Business Basics
Coworking: Is It For You?
Note from Princess: Ok guys, I goofed when I originally posted this one and forgot to change the author setting to David Sumner. HE wrote this as a guest post and this is his experience with coworking spaces. I’m sorry for the confusion and I hope it’s not too late to give David the credit he deserves for writing it.
Coworking spaces are all the rage in the freelancing scene. From Los Angeles to Berlin, freelancers of all shapes and sizes are getting out of the home office and relocating their freelancing to open-plan, relaxed-style office spaces where enthusiastic and creative freelancers can collaborate together on projects, hold workshops and even hire out rooms for meetings with important clients. However, these coworking spaces are not for everybody and of course, many professionals opt for a life of freelancing in order to work from home and be closer to their loved ones, which spending 9-5 in a coworking space would obviously not facilitate. So exactly what are the benefits and drawbacks of coworking spaces?
Read MoreSell Like a Pro or Fail Like a … Pro
Selling is fun. I could never actually understand why so many freelancers resent it so much. It allows you to see your business growing. It helps you to be busy. It brings cash to your bank (and who doesn’t like that?). Let’s face it, not matter what you might think, it is also the most important part of running a business. Without selling your freelance career will end with a bang louder than 4th of July fireworks.
Read MoreLosing a Client Doesn’t Make Me a Loser
I lost a client a couple of weeks ago. Not my biggest one but a big one for sure. Nearly a third of my income went poof because they couldn’t afford to keep me on any longer. It happens to best of us. What I didn’t appreciate was the fact that I’m sure they knew for about a month that my time with them was coming to an end and they neglected to tell me, even when I had what I thought was a candid conversation about the future of this three year project.
Read MoreConfident Freelancing
I don’t feel so confident today.
I’m a generally confident person. Blame it on my upbringing, where it was stressed that I was just as good as anybody else in the world at anything or could be if I worked hard enough to develop myself. Blame on the hubris that sometimes infects my generation. Blame it on whatever you want, but I have a healthy dose of self-esteem.
But I’m human, just like everybody else walking this earth. (Well unless you count those emo vampires that are supposedly off running after homely uninteresting girls somewhere in Washington state.) So I can’t possibly keep a positive attitude and a confident spring in my step every day of the year. Honestly, I don’t feel so confident on many days but at least twice a month, I look at myself in the mirror and say “Who do you think you’re fooling? Not me. Because I can see you for you are: Nothing.”
Read MoreDeadline Deadbeat
Life has been a poop storm recently. Between the move, some major projects, some personal obstacles and the fact that I have the immune system of a two week old baby, I’ve had more than my fair share of stuff to deal with. I’m not complaining. I’m a very fortunate person that gets to eat as much as she wants everyday, loves what she does and has someone big and hairy to snore next me every night. I’ve lived much worse lives. But, the last few months and especially last month has been challenging.
My biggest regret throughout the whole time has been that I’ve missed a few deadlines here and there. Not my major ones, but I may have flaked for day or two on something I’d say I’d get done for a friend or been late getting in a guest post for someone. I was really late on a magazine assignment but I was able to give the editor prior notice so he was fine with waiting a couple of days.
Read MoreDesk Rentals for Freelancers
Working from home always seems like a great idea in principle, but the reality of the situation can often be very different. If you’re a solitary sort, who prefers the spare bedroom, a study or even the garage to carry out your daily duties then it can be a cheap and easy way of working.
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