What I’m reading: The Hamlet by William Faulkner
What I’m listening to: The Kids are Ready to Die by The Airborne Toxic Event
I spent the better part of yesterday marketing. The conference is close, and I’m trying to reach at least 100 of the 2,500 vendors. That’s my goal. If I can connect with even 25 of them, that’s 25 more people I know and will see at the conference each year.
I was talking with a few folks who won’t be at the conference, but whom I’ve met via that same show. One has connections to a publication I’d like to write for, and she graciously offered to introduce me to the editor. The other is a chum who used to sit at my desk before I was hired as senior editor. He’s working for another magazine, one I write for occasionally. I intend to see him during the show and hang out. Anyone who shows up at work wearing a cape just to see how far he can push the limits is okay in my book.
As I worked at getting the contact list built, I realized just how committed I was to making this marketing method work. Sure, it will be mostly networking, but even that kind of contact creates opportunity. I was talking with a writer friend too, and we realized that there are some traits that separate the successful writers from the ones that will struggle throughout their careers. These traits are part of the freelance mindset, and they can make your job so much easier once you tap into them.
Here’s what I think a successful freelancer needs:
Confidence. Shrinking violets need not apply. Instead, they need to fake confidence until it becomes something they own. If you’re shy about asking for work or sticking with your price, freelancing will be difficult or impossible for you.
Courage. It takes courage to commit to full-time freelancing. You have to have the strength to work without a back-up job, to make the decisions (even the bad ones) on your own, and learn the lessons that help you grow.
An eye for details. It’s not all about writing. It’s about marketing, relationship building, customer service, invoicing, collection, and record-keeping. You have to be willing to own the business you’ve just taken on.
Follow-through. If you’re full of ideas, great! If those ideas never make it out of your brain, bad. Act on ideas as they formulate. Work out how you’ll implement them. If you intend to market, follow through and do it properly and completely. Also, if you ask for advice and it’s good advice, don’t wait years to take it. Inertia is the longest, most painful way of killing your business.
Healthy skepticism. There are plenty of snake-oil salespeople in the Internet realm. There are also enough potential clients looking to get everything for the lowest price possible. There are also too many self-professed gurus, experts, and top blogger wanna-bes lining up to announce the end of freelancing, the answer to all your woes (for a price), and the ONLY way to do the freelancing method-du-jour. Uncap your inner cynic, hold firm on contracts and your rates, and trust in your own reality rather than a manufactured one.
What do you think belongs in a freelance mindset?
You need flexibility- A willingness to try new things and to abandon what you thought would be good ideas if they don't strengthen your business.
P-E-R-S-E-V-E-R-A-N-C-E 🙂
Flexibility — great one, Damaria.
Cathy, what exactly are you trying to say? LOL Super.
Very good time management skills. That's what's made a big difference for me in my freelance writing career.
Is it bad that I heard the word "Courage" in the Cowardly Lion voice? I love that speech…"What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?"
Anyhoo, I'd add something to the effect of empathy. You need to be able to put yourself in the client's shoes, whether an editor, owner of a small business, or manager at a huge one.
I actually find this comment somewhat ironic, because I'm not a particularly emotional person by nature. (Maybe the fact that I have to work at it, perhaps more than most, is why it's so clearly needed.) And it also reflects my years as an editor: I loathed the freelancers who were just in their own little bubble, and loved the ones who made my job easy.
A sense of humor. Because a lot of what we deal with is truly ridiculous.
Time management — excellent, John.
Jake, I hear you. Empathy goes a long way. I loved working with the freelancers who did what they could to make my life easier. Didn't bother calling the ones who were late, made excuses, or fussed about changes to their precious copy.
Devon, definitely! LOL
All of the above, plus tenacity.
Tenacity is more than following through with something, it's pushing through dry spells and slumps to create more opportunities when lesser people would give up and get a "real" job.
I would add support. Support from great writer folks like Lori, and support from your family to go for it. There has been times when I think "who am I fooling? I can't do this." But the support from others help me to suppress those thoughts and keep moving forward.
Paula, I love tenacity. You absolutely do need it.
Wade, your support means a ton too, you know. I know what you mean — when doubt creeps in, it's great to have people cheering for you. 🙂
Excellent point, Wade. I still remember the look on my wife's face when I came home with my "box" after quitting my last corporate job–a 6-figure one, that no one could believe I'd dump without something else to go to. But her confidence in my skills, knowing that I'd succeed by doing whatever it took, was the only golden parachute I needed.
Oy,now the song, "If I were king of the forest" is in my head. Thanks, Jake.
I was thinking that one should be able to weigh a situation before jumping in full force. Think like a professional and mull over the $2 an article offer. Is it really worth it in the end? Is writing someone's academic papers beneficial to your career in the long run,etc.?
You guys who have support at home… congratulations… and support however you get it, including forums (hint) is necessary… great list, Lori – today I'd also add stamina or persistence or both.
Wendy, super advice. And now I have that same song in my head….
I will say that I didn't have time to get my feet wet — I was walked out and my box was assembled for me. Freelancing was thrust upon me thanks to no job, no unemployment, and a rent check coming due. You learn to make better choices when you realize $2 articles do NOT pay the rent.
Anne, you're right. Hanging out with people who are supportive and who are already using good business practices is a super way to adopt the habit. Sort of a double whammy — you get the support AND the example in one package. 🙂
What fun is an earworm if you don't share it? Heh.
I'm glad you mentioned faking confidence rather than just automatically having it. I often have to fake confidence in first meetings – I'm fine after that, but pretending I'm confident when I first meet someone actually convinces me as well as them, and gives me the confidence to continue with the relationship!