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This week I started an online class through The Renegade Writer. The focus is on building the freelance business you want. I’ve been thinking about this topic a lot lately, so it seemed like a good way to explore the business side of freelancing with the help of a more experienced writer. I also considered hiring a business coach to help me strategize, but this was much cheaper, and I can always hire a
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Comments
10.08.08
You raise a very valid point. I would take it a step further and propose that the issue is not only about money, but rather a focus on short-term gratification vs. long-term benefit. By going for the money and sacrificing some of the other less tangible benefits we are not laying foundations for building our business into something great in the future.
There is a natural human tendency to take the money now (short-term gratification) and hope that tomorrow will take care of itself. I think those who do well over time are those who invest some of their time in areas with less immediate results, like: building a reputation, networks, thinking and dreaming, contributing to your niche of the freelance community, etc…
10.08.08
@Brandan: I hadn't thought of it in the context of short-term vs. long-term gratification, but I think there's something to that. You really can't build a business on taking the easy money for tasks that you aren't invested in. Thanks for commenting!
10.08.08
Thanks for the post, I liked it a lot.
Daniel Quinn wrote a book - Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure - that is all about this topic. His thesis is that we should work a job that allows us to do the things we love (subsidize what you want to do with a regular job). This theory spoke to me because I want to do a number of different things, but am very conservative with money & wouldn't be able to go without a regular job to pay the bills. In my mind this, hopefully, takes into account the short and long term.
Though, there is something to be said for total commitment to what you really want to do.
10.08.08
I've been dealing with this same issue in my attempts to grow my computer consulting & web design business. I figure, at least in the front end, I've got to deal with the clients I can get, and then as I grow, weed out those who aren't worth it anymore.
I'm fortunate that I have a full-time job, so money isn't the driving force (yet)
10.08.08
I have an awesome job. I used to have a crappy job, but now I have an awesome one. I'm a trade association marketing director. The two things that make my job awesome are 1) The people I work with and 2) Having power over my own time.
Here's the thing: I get paid a lot more than I thought they would pay me, and that's great. But I would have done it for less, because money was not the driving force for me. Most of the work I do is fine. Marketing stuff. I travel and do public speaking - which I love. But on a day to day basis, the marketing stuff is just okay. But on a day to day basis, I also have time to blog - which I love.
When you don't have any money, it can take over all your attention (been there, too). However, over the years I have learned that your job should not be your passion. It should allow you to pursue your passion. When you make make your job your passion, then your passion becomes a job.
10.10.08
Long term business goals don't mean jack, if your business doesn't survive in the short term. In other words, your great business plan to become a market leader isn't worth the paper it's written on, if you can't meet payroll and expenses at the end of the month.
Business history is littered with the corpses of dead businesses who had great ideas, but didn't turn enough of a profit to stay in business.
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