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Scope Creep

Posted on June 1, 2012 by lwidmer

I’m still somewhere deep in the Canadian Rockies and probably without an Internet connection. I can tell you from experience that I love being disconnected. It’s absolutely refreshing. Still, after about two weeks, I’ll be getting that “missing mouse” twitch from computer withdrawal. I’m leaving this for you to contemplate until I can get myself back…

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Bending Rules and Delivering Service

Posted on May 31, 2012 by lwidmer

Wasn’t that a great Writers Worth celebration? I still have some posts, but I’m not around to get them up for you, so we’ll wait until I return. I’m still out of the office, but I couldn’t leave you without something to read, now could I? Thanks to my shoe-shopping habit, I had plenty of…

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Writers Worth Three: Hobbyists Need Not Apply

Posted on May 30, 2012 by lwidmer

Three weeks of Writers Worth posts — can you believe it? Thanks to everyone who posted and those whose posts are in transit. You have helped make this a fantastic movement of learning and sharing and encouragement (and butt kicking — can’t forget that!). May what you’ve written and commented inspire another writer to change…

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Writers Worth Three: The Three T’s

Posted on May 29, 2012 by lwidmer

What’s this? A third  week of Writers Worth? Darn skippy! It’s thanks to all of you that we can continue helping our own improve how they handle business and how they view their own value. So thank you to everyone whose posts are appearing here and everyone whose comments add to the experience. Let me…

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Writers Worth Two: Are You A Flasher?

Posted on May 25, 2012 by lwidmer

Even though I’m writing this before I head out, I know by now we’ll be in the car driving toward the Canadian Rockies. The plan is to stay in Jasper, AB for a few days, then down near Banff and Lake Louise before hightailing it back to Seattle for our flight home. I promise to…

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Writers Worth Two: Freelance Writer’s Dictionary

Posted on May 24, 2012 by lwidmer

Welcome to Day Nine of the Fifth Writers Worth movement! Today’s our last day in Vancouver, and my last chance to check in, assuming I’m able to wrestle the laptop from my husband (he may need it for the conference) and secure decent WiFi. Know what the best part of asking you to share your…

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Writers Worth Two: What You Don’t Deserve

Posted on May 23, 2012October 26, 2016 by lwidmer

I’m still in Vancouver, one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. I’m still hit-and-miss with the WiFi, I imagine (writing this ahead of time), but the Writers Worth continues on in earnest! Another day, another fantastic post! Again, many thanks to all who contributed their thoughts and experiences. You’ve helped writers in ways…

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Writers Worth Two: Confidence

Posted on May 22, 2012 by lwidmer

Yes, it’s another day of Writers Worth celebration! Thanks again to all who contributed. To those of us reading, we appreciate the words of wisdom. And if you’re new to the blog, you’re seeing some great stuff from some impressive people. I’m still lurking, but not for much longer. We’ll be in the wilds of…

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Writers Worth Two: Finding Niches

Posted on May 21, 2012 by lwidmer

Welcome to Week Two of Writers Worth, er…. Weeks! I’m not here. If I’m online, I’m lurking from a WiFi spot in Vancouver. That doesn’t mean the fun has to stop.  I know you’ll make each guest poster feel welcome and engage them in conversation. And thank you in advance. Thanks also to Allena Tapia…

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Writers Worth Week: Deciding Your Own Worth

Posted on May 18, 2012 by lwidmer

It’s been a great week of sharing worth and inspiring others. Don’t forget there’s more next week! Today’s post comes from someone I’ve admired and watched for some time. I was fortunate enough to connect to Sharon Hurley Hall via Google+. In fact, I’d say becoming friends with Sharon was the best benefit I’ve ever…

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  1. Cathy Miller Avatar
    Cathy Miller
    May 18, 2012

    Is it any wonder I love you so much, Sharon? 🙂 You are so right – if others don't see your worth & value, it is truly THEIR loss.

    Great post about believing in yourself, Sharon. I'm blessed to call you friend. You are talented, generous and I am thankful for the good side of social media that brought us to your island. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Sharon Hurley Hall Avatar
    Sharon Hurley Hall
    May 18, 2012

    Between Lori's fulsome intro and your comment, I'm blushing already, Cathy – and it's a pleasure to call you a friend too. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Lori Avatar
    Lori
    May 18, 2012

    Oh, I love a writer with attitude! 🙂 I love how your life experiences became your filter for business, Sharon. Excellent approach.

    Reply
  4. Sharon Hurley Hall Avatar
    Sharon Hurley Hall
    May 18, 2012

    Thanks, Lori – integrating the two is the best way to live a balanced life, in my opinion.

    Reply
  5. Devon Ellington Avatar
    Devon Ellington
    May 18, 2012

    Many people who hate their lives and don't have the courage to change lash out at those of us who do. Just because someone flings a cow pattie — be it physical or metaphorical — at you, doesn't mean you have to take it in the chest. You can step back, smile when it hits the ground between you, and move on.

    Good for you! We are all in this together. When one of us succeeds, it's good for everyone. When one of us struggles, it behooves us to offer a helping hand.

    Nice to meet you — I look forward to checking out your blog!

    Reply
  6. Sharon Hurley Hall Avatar
    Sharon Hurley Hall
    May 18, 2012

    Nice to meet you too, Devon. I've been enjoying your insightful comments on Lori's blog for some time. This one is no exception – let's let the cow patties fall where they may. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Paula Avatar
    Paula
    May 18, 2012

    Great post, Sharon. Your reaction to the haters is enough to show that you're a better person than most. It's easy to bite back, but takes character and faith in yourself to rise above prejudice and hatred.

    Sometimes the best way to deal with ignorant people is to pity them – it must be hard being that stupid, shortsighted and living with so much negativity.

    Other people don't have power over us unless we give it to them. Looks like Sharon's known that her whole life, and learned how to apply the same idea to her career.

    Reply
  8. Sharon Hurley Hall Avatar
    Sharon Hurley Hall
    May 18, 2012

    To paraphrase something I've seen online, Paula the haters' opinion of me is none of my business. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Janet Thomson Avatar
    Janet Thomson
    May 18, 2012

    Sharon,

    What an awesome post! You are one of my favorite writers online. I admire your drive and accomplishments, and read your work often. Thanks for sharing such a personal moment in your life.

    Reply
  10. Sharon Hurley Hall Avatar
    Sharon Hurley Hall
    May 18, 2012

    Thanks, Janet. That really means a lot to me. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Lori Avatar
    Lori
    May 18, 2012

    Janet,I'm going to give a firm second to your post. 🙂

    Reply
  12. Wade Finnegan Avatar
    Wade Finnegan
    May 18, 2012

    Unfortunately, everywhere you go there will be people that judge based not on knowing you as a person, but on race, religion, profession etc. Obviously it is more prevalent in some situations more than others, but either way it can have negative repercussions in your life if you let it.

    Bravo to you Sharon for standing up and letting such prejudices roll off you. No wonder you're successful, your attitude lets your talent shine through. Great post and first hand insight, thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  13. Sharon Hurley Hall Avatar
    Sharon Hurley Hall
    May 18, 2012

    You're right, Wade, there are always a few of those people, but why give them power over you by letting them define you? It's not always easy to shrug negative experiences off, but it's generally worth it. 🙂

    Reply
  14. Writing It Right For You Avatar
    Writing It Right For You
    May 18, 2012

    This is such an awesome article, Sharon! You expressed the deepest feelings that many of us freelancers have experienced when people judge us superficially. I have had the same experiences of people JUST getting ready to hire me until they see my profile pic on my website. But I have now also had many other clients who hired me (and re-hired me and referred me) based only on my value to them and the excellence of my work. Thank you so much for this. I had sent it out to ALL of my networks! I am so glad you are "my girlfriend from across the pond"! Pam

    Reply
  15. Pamela Hilliard Owens Avatar
    Pamela Hilliard Owens
    May 18, 2012

    This is my Google avatar since my Writing It Right For You website avatar didn't show up. Thanks again!

    Reply
  16. Samar Avatar
    Samar
    May 18, 2012

    Sharon, this post connects with me at a very personal level.

    I spent the first 2 years of my freelancing life terrified of what folks would think if they realized I was a. a muslim, b. a head scarf wearer and c. a Pakistani (by this time I was usually hyperventilating).

    I didn't mention it to anyone and no one mentioned it to me. It took a twitter acquaintance to make me realize that it really didn't matter.

    We were talking stereo types when I mentioned being a hijabi (someone who wears a headscarf) and she said 'I know. I see your display picture every day'. That's when it struck me! People knew all along that I wore a head scarf. They might not know my nationality but they knew the other two important things without my even realizing it.

    Before then I hadn't even thought of display picture giving me away – stupid really when you think about it but it never occurred to me 🙂

    So while there have been clients who haven't gotten back to me after they find out where I'm from I chose to think that they were uncomfortable with using a freelance writer for whom English was a second language and not my Muslim, headscarf wearing, Pakistani passport carrying self. And even then, it's their loss.

    I write kick ass stuff. Because English is my second language, I go through everything twice as much to make sure there are no mistakes.

    It took me a while but I figured out my own worth eventually 🙂

    Reply
  17. Sharon Hurley Hall Avatar
    Sharon Hurley Hall
    May 18, 2012

    @Pam, I've had a lot of the second kind too, which partly makes up for the ignoramuses. Once I realized I didn't have consent to anyone trying to make me feel inferior, I was ahead of the game.

    @Samar, thanks so much for sharing your experience – it's good that you know your own worth. (And I never realized that English was your second language – any client would be lucky to work with you!)

    Reply
  18. Anne Wayman Avatar
    Anne Wayman
    May 21, 2012

    Amen Sharon, Amen!

    Reply
  19. Sharon Hurley Hall Avatar
    Sharon Hurley Hall
    May 21, 2012

    Thanks, Anne. 🙂

    Reply
  20. Kimberly Ben Avatar
    Kimberly Ben
    May 22, 2012

    Wow, I've been working offline a lot over the past month, otherwise I certainly wouldn't have missed responding to this. I LOVE, LOVE this line: "At no time did I allow rejection or ignorance to define my opinion of myself." The value in that statement is alone is something I truly hope all people (not just freelancers) walk away feeling like this about their worth.

    I am African American & Muslim (so, yeah – I feel you, Samar). My first time meeting with a client face-to-face wearing my hijab, I was beyond nervous. You should have seen the look on my clients' faces when I introduced myself! But before that meeting was over, we were both laughing, joking and discussing future projects for his firm. I worked with them for three years until he was forced to close his business and move, thanks in part to the recession.

    Bottom line, I know what I bring to the table: I'm good at what I do. I'm dedicated and have a strong work ethic thanks to years spent working in deadline-centered environments in the corporate world. I define myself.:)

    Reply
  21. Sharon Hurley Hall Avatar
    Sharon Hurley Hall
    May 22, 2012

    "I define myself" – love that, Kimberly. Thanks for sharing your experience. 🙂

    Reply
  22. Nicole Fende Avatar
    Nicole Fende
    June 5, 2012

    Sharon thanks for sharing your experience. Even though I'm white, living in Asia gave me a chance to experience racism. Sometimes the assumptions were in my favor (white person has $$$$ wait on her first), sometimes they were not (gweilo – which means white devil). Either way it was frustrating to be judged based on how I looked. Your advice that "haters' opinion of me is none of my business." is spot on. Once I let go of that I was much happeier.

    Reply
  23. Sharon Hurley Hall Avatar
    Sharon Hurley Hall
    June 5, 2012

    Very frustrating, Nicole, but taking that attitude helps. It took me a little while to get to that point, but it's been very helpful ever since.

    Reply
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