Uncategorized | Words on the Page

With a Little Help From My Friends

Posted on February 24, 2012 by lwidmer

Today is going to be nutso busy. I got an call from a friend in crisis, who needs backup on a project ASAP, plus I have a meeting that will take up most of the day (and one I’m looking forward to in order to escape the madness). I feel like I’m earning a vacation…

Are You Partner-Worthy?

Posted on February 23, 2012 by lwidmer

Pretty good day yesterday. I worked through another section of my article, lined up a few more interviews, had a conference call, and handled a few small client items. I got some marketing in, but not as much as I’d have liked. The conference call was with dear chum Anne Wayman and another writer who’s…

The Posse Clause

Posted on February 22, 2012 by lwidmer

Yesterday was one of those one step forward, two steps back days. I had the entire day to write, or so I thought. However, phone calls, emails, and various oddities kept cropping up. I did get some work done on an article, but I felt like I was being dragged through the day backwards and…

When There’s No More Demand…

Posted on February 21, 2012 by lwidmer

Yesterday was blessedly slower than most of last week. I managed to get two interviews done, review a client proposal, and work on a side project. Appointments on my very full calendar vaporized. I was somewhat glad for it, though each postponed appointment does have to be rescheduled. Another day. Good friend and writing chum…

Putting “Free”dom In Freelance

Posted on February 20, 2012 by lwidmer

Thanks to chum Cathy Miller for reviewing Marketing 365 over on her Simply Stated Business blog! I appreciate the review! How was the weekend? Mine was a mixture of lethargy and laziness – in general, pretty darned good. We had his office party on Saturday where I had the chance to really chat up some…

Giving Voice to the Voiceless

Posted on February 17, 2012 by lwidmer

Hop on over to Newton Ideas for a review of my Marketing 365 ebook. Yesterday was upheaval much of the day. I was still feeling under the weather thanks to an intestinal infection, so I was intent on taking it slow. Unfortunately, too many things conspired to keep that from happening. I was chipping away…

Agreeable Disagreements

Posted on February 16, 2012 by lwidmer

Yesterday was a wad of busy wrapped inside a shell of chaos. I got plenty accomplished, but there’s plenty more awaiting. I’m busy working on an emergency project today, plus I’m fighting off an infection that may require a doctor’s visit. I have no time for that, so it may wait until tomorrow. I’ve been…

Worth-inducing Wednesday

Posted on February 15, 2012 by lwidmer

Nice day yesterday. It was slower – not at a standstill, but slow enough I could take my time getting back from lunch. I’m working on articles, messaging, and a potential editing gig. I’m also working on what may be a flu. I’m aching and my skin hurts. No fever, but there’s definitely something going…

Things I Love About Freelancing

Posted on February 14, 2012 by lwidmer

Happy Valentine’s Day! You’re all my valentines this year. No better people in the world to share a virtual hug with. I finished a large article project, one that seemed to be getting longer instead of shorter as I wrote. I started on two others, and I got some marketing in before heading over to…

Guest Post: Your Freelancer Lifecycle

Posted on February 13, 2012 by lwidmer

Many thanks to good chum Jake Poinier (Dr. Freelance) for providing this example of blog post excellence. I had the distinct pleasure of sharing thoughts with Jake over some Starbucks swill back in December. He’s as congenial, professional, and downright fun to be around as he comes across. About three weeks ago, Jake intrigued me…

Devon Ellington

February 13, 2012

I'm shifting between Business first and Selective, depending on the day. Closer to Selective. The new business plan is Selective — that's the whole point.

I freelanced while I was on Broadway, and I've been totally away from B'way for a few years now. I can't remember. When did I start the quarterly taxes again?

I think I a lot of people boomerang back to corporate life because they assume freelancing is quick and easy money, and when they find out how much initiative they have to show continually, they'd rather crawl back into the corporate cave and not have to worry about it.

Freelancing is about sustained initiative and motivation. It's not "easy money".

Ronda Swaney

February 13, 2012

I was a part-time freelancer for 10 years before I moved to full-time freelance. Despite all that, I still started out in the Clueless stage when I began the full-time path. Having a client go bankrupt in my first few months is what immediately propelled me into the Business First stage. After 2 years as a full-timer, I'm now in the Selective stage and am absolutely determined to get to the Referral Heaven as soon as I can.

I agree with both Devon and Jake…many if not most people who try to freelance never get out of the Clueless stage. Some b/c they really thought freelancing would be easy and others because they never transition to the Business First mindset.

Lori

February 13, 2012

Devon, I think we do a lot of transitioning between these stages at various times in our career. Right now, I'm at Referral Heaven, but I'm trying to think like I'm at "Selective" so as not to get caught without projects.

Ronda, I think that's normal to start out Clueless even when you've been familiar with the work for a while. It's an entirely different beast to take it on as a career than as a part-time way to earn money.

Krista

February 13, 2012

I think after five years, thanks to a handful of clients giving me regular work, I'm about halfway between stage 3 and 4.

My main problem is that when there's a lull I tend to regress to the "I'll take anything" mindset fairly quickly. Thankfully I don't have much down time any more!

Jake p

February 13, 2012

Good morning, all. Great comments!

Devon makes an excellent point about initiative, sustained motivation and strategy. You can rest comfortably Clueless…and reap exactly what you've sown…or you can take on the difficult but rewarding steps to make a valid biz of it.

Ronda, nothing like a bankrupt client (I think I've had 5 or 6 through the recession) for a reality check, eh? But, it sounds like you've turned it into a positive–nice.

That's almost exactly my mindset, Lori. I'm pretty well in RH but take nothing for granted. You've illustrated another hallmark of the three top stages–they are not static and you can't *ignore* what you did to get you there.

Krista, what you're describing is Maslow's classic "conscious competence." A few years ago, you wouldn't have even recognized that tendency to backslide, or you would have accepted it as "part of the business." It's not, and you're now armed with that knowledge.

k1paula2

February 13, 2012

Great post, Jake!

I bounce between Business First and Selective quite often. When work slows down (like now, for instance) I slip back to Business First, spending more time on marketing while squeezing in what I call filler work – the kinds of assignments I'd normally pass on when in the Selective mode. Maybe they pay slightly less than I like, or they might be on boring topics.

Paula

February 13, 2012

FYI- k1paula2 is me. I decided to try signing in with my wordpress ID. Wish it just said Paula, but at least my name is in there….

Lori

February 13, 2012

Jake, thanks again for indulging my need to pick your brain. I'm loving this post and these comments!

Krista, doesn't regression stink? But as Jake says, you're seeing it, so that in itself is progress. And that conscious competence is great – it beats the conscious incompetence I see around the 'net. I strive to be unconsciously competent as well as self-actualized. I have big dreams. 🙂

Paula, you have many personalities. LOL Weren't you posting as your dog last week? 🙂 It's tough not to be in "Business First" mode when the checks aren't coming and none are expected.

Paula

February 13, 2012

If only I had a separate paycheck for each of my personalities, Lori!

Anne Wayman

February 13, 2012

Jake, love unconscious competence… had forgotten about that term and it's a good one.

I'm discovering a need to be more business-like which is something I've had some resistance to for many years and am now finding exciting.

Sharon Hurley Hall

February 14, 2012

Excellent post, Jake. I'm pretty happy to have passed stage 1. 🙂 Actually, I think that you can revisit points in that cycle when clients leave or your circumstances change.

Cathy Miller

February 14, 2012

On this day of ♥ I am loving this post!

As others pointed out, I think we can shift back and forth depending on what's happening at the time. I would say I am solidly selective while knocking on referral heaven's pearly gates. 🙂

I feel I hit the solidly selective last year. I tripped over it a time or two before that, but had it down pat last year.

Again, great post, Jake.

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