Comments on: Have You Made This Mistake in Your Freelance Business?

By: Doreen Pendgracs

Doreen Pendgracs — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:33:51 +0000

Great article. As my motto is to live every day as though it might be my last, I really DO make an effort to grant myself time to enjoy the pleasantries of life in between and even during work projects. It’s the only way to go.

By: Rich Goidel

Rich Goidel — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:00:28 +0000

I looked up the origin of “freelance” – according to http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-origin-of-words/ it was the combination of two words, “free” and “lance,” in the spirit of a medieval mercenary who could lend his “free lances” as a means of employment.

I’ve always considered the word a bit of a misnomer: freelancers are simply people in business for themselves, serving a market of larger companies.

As such, as business owners, it’s good business practice to work ON the business as much as working IN the business.

Thanks Ed, for this gentle reminder to do so, and for wrapping it in such a nice, personal and insightful package.

Sorry to have missed it until connecting with you today; I’ll make a point to be back here often.

By: Mariellen Romer

Mariellen Romer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:57:14 +0000

Ed,

I think this has been a very helpful posting and discussion. Thank you for starting it off.

By: Ed Gandia, Editor

Ed Gandia, Editor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:57:13 +0000

Dianna – I’m glad you brought up the daily exercise thing. Because it underscores the fact that I’m not necessarily promoting a day off every month. I’m simply saying that you should give yourself a perk that means something to you. In your case, it’s that gym time 4 – 5 days a week. For others, it may mean spending time in a bookstore or working from a coffee shop half a day a month. Whatever makes you happy and you couldn’t do before as a corporate soldier, do it now!

Michelle – So true about the corporate mindset. I once worked with a guy who had worked in a law firm for 20 years and was suddenly in a job where he had to work from home. He had such a hard time with the lack of structure that he actually dressed up for work every day — put on slacks, dress shirt and even a tie every day to work out of his home office. Said it made him feel like he was actually doing work. Goes to show the effect years of conditioning can have on our beliefs!

By: Mariellen Romer

Mariellen Romer — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:11:47 +0000

I think this mistake is all too easy to make, especally if you come from the big corporate life. At BC, you’e expecgted to be acessible 24/6.5, and as a freelancer, maybe there is the worry that the “security” you left behind means you have to grab every opportunity you can – who knows if an opprtunity will be tere tomorrow, and then how will you eat??

I was talking with a friend of mine yesterday about weight watchers. We all know about the benefits of a healthy diet, exercise, living longer, getting good sleep and so on. We learn this at school, its in magazines we all read, on-line, all around us. Yet how many of us still feel we need the carrot (or stick) of a group pressure *and* support to stick to a healthy eating regime, or a gym buddy to help us exercise regularly, or as yo have fond, a son to go out and do something special with?

I think: good on you for seeing your own need for this day of reflection, for valuing its benefits, and for following through on doing it. Driving a car we are correcting our route 90% of the time. Seems to me that your inner navigation system is doing the correcting very well. Enjoy your days!

By: Have You Made This Mistake in Your Freelance Business?

Have You Made This Mistake in Your Freelance Business? — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:57:31 +0000

[...] Read the full article at The Wealthy Freelancer [...]

By: Michelle Dalton

Michelle Dalton — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:32:24 +0000

When I first started freelancing full-time, I was lucky enough to be immediately busy and have maintained that over the years. What was most difficult for me was giving up the “9-to-5″ mentality — meaning that I felt guilty if I wasn’t in front of the computer for a solid 8 hours every day, Monday through Friday. It’s still a challenge for me to schedule a committed ‘lunch hour”, but I put it on my list of New Year’s resolutions. I now set aside several hours during the week for business housekeeping (pitching new clients, following up on invoices, etc.). That time inevitably turns into a reflection of how the previous week/month has been. I do agree that setting boundaries is imperative to avoiding burnout, and to ensuring you’re giving your clients the best.

By: Dianna Huff

Dianna Huff — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:39:38 +0000

For me, it’s not the one day a month off that’s a problem. It’s making a commitment to exercise 4 – 5 days a week — which is hard to do when you’re super busy. But it’s totally worth it. I feel better, I no longer suffer from migraines, and I’ve lost weight. Plus I meet people and get out into the real world. (The Internet tends to be an echo chamber.)

By: Ed Gandia, Editor

Ed Gandia, Editor — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:52:00 +0000

Tamara – So good to hear you’ve realized that you have to rework your structure. Most of us go through this in the early years. My first few months were just like yours: busy but doable. The 2 years after that were absolutely nuts. I realized I had to change my approach or I’d burn out fast! As you already know, you’ll be a much more valuable to your clients if you’re happy. So think of it as a necessity, not a luxury. It’s good business, and it’s good for you.

Bill – That’s the key. To have a set of guiding principles. Otherwise, you’ll say “yes” to everything and find yourself working insane hours ALL the time. I still grapple with this, but I suspect this is normal.

By: Bill Paine

Bill Paine — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:07:11 +0000

As a freelancer with demanding clients, setting boundaries is extremely important–not only with my clients, but with myself as well. Early on, I set some basic targets for how many hours I’d work and what income level I wanted to sustain. Just as those targets served to motivate the growth of my business, so they also continue to serve as brakes on insanity (do I really *need* the income from those extra hours? Is it worth giving up [fill in the blank] to have it?). Once in a while the answer is yes, granted, but more often than not, the answer is a very definite no.