We have all heard this at least 87 times: Do what you love. Follow your passion, your obsession, your enduring interest. When you’re passionate, your work is a joy. Plus, you will work harder and longer and with energy. You will build your skills and know-how. You will land more work and have even more(…)
No more screwing around: Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
“The sure sign of an amateur is he has a million plans and they all start tomorrow.” “When we turn pro everything becomes simple. . . We plan our activities in order to accomplish an aim. . . This changes our day completely.” “When Stevie Wonder sits down in the studio at his(…)
What we’re selling vs. What they’re paying for
It is easy to get too wrapped up in the details of what we do, and the minutiae of what we sell. That’s narrow thinking. Because what clients are buying, what truly makes the money change hands, is usually something else entirely. The richer and happier freelancers understand this. I stole the idea ages ago(…)
Q/A: When big projects fizzle out. How to protect yourself.
From my writer friend Ellen: Here’s my problem: A client calls me for a big PR project, or maybe a web site rewrite. It looks like a few weeks work. I assure the client I can get the work done and meet their deadlines. So I do the necessary briefings with the client and begin(…)
Why they hire you. Why they don’t. What to do.
So far, I have been hired by clients at least 393 times. The client said, “Okay. Let’s do it.” And, conversely, I have not been hired maybe 1,000 times. Or even more. (Who would keep count of that, anyway?) The odd thing is, I have no idea why I get hired, and why I(…)