Welcome to the first full week of Writers Worth! Thanks again to everyone who posts, comments, shares, and makes this a fantastic celebration of awareness and personal growth. There’s still time for you to contribute, if you’re interested. Just send me a note at lwbean AT gmail and let’s talk.
One of my favorite people is back with some solid advice on how you as a writer can find your value and assert your worth to clients…and maybe to yourself, too. Thank you, Ashley, for a great perspective.
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Who’s the Boss?
by Ashley Festa
Boss? What boss? I don’t see a boss.
Having no boss is one of the perks of freelance life, right?
Unless, of course, you’re me. I have two bosses.
One is short and strict and occasionally throws food at
lunch. She might also suck a pacifier at naptime.
lunch. She might also suck a pacifier at naptime.
But she’s a decent boss.
It’s my other boss who needs a performance evaluation. That
boss, aka me, could learn a lot from that little boss. Especially about self-worth.
boss, aka me, could learn a lot from that little boss. Especially about self-worth.
Self-worth comes naturally to her. She values herself. She expects
the finest treatment and makes a fuss if she doesn’t get it. She never stops
learning. She doesn’t make excuses, and she doesn’t give up. She believes she
deserves the very best – from herself and everyone around her.
the finest treatment and makes a fuss if she doesn’t get it. She never stops
learning. She doesn’t make excuses, and she doesn’t give up. She believes she
deserves the very best – from herself and everyone around her.
Her perception of self-worth borders on selfishness. But I
won’t hold it against her, because she’s doing a heck of a job keeping me in
line.
won’t hold it against her, because she’s doing a heck of a job keeping me in
line.
And isn’t that what we freelancers need? If we’re running
our freelance life like a business, we all need a leader who can keep us on
track. We enjoy freedom, but we’re not free from discipline.
our freelance life like a business, we all need a leader who can keep us on
track. We enjoy freedom, but we’re not free from discipline.
Here’s the key: Good leaders – the ones who push us to
excel, to grow, to succeed – those are the bosses who deserve the greatest
respect. That little boss of mine pushes me to be better every single day.
That’s why she’s a great boss!
excel, to grow, to succeed – those are the bosses who deserve the greatest
respect. That little boss of mine pushes me to be better every single day.
That’s why she’s a great boss!
So, what has the big boss learned from the little boss?
1. Value yourself.
My mini manager knows her needs come first and wouldn’t put up with any hemming
and hawing from me. As manager of your business, you need to put your needs
(paying bills, buying food, having a life outside of work) first too. Since
you’re the boss, you determine how that’s going to happen. If you aren’t
getting paid what you’re worth, give yourself a raise. Charge more. Get better
clients. Find better paying markets. You’re the boss, and you get to decide how much you make, so don’t shortchange yourself
when dealing with clients.
My mini manager knows her needs come first and wouldn’t put up with any hemming
and hawing from me. As manager of your business, you need to put your needs
(paying bills, buying food, having a life outside of work) first too. Since
you’re the boss, you determine how that’s going to happen. If you aren’t
getting paid what you’re worth, give yourself a raise. Charge more. Get better
clients. Find better paying markets. You’re the boss, and you get to decide how much you make, so don’t shortchange yourself
when dealing with clients.
2. Expect better.
My bantam boss doesn’t tolerate any callousness. Neither should you. Respect
yourself enough to fire a client who treats you badly. Remember, you’re the
boss, so you have the power to do it.
My bantam boss doesn’t tolerate any callousness. Neither should you. Respect
yourself enough to fire a client who treats you badly. Remember, you’re the
boss, so you have the power to do it.
3. Improve yourself.
My little leader loves to learn new things. She works hard at it, and it pays
off: She gets smarter every day. So you should too. Make yourself more valuable
by learning new skills, deepening your expertise and honing your craft. Then
refer back to No. 1.
My little leader loves to learn new things. She works hard at it, and it pays
off: She gets smarter every day. So you should too. Make yourself more valuable
by learning new skills, deepening your expertise and honing your craft. Then
refer back to No. 1.
4. Ditch the excuses.
My pint-size boss doesn’t make excuses and give up when she encounters a
challenge. She believes in herself. She might not take a conventional path, but
she gets the job done. Just as you should when obstacles arise. If you keep
lying to yourself saying that you can’t do something, eventually you’re going
to believe it. Would you respect someone who continues to lie to you? I didn’t
think so. So stop making excuses for giving up when something – a client, an
article, a niche – doesn’t work out. Just try again. Try something new. And
keep trying until something works.
My pint-size boss doesn’t make excuses and give up when she encounters a
challenge. She believes in herself. She might not take a conventional path, but
she gets the job done. Just as you should when obstacles arise. If you keep
lying to yourself saying that you can’t do something, eventually you’re going
to believe it. Would you respect someone who continues to lie to you? I didn’t
think so. So stop making excuses for giving up when something – a client, an
article, a niche – doesn’t work out. Just try again. Try something new. And
keep trying until something works.
As a freelancer, you don’t answer to anyone but yourself. So
you have to push yourself toward excellence. When you do, you are worthy of the
greatest respect.
you have to push yourself toward excellence. When you do, you are worthy of the
greatest respect.
How can you be a better boss?
Ashley
Festa is a San Antonio-based freelance
business writer. You can download a copy of her free business
blogging tips e-book on her website.
Festa is a San Antonio-based freelance
business writer. You can download a copy of her free business
blogging tips e-book on her website.
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