t begin to cover what I need.
In a separate conversation with another writer, I realized my truth about needing a résumé isn’t her truth. She doesn’t use one and doesn’t need to. I do. If I didn’t have one, I wouldn’t be able to land the corporate crowd I target. Her clients aren’t asking.
I say all this to illustrate a point – what’s true for me may not be true for you. Before you say “Duh”, hear me out. I’m about to hit you with one more obvious statement – businesses are different. No one rule applies to everyone.
Okay, say it in unison – “Duh.”
It is obvious, but how many of your so-called experts disagree? Plenty. The Internet is choking with advice that fits one person, but frankly stinks for another person. Yet if they’re calling themselves experts, the crowds will follow blindly.
So I suggest this. The next time anyone says “You must do this” (including me), measure the advice against these parameters:
Has this been my truth? I can tell you all day you need a résumé, but if no one has asked you for one, is that really what you need? Likewise if someone says you have to have an accountant, an agent, a land line, a blog, etc. If you don’t see a real need for it, it’s not for you.
How would this change my business for the better? Would having a blog bring in more business, or are the clients you’re trying to attract more of the offline sort? What about a website? Frankly, I think every writer should have a website, but I’m not every writer. If you can convince me you’re working like mad without one, I’ll let that one go.
Would the impact of doing this help or harm me? If you took a week to put together a stellar brochure and paid a thousand to print it, is that an investment that will pay off? If you score one gig, probably. But if you don’t, you’ve wasted your time and money. Weigh every factor involved – who do you send to? How much can you earn in one gig from one new client? Does that justify the time and cost? Will having a blog help you find new clients, or will your strong opinions or lackluster posts make you look unapproachable or incompetent?
Do I trust the messenger? It’s tough to know if you’ve just discovered this messenger that the advice is given without hidden intent or with any type of authority. If you came across Joe Shmoe’s site and he was going on about how every writer must take a copywriting course to increase income, how do you know Joe isn’t selling courses? Likewise if someone decides they’re now an expert. Where did that expertise come from? Is it actual expertise or an embellished background? Do some research. Know whom it is you’re following before you take any advice verbatim.
How do you measure what’s right for your business?
The trust factor is a huge one for me. Many of these "experts" give advice in hopes of selling their product. If someone is asking me to buy constantly I ignore them. I understand that occasionally they will have a book or class to take, but if at the end of every blog post or email is a sales pitch I'm skeptical. I believe writers should be supportive of one another and not trying to make their living off the community. Find someone you trust, build a relationship with them, and help each other out when you can. That's what being a part of the writing community is all about.
I also agree that you need to find what works for you. Your 30k example illustrates that perfect. Realistically I need to make at least 70k in order to afford my home, health insurance and save for my son's college tuition. If I was single living in a condo my needed income would be way less. There is not one mold or plan that is perfect. Take some advice from a trusted professional and tailor it to what you need.
You and Wade have many great ideas on how you measure what is right for you and your business.
Wade's right, your example of the $30K is perfect. But, beyond the practical (paying the bills), there is another kind of need – your emotional need. For someone else living in the exact same place with the exact same bills might find $30K was not enough.
I find that in where I am right now in my life. I read the posts about How I made 6 figures and I think so what? Good for them, if that is their goal. And I mean that. But, for me, been there, done that, but it's not a goal for me now.
Don't get me wrong – if I could live my life the way I want – which means having a life – and happen to make 6 figures doing it, I won't turn it down. 🙂 There was a time in my corporate life where that was a goal. Years after achieving it, I left to start my own business.
I've rambled far too long. But, you are so right, Lori. Your goals may not be my goals and thank the Lord for our uniqueness. 🙂
I bet I'm not alone in saying I've had ham-handed sales pitches from a couple self-professed writing "experts" with far less professional experience than I have. There's one particularly pesky person, and the next time I get a sales pitch about his or her e-book/webinar/coaching my reply will me along the lines of, "We'll talk once you get a little more experience – unless you want to hire me as your writing coach."
These are often the same folks who regularly leave comments on writing blogs, clearly intending to lure readers to their own blog (often with a slap-dash post on the same topic). It's fine for commenters to include the occasional link to their own blogs – the people I'm talking about seldom make a post that doesn't try to poach readers. (I think Lori has discussed that here a time or two.)
My own measurement of what's right for me is probably more about balance than anything else: Balancing projects, balancing time, balancing my marketing efforts, and balancing the checkbook. (Right now the marketing efforts are out of balance, and if I don't correct those soon, the checkbook could be teetering next.)
Lori, I love you… you recognize when you're a bit off base, and you're never very far, and admit it for everyone to read. Trust you totally. And those are super-great questions.
Paula, love your response.
Love Wade and Cathy too.
Very well put, Wade. It's why I've never really pushed coaching or my e-books – it just feels weird. Probably a stupid thought on my part! LOL
You're right – single versus married, kids versus none, starting out versus caring for parents….we all have different life situations. One income level won't work for us all.
Leave it to you, Cathy Miller, to come up with the most important factor. 🙂 Thank you. I agree. I also agree that your goals are personal. Money doesn't necessarily measure success to everyone. To me, success is doing what I love every day and earning the living I expected to earn.
Balance – good one, Paula. Right now, my life feels balanced. I'm earning great money and loving what I do without stressing like crazy. That's my balance.
Love you right back, Anne. It was a discussion on our forum that made me think twice. 🙂
It's a love fest all around. 🙂
love this post! found it from anne on twitter… It bothers me when other writers hint that you're doing something wrong if you don't x, y, z. Resume, for example. So you don't "need" one. Find. I don't understand that, because 90% of mine clients have seen mine. But, whatever. We approach people differently. It doesn't mean that my using a resume is "wrong."
I talked at About about what success means to me. If I work more than about 25 hours per week, I don't feel like I'm being a successful mother, wife, runner, volunteer and friend. Things like working out are important to me. If you make a million dollars but are unhealthy, I'm decidedly unimpressed. Those are my values… Others' are different. It's fine.
More to the point, do they have a healthy attitude, Allena? I see so many people – writers and otherwise – who are financially rich but so busy chasing that wealth that they forget to put the people in their lives as a priority.