Simple Ways to Be Happier and More Productive
Whether you’ve just started freelancing or you’ve been at it a while, you’ve probably noticed that the stress-free existence you dreamed about hasn’t materialized. Yes, freelancing doesn’t have the same pressures as a job, but it does have pressures. Just different ones.
Here’s an article I just read on this topic: 25 Tips to Become More Productive and Happy at Work. It’s written for people with 9-to-5 jobs, but most of the tips can be easily applied to freelancing, especially if you’re a full-time freelancer. And if you have a regular job, you can use these tips to relax a little and put yourself in the right frame of mind to consider your big freelance move.
11 Tips for Becoming a Freelance Pro
Most of us are trained to think in terms of putting in our 40 hours a week and taking home a paycheck. But to succeed as a freelance pro, you must make a shift from the paycheck mentality to the professional mentality. How? Here are twelve tips:
1. Think like a professional. Whether you want to earn a little extra income on the side or go full-blown freelance pro, you should consider yourself in the same class as all other professionals, worthy of the same respect and income.
2. Ignore most of the advice from the freelance “industry.” Many magazines, books, and online sources give bad advice for those wanting to make money at freelancing. You must carefully weigh the advice you get, choosing to follow only what you know will further your business interests. Read more
The Top Freelancing Mistake of All Time
When you’re starting out on your freelance career, you’re going to make a lot of mistakes. That’s just a part of learning and growing. But there’s one big mistake you need to avoid from day one.
And it starts by asking yourself a simple but important question: Do you sell a service or produce a product?
If you answer that question wrong, you may certainly find work, but you’ll have a much harder time getting the sort of top-notch clients you want. And your paychecks may be limited in size as well. Read more
8 Simple Ways to Avoid Freelance Scams
More and more people are leaving the 9-to-5 routine of corporate America for the promise of a better career as a freelancer. Unfortunately, wherever there are people seeking money or happiness, there are also scam artists ready to pounce.
I’ve fallen victim to a few scams myself, the most costly being a freelance “agency” that offered to set me up with freelance writing jobs as long as I paid a “membership” fee to cover their marketing costs. I paid the fee but never got any work.
I’m a pretty smart guy. But there I was, forking over money to someone I’d never met because they fed me a story that sounded believable. It was early in my career and I was hungry for work. Scam artists can smell desperation.
Tips for Freelance Contractors by Michelle L. Devon covers some of the basics of protecting yourself. This is solid advice and I highly recommend it.
Okay, so I’ve fessed up to falling for a scam or two. How about you?
Freelance Success Begins with Mindset
Henry Ford is quoted as saying, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — either way you’re right.”
It’s one of those quotes that make you think before you understand what it means. But when you finally get it, it’s one of those “Ah ha!” moments.
What Ford was talking about was “mindset.” It’s the idea that the way you think affects the way you act and, therefore, what you are able to accomplish. This is directly related to being a freelance pro. Read more
Welcome to The Freelance Pro!
Today marks the official launch of The Freelance Pro. It will take a while to get things set up properly, so bookmark the site or subscribe via RSS to stay posted on new articles.
And let me know what subjects you’re most interested in. Contact me or post a comment. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
In the meantime, here’s what The Freelance Pro is all about.
