tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post8234590084451353039..comments2024-03-29T04:56:56.407-07:00Comments on Dollars and Deadlines: Attitude Adjustment: 5 Ways to Take your Freelance Career SeriouslyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12518158232642872324noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-47508376576908632422011-08-22T17:24:16.526-07:002011-08-22T17:24:16.526-07:00Megan, I agree about keeping regular hours helping...Megan, I agree about keeping regular hours helping have "work time" attitude, and great tips on tracking pay. Thanks for your comment. <br /><br />Mark, you're right--a positive attitude is a business-like attitude. I don't know any successful entrepreneur in any field who isn't a "glass-half-full" type, and I don't think that's a coincidence. <br /><br />Kristine, the staving writer myth is just that--a myth. While this is a challenging time for many freelancers, including me, it's still a good time to be self-employed. Presenting yourself as successful helps draw clients, too. <br /><br />Thank you all for your comments! <br />KellyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12518158232642872324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-70320819319984705562011-08-22T12:46:12.878-07:002011-08-22T12:46:12.878-07:00I agree about the projecting a positive and succes...I agree about the projecting a positive and successful outlook! I absolutely cringed when on a network or blog(which I have some editors on), a fellow writer described us as "starving writers"..I was pretty ticked about this comment, as that is NOT what you want to present to the world. It is a very accepted business and sales practice to talk SUCCESS! Thank you for calling attention to that.:)Kristinehttp://www.kristinemeldrumdenholm.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-66484710748437037052011-08-21T17:08:03.339-07:002011-08-21T17:08:03.339-07:00I think so. It's not necessarily a "posit...I think so. It's not necessarily a "positive attitude" but a business-like attitude. (Positive definitely helps. You absolutely HAVE to believe that your work and skill has value and you absolutely HAVE to believe that you will get more work).<br /><br />I've been full time for 7 years and it has its ups and downs and there are days where I wonder what the hell I'm doing, but I do recognize that even my worst days as a freelance writer have been better than my best days as a wage slave. But I also don't think it's for everyone.Mark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-78239607048679567002011-08-21T10:59:41.183-07:002011-08-21T10:59:41.183-07:00Great post! I really enjoyed it. I am one of those...Great post! I really enjoyed it. I am one of those moving towards freelancing full-time, and keeping consistent hours has been essential to my success not only so clients know when I'll most likely get back to them (I have many clients in other countries, so it can be difficult to communicate in different time zones), but I find I have a better mentality for "work time" if I keep the time relatively the same each day.<br /><br />As for tracking pay - from the beginning I used a spreadsheet that included what I was owed, when the work was published, any fees taken out from companies like Paypal, etc. As my business has grown, I've moved toward using other software, such as Wave Accounting, which better allows me to track income and expenses.Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08017475390703530120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-11457570334757278632011-08-21T10:58:44.514-07:002011-08-21T10:58:44.514-07:00Kelly:
I sure do remember. It is well highlighted...Kelly:<br /><br />I sure do remember. It is well highlighted, MORE THAN ONCE, in my copy of the book. Every so often I pick it up and read the highlighted parts.<br /><br />SteveStevehttp://www.sgswrite.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-48689584287277152712011-08-21T08:03:59.546-07:002011-08-21T08:03:59.546-07:00Laura, I agree re: tracking income. I've poste...Laura, I agree re: tracking income. I've posted before about knowing your daily nut (what you have to average a day to make your annual income goal) and it has helped me stay on track over the years regardless of what that annual goal is. <br /><br />Great suggestion about changing the parameter/scope of a project instead of dropping your rates, too. I've done that with some jobs (i.e. offered to be an editor instead of a ghostwriter) and it makes a lot more sense than working for less than I need to be paid.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12518158232642872324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-52144634351179679542011-08-21T08:01:23.805-07:002011-08-21T08:01:23.805-07:00Thanks for your comment, Steve. Do you remember th...Thanks for your comment, Steve. Do you remember that the PMA thing was from one of my high school swim coaches? :) But he was right...it makes a big difference. I like your mentor's comment too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12518158232642872324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-6078749854091258252011-08-21T06:53:52.287-07:002011-08-21T06:53:52.287-07:00All of these are right on. Sadly, I have the most...All of these are right on. Sadly, I have the most trouble with tracking my income, but it's perhaps the most important piece of advice out there. When I see how much I'm earning and mark off that I was paid -- I'm much more motivated to work. <br /><br />I also love the last piece of advice. I cringe when I hear writers apologizing for their rates or asking how much the "going rate" is for a particular project. I don't consider what someone else might charge. I base my project fees on my hourly rate and how much time I think it will take me to do the work. Period. If the client balks, we can negotiate the parameters of the project. But I won't compromise on my rate. I have to make a living, and what I offer is very valuable.Laura Lainghttp://www.mathforgrownups.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-34936217710627267312011-08-21T06:43:03.128-07:002011-08-21T06:43:03.128-07:00Kelly:
Attitude is absolutely essential.
PMA(pos...Kelly:<br /><br />Attitude is absolutely essential.<br /><br />PMA(positive mental attitude), as you refer to it in "$ix-Figure Freelancing..." makes a huge difference.<br /><br />Or, as another mentor mine writes in his book, if nothing's happening upstairs (aka if you're not thinking positvive), nothing (good) is going to happen.<br /><br />SteveStevehttp://www.sgswrite.comnoreply@blogger.com