Guest_Blogger | April 8, 2009
Work
at your own schedule. Get comfortable at the workplace of your
choosing. How much work and how much money — you call the shots. You are
the boss. This all may sound tantalizing to the business-suit wearing
nine-to-fiver, but there are a number of things to consider before
diving head first into the freelancing pool. We've asked Ilise Benun,
co-founder of Marketing Mentor, to give us her insights on living the life of a freelancer.
“I know how to do X, so I’ll just make a business out of that and life will be good.”
You probably said that to yourself when you first thought about
freelancing. But if you’re totally new to the concept or have been
toying with the idea a little while now, know this: It isn't quite as
easy as it seems.
If you’re serious about taking advantage of the “freedom” inherent in
freelancing, the only way to make it work is to be realistic, because
unrealistic expectations can cause extreme disappointment. So if that’s
your aim, read on and take a look at the real world of freelancing; it
may save you a lot of time in the long run.
Myth #1: You’ll be a creative (or techie, or other professional) running a business. Reality: Being
a successful freelancer starts with the right mindset. You must see
yourself as an entrepreneur providing services, not a designer,
developer, writer, or any other skilled professional making money from
your skill or talent. This is a subtle but important distinction. If
you see yourself as a professional who provides services, or, better
yet, a solver of problems, you’ll realize that what you do commercially
for others is based on their need. And focusing on the needs of the
market — instead of on yourself — is a direct path to a thriving
business.
Myth #2: You’ll be free to do whatever you want. Reality:
Freedom is a double-edged sword. In theory, it’s true that you are free
to do whatever you want, however, some of those things that you don’t
want to do – like bookkeeping and marketing – are essential to the
survival of your business. If you ignore them, you may singlehandedly
undermine your own success. You are certainly free to do that, but it’s
not a very good idea.
Myth #3: No one will tell you what to do. Reality:
Your clients won’t tell you what to do the way a boss would, but it may
feel that way sometimes. It may seem like they’re dictating deadlines,
fees, and everything in between, unless you determine and state your
own terms and conditions — like how much time you need to do a project
and how and when you get paid.
Myth #4: You’ll have lots of personal time to have fun and relax. Reality:
There aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. Besides
the work, you are responsible for writing proposals, finding new work
(whether on Elance or in person), following up, billing your clients,
dealing with customers, and even cleaning the office (which sometimes
doubles as your home). And don’t forget that everything takes twice as
long as you imagine it will.
Myth #5: If you do good work, clients will flock to your door. Reality:
There’s no flocking involved. Once you build it, then you have to go
out and spread the word about it in a world that is already cluttered
with lots of other words intent on being spread. But if you communicate
what sets you apart from the competition clearly, you are more likely
to get the work that is out there.
Myth #6: “My work will speak for itself.” Reality:
No way. Logistically impossible. You must toot your own horn, which
doesn’t mean boasting or bragging. It means getting the attention of
the right people — qualified prospects — long enough to make an
impression, then educating them about how you can help t hem. It’s
called marketing.
Myth #7: You’ll only do work you love. Reality:
Maybe eventually, but only if you pursue the work you love. It doesn’t
just magically appear on your doorstep (See Myth #6). First you have to
identify the work you love, make a plan to get it, and then follow the
plan diligently over time. Until then, you’ll probably take whatever
comes along.
Myth #8: You’ll have great clients you love. Reality:
You may have a few clients you love, but no clients are perfect — even
ideal clients. There will always be miscommunications and
misunderstandings, processes to improve and problems to resolve. If you
focus on improving processes with whatever clients you have, you will
attract better clients because the “bad” ones will weed themselves out.
Myth 9: The “business part” is boring and difficult. Reality:
The “business part” (dealing with money, business development and
managing other people, even if those people are your clients) will be
challenging and, yes, sometimes boring. If you’re in business to have
fun, your success is not assured. But if you rise to the occasion,
whatever you find difficult will certainly make you better at business.
Myth #10: You have to be a “business person” to be successful. Reality:
There is no such thing as a “business person,” and labeling yourself
that way can be a huge obstacle to success. There are, however,
business tasks, activities, behaviors, and skills, all of which you can
learn. Then you are free to practice them to your heart’s content.
About Ilise
Ilise Benun is co-founder of Marketing Mentor
and the Creative Freelancer Conference (in partnership with HOW
Magazine), which will be held August 26-28, 2009 in San Diego CA. For
more information, visit www.creativefreelancerconference.com.
Uploading ....