If there’s a book that should be wedged into every freelancer’s toolbox, it’s this one: The War of Art. It’s by Steven Pressfield, novelist and screenwriter who wrote The Legend of Bagger Vance, Gates of Fire, The Last of the Amazons, The Afghan Campaign,The Virtues of War, and most recently Killing Rommel. This guy [...]
Staying sane
When to say no: A budget mismatch
This is a lesson I have to re-learn every once in a while: If you’re working at the lower limit of your fee range, and the client is at the upper limits of their budget range, step away. Better yet, run. When it’s small potatoes for you, but a major deal for them, it will [...]
Freelancers vs. entrepreneurs: II
Is entrepreneurship somehow a more worthy calling than freelancing? Some people think so. I disagree. True, in some circles, the ‘entrepreneur’ carries many more status points. The enterpreneur is the capitalist hero. He is Andrew Carnegie, Michael Dell, and the guys who invented Google. The kids who sold YouTube for a few billion.
Your freelance tool box
What should you stock in your tool box? You’ll need optimism. You must believe things will work out. You need confidence. Two sets of that, plus a spare. And a back-up. You can’t work scared. Clients will sense it and be uneasy. Confidence will trump almost anything.