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Craving Balance?

Posted on by lwidmer

Good friend and exceptional coach Lisa Gates is offering something you’d be crazy not to snatch up – a free Craving Balance goal-setting teleclass. I said free, as in no money down, no payments ever. Having been fortunate enough to have attended one of Lisa’s coaching sessions, I’m here to tell you this is a…

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Can You Barter For It?

Posted on by lwidmer

Saw a segment on the Today Show yesterday about bartering in a tough economy. Everything from cars to vacations to haircuts to decorating is fair game. As things get tighter, how can we get what we need without spending money? For about 5 years now, I’ve been bartering with web designer Kevin Prutzman (an excellent…

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A Blip on the Work Radar

Posted on by lwidmer

It was more than a little scary to be driving late Sunday night from Manhattan to Philadelphia in a big snowstorm. I’m okay with the snow and driving – I’m not okay with being passed by idiots doing 70-80 when conditions (and warning signs) call for 35 and under. If I die at the hands…

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Are Moms Bad for Business?

Posted on by lwidmer

I’m about to offend a lot of women who designate themselves as WAHMs – work-at-home moms. It’s not an intent to offend, and it’s not a character bashing. It’s some advice on how to market yourself. Start first by removing the WAHM from anything associated with your business. Thank God for Scott Stratten. He posted…

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Grammar Nails on Chalkboard

Posted on by lwidmer

I received a nice note from Jo Anne, who stopped by here last week. She’d read a post or two about grammar peeves, and she brought up one of her own – the misuse of the word “myself” in place of the word “me.” Example: “Jane and myself agree that proper grammar use is important.”…

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Monthly Assessment – February

Posted on by lwidmer

The week started slowly, but thanks to Wednesday and Thursday, my brain is now smoking and needing a rest. That’s why today is my mental health day and no one beyond my family will be able to locate me quickly. That I’m considering hiding from the homeward-bound college kids is proof I’m toasted. It’s that…

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Playing to Your Strengths

Posted on by lwidmer

If I could bottle yesterday, I’d seal it tight and bury it under several layers of rock, dirt, silt, and anything else that would hold it down. Too many deadlines, too much work. Today, I woke up with the expected headache. Today will be a lot like yesterday. But I’m taking tomorrow off. I need…

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Honors, Followers, and Proof I’m Not Making This Up

Posted on by lwidmer

I would like to thank both Lillie and Susan for kindly bestowing upon me the Premio Dardas Award, which is for blogs that have literary and artistic value. I’m really honored for that, ladies. I’m so glad to hear my ramblings have held some value over the last few years. While I’m at it, I’d…

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Getting Proactive on Your Arses

Posted on by lwidmer

If you want to sum up my opinion of job boards and searching want ads, just use the word “passive.” That’s what it is, you know. It’s passive job searching, waiting for someone to post their wants and then preparing queries to suit the ad. And then waiting for a response that may never come….

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Self-inflicted Depression

Posted on by lwidmer

Maybe it was because it was late on Friday or maybe it was because I had more sugar/less sugar than I should have, but I sat in this chair at 5 pm doubting myself. Yes, even we cheerleaders (or wannabes – former wallflower here) get the blues. I can tell you how it began and…

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  1. Devon Ellington Avatar
    Devon Ellington

    As you know, I am vehemently opposed to sites that charge for listings or to bidding sites. I know, I know, some people swear they’ve gotten legitimate jobs from them, but I think the majority just are “mill jobs”.

    The listings kill me every day. I’ve found some good stuff — as I mentioned last week, mostly fiction-related.

    And I’m marketing.

    But it’s a rough patch.

    And I have to raise a bunch of quick cash because one of the cats got sick. I’m kind of panicking today. But I don’t want to get caught up in a low-paying mill site that won’t pay me properly for the work I do, and I’d have to work 24 hrs for weeks on end just to maybe sorta pay a single bill.

    Reply
  2. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    Devon, I got two jobs from those pay-to-view job boards. Two. One lasted about a year, so it justified my sticking around to find the second job, which was a ghostwriting gig (one of the two I’ve done that’s actually worked out). Do I think I needed that board to find ongoing work? No way. I could’ve save my money and found work elsewhere that paid the same or better.

    Sorry the cat’s sick! My prayers to you that it’s a quick recovery.

    You’ll find work. You’re good and you’ve put in the legwork. Meditate on it. It’ll come. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Eileen Coale Avatar
    Eileen Coale

    IMHO, Craigs List and other job boards are hopeless. That’s why I just don’t go there.

    Reply
  4. Michelle Miles Avatar
    Michelle Miles

    I’ve scanned a few of the job boards and I have to tell you, I’m not head over heels about any of the postings there. I’ve been trying to come up with other ways to freelance. Even though I’m not actively seeking, I’m actively thinking. I’m trying to put a plan into motion. 🙂

    I’m sure things will get better for you!

    Reply
  5. Carrie Wilson Link Avatar
    Carrie Wilson Link

    No matter what career we’re in, there’s that occasional sense of “Why bother?” Hope yours passes and stays away for a good long time.

    Reply
  6. Kimberly Ben Avatar
    Kimberly Ben

    Lori, this is kismet. I feel very much out of it today. I wouldn’t call is depressed exactly, but it is a srt of hopelessness. I’m quite frankly pissed with myself because I’ve allowed a client to suck away my time on a project that should have been completed last month. As a result, I’ve slack up on my marketing efforts and am really feeling it now. Ouch. Lesson learned.

    BTW, I wouldn’t say that I’m a fan of Craigs List and other job sites (I don’t do bidding sutes though), but I have been working with a client for over a year that I contacted from Craigs List – one of my biggest, so I stop by there from time to time as well, because you just never know.

    I’m going to get out in the sun and get some exercise in a couple of hours when I walk to pick up the kids from school. That usually makes me feel much better.

    @Devon: So sorry to hear about your cat. I hope everything’s okay.:(

    Reply
  7. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    Eileen, I have found ongoing work via Craig’s List and some job boards, but like I said, these are few and far between. I don’t write them off completely, but I don’t want to make these places part of my regular routine.

    Michelle and Carrie, thanks. I felt better once I exercised and meditated. Just didn’t want to spend the weekend worrying about work. Ugh!

    Kim, maybe it’s also a bit of the economic atmosphere creeping in – what do you think? We listen to gloom-and-doom all day and then we go looking for work. It’s enough to make you want to find a tall bridge with a sudden stop at the bottom! LOL

    Reply
  8. Dana Prince Avatar
    Dana Prince

    It must be time for the annual February freelancer’s depression…

    I’ve had a few waves of hopelessness this month.

    I had hopeless and helpless moment a few weeks ago after a few rough days and wanted to have a good cry and go back to the corporate world where you finish at 5:pm, say “tgif”,get to go to the dentist twice a year for ‘free’ and go out for lunch with the girls, etc.

    But thankfully it didn’t last long. I some great feedback from a few clients and got a new gig and then a $150 bonus from a client and it was enough to pull me out of the depths.

    Then last week a writer I subbed to plagiarised and that could cost me my reputation and a big client (who thankfully forgave me) so I had another hopeless/helpless moment thinking that I should pack in the team and only be responsible for myself because the team only takes the fun/good paying stuff and ignores my messages when I want them to write about safety equipment, industrial screws, and the like.

    Then a team member pulled me out of a jam with a tight deadline and I was thankful for the team.

    Sheesh this gig can be a bit of a roller coaster. Sheesh am I ever babbling today. Yep, February blues.

    🙂

    Hope something good happens to pull you out of the depths, Lori.

    Reply
  9. Amanda Nicole Avatar
    Amanda Nicole

    This is exactly how I’ve been feeling lately. More and more, there are ads for free content and phishing scams, and trolling those boards day in and day out is deflating, to say the least.

    I’ve actually been thinking of delving into more fiction and creative writing, as at least I’ll get some sort of thrill out of it. Strange times, these.

    Reply
  10. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    Dana, I was floored when I read your post about that team member plagiarizing! Ridiculous behavior, and it doesn’t belong in ANY economy, much less this one.

    Amanda, it’s sickening, isn’t it? Reading those ads and wondering exactly where the real work is….

    Maybe this is why Mardi Gras was invented – too many writers with mid-February blues. :))

    Reply
  11. Michele Avatar
    Michele

    More than once, I’ve received replies where you’re supposed to go check out a site “to see if you’d want to write for them” and you have to subscribe or they’re selling something. And there’s the ads that when you reply, you receive some sort of invitation to join a writer’s site. That one kept checking up on me. They emailed several times “reminding me” (???!!!) to subscribe and you have to pay for the service!!! ;-( I finally emailed back and told them to take. me. off. that. mailing. list!!!!

    It does make a person sad and bonkers, I suppose. Imagine that!

    Anyway, I hope you’re cheered up now Lori!

    And… Devon, so sorry to hear about your cat. It’s never fun when a fuzzy/furry friend is not in good health.

    Reply
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