Freedomlance Inc.

Making this year better than the last is probably your main goal to boost your freelancing career. While it is easy to envision where you want to be, action is the key to get there. Have you laid out the blueprint to guide you to success? If you're still a little cloudy on your strategy, there are a few things that can help to clear the path. 

1. Clear Goals: When projecting your business position it is easy to overlook a few details. No stone can be left unturned to get where you are going. If you want to make $2500 per month from freelancing and passive income combined, break it down. For a four week calendar month, that's $625 per week. Setting the freelancing goal at $525 and passive at $100 is easier to digest than just shooting for a large number. Work in small bites to get full!
2. Habits: We are all creatures of habit. When it comes to work there are things we do well and consistently as a result of the habits formed over time. Poor habits can be turned around with the same propensity. If you think you would be more productive by getting up an hour early, start by getting up 15 minutes earlier than you do now. After a week, increase it to 30 minutes, and so on. This process will help you to develop the new habit instead of struggling with it all at once. 
3. Realistic Expectations: Don't set yourself up to fall. Know your limitations. If you are asked to do a project while presently working on a few contracts, along with other obligations, politely decline. The last thing you want to do is disappoint a client because you overextended yourself. You can get another opportunity to say yes, but not if the client is unhappy. 
4. Organization: Staying organized is important to completing work successfully. If needed, use a desktop, palm, or other organizer to help you stay on track. How you work is reflected in the work you produce. 
5. Prioritize: As a freelancer you wear several hats. This can distract you from handling the most important tasks on schedule. List them in order of importance and start at the top. Commit to getting tasks done in a certain amount of time before the deadline. This allows you to handle urgent matters that may come up. 
6. Balance: Strive to maintain a healthy balance between work life and personal life. Over working can lead to burn out. Get a good nights rest so you're not sluggish all day. Eat healthy, or healthier. I am the first to admit I like junk food but I do work at maintaining good things in the diet. Getting out sometime and being around others can help with mood and encourage your creativity. Keep your body moving. Go for a walk, run, or do the workout at home. Exercise helps relieve stress and tension while helping the body stay, or get, in shape. 

How do plan on making this year a golden one? 
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Making resolutions for the new year is a tradition that usually ends with you beating yourself up by the end of January. Why go through this emotional roller coaster of declaring an ending? It's not that you don't have good intentions. You even make a toast to your decision. After thinking about so many things to improve, you settle on the one thing that stands out among the rest and declare it. So why doesn't this work?

Since a resolution is a statement of promise, it has been fulfilled once the statement is made. Taking it a step further by adding an action plan, and committing to it, is where the success comes in. This is the most important part that many individuals neglect. Think about it...throughout the year you plan your strategy to meet your business goals. Getting more gigs, growing your blog, increasing traffic, building positive relationships, and making more money all are backed by plans of action. Going into the new year with the same approach is the pathway to your success. 

Anticipate positive results of your goal. Think, talk, and live what you are reaching for. Success breeds success, so be sure to surround yourself with it. Toast in the new year with a promise of action!

Entrepreneurs that truly believed in themselves and at all costs stepped out on faith to pursue their passions to become totally independent are peak inspirations. One of my favorites is Gurbaksh Chahal (@gchahal). Long before starting gWallet in 2009, appearing on Oprah, Bonnie Hunt, America's Most Eligible Bachelor, and others, G left high school at the age of 16 to form the internet advertising company Click Agents. After selling it for $40 million dollars two years later, he continued his entrepreneurial pursuit and formed BlueLithium, another giant in internet advertising that pioneered in behavioral targeting.  In 2007, Yahoo acquired BlueLithium for $300 million. 

This is just one example of what you can accomplish by going after it. There may be some objections, haters, and hecklers. (I call them motivators.) By letting them continue to do what they do best, is getting you closer to success. Don't allow anyone to rent space in your head to throw you off. Surround yourself with like minded individuals, those that love you and fill your mind with the knowledge you need to reach your goals. The sky is the limit indeed!

When you get comments on your blog what do you do with them? Providing you are able to make time, do you read them all? Allowing readers to leave comments is positive on several levels. Whether comments are good, or not so good, there are benefits to gain. Bear in mind:

1. Words of appreciation: Most readers leave comments of a "thank you", or "great post".  These types of messages let you know that you have made an impact. Your information has made a difference. And this should make a difference to you. Try your best to acknowledge the reader by responding to his, or her, comment appropriately.
2. Embracing criticism: Comments come in all shapes and sizes. Not all readers will agree with what you have to say. As long as what is said is not meant to be in a degrading or violent nature it's okay. One thing I have learned over the years is that if someone puts forethought to respond negatively on a subject, it still holds some level of importance. The acknowledgement should reflect this. 
3. Tools for learning: The interpersonal communication exchanged through blog comments provides the opportunity for you to find out what is important to readers and how you fit in the picture. By knowing this, you are able enlighten with your expertise, assist in reaching goals, and extend encouragement. 
4. Inspiration for growth: Readers share a lot of themselves, from hopes and suggestions to their current realities. These expressions play a large part in the growth your blog and how your connect with the online subculture, so it should not be viewed lightly. 

As you begin, or continue, to build your blog, consider the merit that various comments bring. You will not please every reader, nor should your try. Doing so can remove focus and may cause readers to lose interest. Maintaining an honest presence is the most significant. 

What are some other reasons that make comments important? Share your thoughts with a comment.

Lately I have been quite busy. I admit sometimes the anxiety level takes over and makes me kind of nutty. But truly this is no way to work on a regular basis. In my quest to increase productivity I am so hyped to tell you about an app that truly makes a difference in not just the amount of work that can be done in a set time frame, but also the difference it makes in how work is completed. 

Anxiety can be a trigger for procrastination. Many writers experience this too often. Distractions take first place, hours have passed you by, then you kick yourself for not taking charge in getting the work done. This common mental roller coaster can keep you on edge...if you let it. 

The must have app I have been testing for the past week is Focus Booster. Based on the Pomodoro Technique, the Focus Booster is a time management app, you can customize, that helps eliminate the anxiety you feel when the pressure is on to get projects completed. With the use of sound, timed sessions heighten your concentration and focus. The more I used it, distractions became less of an issue. My focal point was to get the writing completed, which is what I wanted! 

The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo to improve efficiency and remove stress. Cirillo states, "The idea is to make our minds work in the best way possible." I had to give it a try. 

To learn more on how this cool technique can help you or your team with any freelance project, check out the site for more in depth information and download the free e-book. The Focus Booster is a free app you can download to your desktop or you can just use the live web version. 

Have you used this technique? Share your experience by leaving a comment.

Probably the first thing you do while having that first cup of java in the morning is check your email. You read several posts from other blogs, check out Twitter, Facebook, and other social media. Before you begin working on projects something compels you to go back to your inbox again, and again. Much of the day is spent checking the darn inbox!

I have taken note about how much people talk about their relationship with email. This is usually in reference to how their inbox slows down productivity. When you think about it, checking email is something that is often done without any thought. I've been guilty of it. I also realized how this subconscious habit was affecting my productivity a while back. Because it always had the potential to take my attention away from working, it was time for an intervention. 

I basically approached the issue like a bad habit. Not because I needed to quit, keeping tabs on the inbox is important. But it's a problem when productivity has been cut short. And as we all know...time is money, especially when freelancing. 

Incorporating an inbox schedule improved the situation. By redirecting this habit into time frames, productivity was back on track. Having a few email accounts, this worked well to check them at once and not think about it until it was time to. Anything urgent was taken care when the email was read. If there were any that did not fit into this category, it was dealt with at the end of the work day. 

The thought of an inbox intervention was different, but worth a shot. I found it to be a good benefit. Starting anything new takes some getting used and may need a few adjustment s along the way. To help break the habit of babysitting your inbox to improve your productivity:

1. Assess how often you check your inbox or feel the need to (once or more per hour=intervention)
2. Schedule inbox checks for once an hour to start. On the hour, quarter hour, half, etc.
3. Use a timer or Outlook scheduler
4. Check your inbox only at the scheduled time
5. Only address urgent matters as soon as email is read, save all others for the end of day

Do this for a week. The anxiety level associated with going to the inbox should decrease, keeping the focus work. If you find that checking every hour is too much, just cut down on the number of times you check your email throughout the day. Make any changes until you find the times that work best for you.

How do you keep from monitoring the inbox? Share your tips by leaving a comment.

 

Lately, freelancing is being referred to like it is a fashion statement. Striking out on your own is the way to go, and without the worry of a boss breathing over your shoulder. Freelancing is a way to earn a decent living and excel in your chosen field, but only if you pursue it for all the right reasons. In these tough economic times, the thought of starting a business sounds like a good idea. We all have to pay the bills! But choosing to freelance out of desperation or because it is "the thing to do" can lead to a messy situation. 

There is a myth going around that freelancers wake up when they want, stay in their jammies, put out some work when the mood hits them and the money comes rolling in. This is far from the truth. For freelancing to work in your favor you have to be willing to work harder than you would at a traditional 9-5. A true freelancer is like being the pilot on a cessna jet. You wear all of the hats from departure to destination. During your waking hours your job is full with meeting deadlines, networking, looking for more projects, sales, marketing, accounting, admin...you name it. Whatever has to be done, you're the one to do it. Then there are the distractions. Since you work from home, you have all the time in the world to chat it up or take care of the needs of others. In order to stay productive, you have to get a little stern in this department. When you respect your work, others will too. 

Freelancing can be exciting and rewarding when approached with a productive, positive, and realistic attitude. You have to ask yourself, "Am I up for this challenge?" To help answer this question, and several others, check out  "15 draw backs working as a full-time freelancer" from Guerrilla Freelancing. The author, along with some cool people on twitter, compiled this great list. 

How do you approach your freelancing? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment. 

Recently, a good friend, who is an artist, called and asked for my opinion. He was getting mixed signals from a woman he met while networking. After seeing his work she invited him to a few gallery showings and expressed wanting to include his work in the near future.  For nearly four weeks they continued to get together to discuss art. During this time he said the conversation topics became more personal, but he didn't mind. He liked her. She eventually told him she was beginning to have feelings for him. They seemed to hit it off, so I'm wondering where does my opinion fit in here. Well, after he told me that she only agreed to see him on certain days, during a specific window of time I was beginning to get the picture. Her response to phone calls even had a pattern along with some other things. 

Then came the big question..."Do you think she is up to something"? My response, "This chick is full of s&#t! I can't believe you are falling for this crap! I thought you had more on the ball. Wake up man...she's trying to play you!" 

Our conversation continued with him defending himself from my criticisms. Afterward I felt bad because that is not what he asked me to do. Though, I don't like shady people, especially when they are clearly trying to get over on someone, I should have just answered the question and left it at that. I called him back the next day and apologized for the things I directed at him. I was wrong.

Leadership involves various responsibilities. Admitting being wrong ranks near the top of the list. Many times we are appointed to leadership roles that we didn't campaign for. It's not always the position we are aiming for in our career. Others look to us for guidance at times that may catch us off guard. That's okay. Being a leader doesn't mean being right all of the time. It's acknowledging when you are wrong that counts. 

Sometimes it's a challenge to keep track of all of the ideas you have to write about that suddenly come to you. When combined with reading and research, it's just a matter of time before your mind is in overload mode. By setting aside time to mind-dump you can become better organized and can actually improve your writing. 

Mind dumping is purging and sorting the information that is bouncing around in your head. By doing this you are able to accomplish a few things:

• -Establish a clearer thought process
• -Build on substantively on ideas

Though jotting down ideas is common in the writing process, this is where it usually stops. Expanding on each idea is what makes the mind-dumping process more effective. One idea can literally become several ideas. For example, you develop a concept about effective communication. This is a general title that can broken down into a series of sub-titles:

• -"Effective Communication"

1. Verbal and Non-verbal communication skills
2. Creating solid word structures
3. Positive body language

Just by expanding on a method you may already have, your writing becomes concise with less generalizations. If you don't have a way of organizing your ideas, start with a running list. Keep handy next to your laptop or PC. Anytime you get a new idea, write it down. Carry a small pad and pen so nothing slips your mind (no pun intended) and you can still add any thoughts to the running list later. You can also get creative and draw colorful mind maps. Whatever you choose to get "your" creative juices flowing is the right way. Now you have plenty to write about. 

Just for a moment, recall the most memorable speech or presentation you have heard. You may remember the speaker to be a well-known personality, or a local individual that is active within your community. 

Do you remember how you became a part of the experience? The person was not speaking at you. There was no use of unfamiliar jargon or phrases that left you confused. You became engaged, which allowed you to become more knowledgeable from the experience. 

Writing works the same way. Communicating with readers in a basic conversational manner conveys an important part of what you represent. Realism. Reaching out to share valuable experiences and factual information gives readers the real-life examples that they are seeking to identify with. As a writer, not only are you filling a need, but building a foundation of loyalty. 

To communicate effectively, maintain simplicity by writing and responding in a basic conversational manner. When sharing experiences, encourage participation by asking readers to share their own experiences on a particular subject. This inspires others and will help you continue to grow in your freelance writing.