This is true whether you’re a freelancer, or not. But, because of the nature of freelancing, we freelancers tend to face change and its consequences a bit more frequently than other folks do. That’s why it’s really important to have a Plan B and to keep that plan up to date. Having an emergency fund does not hurt either.

There’s much more to dealing with freelancing change that just having a Plan B, though. You also need to deal with the emotional toll that freelancing change can take on you. Handling the emotional toll of freelancing change is what this post is all about. In it, I’ll share some practical tips to help you keep the inevitable freelancing changes in perspective so you can stay at your best as a freelancer.

Dealing with Inevitable Freelancing Change

If you’re not careful (and if you’re not ready), freelancing change can really throw you for a loop. After a change, you may find yourself dealing with stress, disappointment, anger, or even a combination of the three. You don’t have to let change negatively affect your freelancing business or your outlook, though.

Here are some precautions to take that will help you to steel yourself against the inevitable changes of freelancing:

1. Get enough rest. I know it seems like every list of how to take care of yourself as a freelancer is topped with the advice to get enough rest. There’s a very good reason for that. Studies have shown that many adults (not just freelancers) do not get enough sleep. Yet, proper sleep is vital to good health and good health is vital to…you guessed it…performing your best as a freelancer.
2. Eat right. Like getting enough sleep, eating right is vital to your good health and to your performance as a freelancer. Freelancers are especially vulnerable to the temptation to eat whatever is convenient and available rather than eating what’s best for them. What freelancer hasn’t been grinding away towards a big deadline and grabbed a quick bite of whatever was on hand and could be easily microwaved? Yet, a bad diet eventually take its toll on your health.
3. Take a deep breath. I could also call this point “calm down.” Even if you seem to be in a bad spot at the moment, there’s a good chance that things will be better soon. There have been many times in my freelancing career when a contract ended and I was wondering what to do next–only to be contacted by a new client within a very short time. Keep on with your marketing efforts and keep up with your skills.
4. Keep a positive outlook. This can be really hard to do when things are changing all around you–it’s especially difficult if you happen to find yourself without clients for an extended period of time. However, clients and prospective clients can sense when you have a negative outlook. If you talk on the phone, it will come through in your tone of voice. So, to keep your opportunities coming try to hold on to your positive attitude.
5. Find a sympathetic ear. Having someone to talk to who understands what you’re going through can be a huge comfort. However, I do have to say that social media is not the best place to vent your frustrations. It’s just too easy for social media rants to reach the wrong people. It’s much better to meet a local friend for lunch (and that will get you out of your office too) and talk about your situation face-to-face. Be sure to pick someone who will keep a confidence.
6. Consider your options. You may think you have no options, but there are always options. Be creative. Perhaps you are overlooking a lead for a new freelancing gig even though that lead is right in front of you. Don’t be afraid to try something totally different from what you usually do to improve your situation. You never know how something new will work out for you unless you try it. :)
7. Not all change is bad. This post has been about dealing with the emotional toll of freelancing change, but it’s important to remember that not all change is bad. A change of clients, being asked to do something new, or even finding yourself with unexpected time off–these situations could very well all end up having a silver lining. So, when freelancing change happens to you, don’t automatically assume the worst.

By taking the precautions I listed above at least you’ll be at your best to handle whatever freelancing (and life) may throw at you when change strikes.

Your Turn

Have you already been through freelancing change? What strategies do you use or have you used to deal with freelancing change? Share your tips in the comments.

Image by dominiccampbell

But seeing into the future, like mind reading, is an imprecise art (at best). However, it is possible to make some educated guesses about the future of freelancing based on current trends.

So, that’s what I’m going to do for 2012. In this post I’ll share twelve predictions about areas that will impact freelancers in the coming year. At the end of the post, I’d like you to share your predictions too.

The Number of Freelancers

Here are three predictions about the number of freelancers:

1. More Freelancers Than Ever Before. More people will try their hand at freelancing in 2012. Some of these folks will be turning to freelancing because they’ve been downsized from traditional employment. Others are new college graduates who will choose freelancing rather than traditional employment.
2. More Freelancers Will Quit. Sadly, some of the folks who try freelancing in 2012 won’t be prepared. Freelancing is harder than it seems and not all skills and experience is easy to adapt to self-employment. Plus, many don’t have the business or marketing skills that it takes to stay afloat as a freelancer.
3. The Total Number of Freelancers Will Still Be Higher. At the end of 2012, however, there will still be more freelancers than there are right now. This, despite some freelancers becoming discouraged and dropping out–I predict that our numbers will still be up at year-end.

Freelancers and Social Media

Freelancers rely on social media to get their marketing message out. Here are some possible social media changes that will affect freelancers in 2012:

4. There Will Be an Effective Means to Measure Social Media ROI. Measuring social media return on investment effectively has been sort of the Holy Grail of social networking. Some claim there are already effective measures for social media, while others believe that measuring social media returns can’t be done.
5. Blogging Will Continue to Become More Integrated with Social Media. You’ll see even more integration between blogging and social media as developers come up with more ways to connect the two. Not only will this make it easier for freelancers to connect on various platforms, it will also expand the audience that a freelancing blog can reach.
6. At Least One Major Social Media Player Will Falter. Social media is in a precarious position. There are so many similar platforms available that the ordinary, non-tech, user is confused. Social media platforms will have to show how they are unique to be successful in 2012.

How Freelancers Will Work in 2012

Freelancers are known for working alone, but that may change in the coming year. Here are some work style changes to look for:

7. Major Companies Will Start to Use More Freelancers. Corporations will turn more frequently to freelancers in 2012 to meet needs that were formerly met by employees or agencies. Corporations will also develop more effective methods for finding the best freelance talent since traditional recruiting doesn’t necessarily fill this need.
8. Collaboration and Coworking Will Become Commonplace. 2012 may become the year of the freelancing team. Sure, there will still be solo freelancers, but the freelancing veterans (those with two or more years of experience) are ready to team up. The result will benefit both freelancers and clients.
9. Some Freelancers Will Graduate to Bigger Things. Not all freelancers stay freelancers. Many become the founders of small business startups. In 2012 many veteran freelancers will take the step of moving into this role by incorporating, hiring others, or otherwise restructuring their business.

Freelancing and Society

Freelancing impacts all of us. Here are some ways that freelancing will shape society in the coming year:

10. Freelancing Goes Mainstream. As mainstream America becomes aware of freelancing, expect more and more products and services geared specifically to the needs of freelancers. This trend will not be limited to the online marketplace only, but will spill over into other areas as well.
11. Freelancing Will Play a Bigger Part in the Economy. As freelancing becomes more commonplace, freelancers will also play an even bigger role in the economy. Freelance purchasing power could help fuel a recovery. Economists will come up with ways to measure the impact of freelancing.
12. Freelancing May Face More Regulations. State, local, and federal governments may pass regulations that impact freelancers. Most likely such regulations will come in the form of internet restrictions or additional taxes that freelancers will be responsible for paying.

What Are Your Predictions for 2012?

I had fun writing this post and I hope that you had fun reading it. Of course, no one really knows what will happen in 2012. However, I based these predictions on trends that I’m already reading about in the news. I believe these trends are likely to continue.

What are your predictions for freelancing in 2012?

Image by JasonLangheine

For a long time, I believed that being a perfectionist was a good thing. I was proud of my compulsion to work and rework even the smallest assignment until it was faultless. What did it matter that it took me hours more than it probably should have? I was a perfectionist. All that mattered was that I nailed it.

When I became a freelancer, however, I realized that my perfectionism wasn’t the big pat-on-the-back that I thought it was. In fact, it was just the opposite. With my eye now always on the clock, I saw that my relentless quest for perfection was making me inefficient. More often than I care to confess, I undercharged clients because I didn’t want to admit the true amount of time it had taken me to complete the assignment. (Note: this is not a good way to run a business.)

Frustrated and anxious, I knew I had to beat the problem or kiss my career goodbye. But how? I was afraid that if I devoted any less time to my projects, I’d make some hideous mistake and ruin my career. I also afraid that being even a smidgen less meticulous might result a failure to meet–no, exceed–my client’s expectations. How could I alter my work habits without sacrificing my high standards?

Well, it didn’t happen overnight, but I did eventually come up with a workable strategy. If you suspect you might be a perfectionist too, consider these five tips to bring your obsessive tendencies under control.

Tip #1: Address the Real Problem

At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Think about it. The next time you find yourself spinning in endless circles on an assignment, ask yourself what you’re afraid of–whether you feel consciously afraid or not–and dig deep for a response. You’ll be surprised at what comes up.

Now, once you’ve isolated that fear, confront it head-on. Anxious about working with a new client? Worried about tackling a new technique? Scared you’ll miss a deadline? Run through worst-case scenarios in your head. Keep ‘what if’-ing, worse and worse scenarios, until you can’t anymore. Often when you stare fear straight in the eye, it miraculously loses its power. And you’re left free to work productively.

Tip #2: Set Time Limits

Sometimes it’s hard to know when you’ve crossed the line from conscientious to compulsive. When you’re in the thick of an assignment, it’s easy to believe that you must spend so much time brainstorming, researching, writing, testing, revising or what-have-you. Often, it’s only after you’ve been working for hours on end that you realize that half the work you’ve been doing wasn’t actually necessary and that you’ve just wasted a lot of time.

Nip time-wasting in the bud by setting an objectively reasonable time limit to complete each task. If you run out of time, no matter the point you are at, stop and switch to a different task. This approach has two advantages. First, it serves as an alarm that your perfectionist tendencies may be taking over. Second, it forces you to take a breather and give your mind a chance to relax. When you return to the task, you’ll look at the project afresh–and be armed against letting your perfectionism get the best of you.

Tip #3: Trust in Yourself

Insecurity is a component of fear. And fear, as we know, is the driving force behind perfectionism. When insecurity prevents you from working productively, stop and take some time to reestablish trust in yourself. You can do this by reminding yourself of the clients who have responded favorably to your work in the past, naming them aloud, if necessary. Re-read any client testimonials you’ve received or review work that you’re particularly proud of. You might even want to say a simple affirmation along the lines of “I always produce excellent work.” Say it slowly at least ten times in a row, with feeling and while smiling.

Tip #4: Get a Freelance Buddy

In my view, freelancers are particularly susceptible to succumbing to perfectionism. We work in a highly competitive field and we often work entirely alone. It’s easy to lose perspective on the quality of our work in these circumstances. This problem can be solved by finding a freelance buddy: someone in your field with whom you can exchange ideas, drafts and tips. When you’re stuck in a perfectionist spiral, call on your buddy to help break you out.

Tip #5: Embrace the Value of Mistakes

Face it: as much as you’d like to be, you’re not perfect. Mistakes will be made in both your freelance career and life. Instead of fearing mistakes, remind yourself that there’s plenty to learn from them. If nothing else, you’ll learn that a mistake doesn’t mean the end of the world. In fact, it might be the beginning of a new one. Penicillin, pacemakers, microwave ovens, fireworks, and even chocolate chip cookies were created from projects that went awry. You just never know what amazing benefits an imperfect undertaking might yield.

Your Turn

Have you wrestled with perfectionism? Share your experiences in the comments.

There are many ways a freelancer can get stuck. They can get stuck in the rut of working for low pay. They can get stuck creatively where they find themselves doing the same unchallenging work over and over. Or, they can get stuck when they fall behind technology and current trends.

If this is you–if you’re a stuck freelancer right now, don’t worry. There are ways to become unstuck. In this post, I’ll provide some of those ways to help you get unstuck.

Stuck Working for Low Pay

It’s popular these days to say that when a freelancer is stuck working for low pay, that it’s his or her own fault. Sometimes this is true. Sometimes, however, it is not. Sometimes a freelancer simply doesn’t know how to go about finding better paying work. Here are a few tips to help you find better paying work.

• Find Your Own Job. It’s a fact that the best paying job are not advertised. So, if you are relying on job boards, bidding sites, and other advertisements to find gigs you’re probably not being paid top dollar. Try this instead. Take some time (it may take a day or two of research) to learn about the businesses in your local area. Make a note of those that fit, or are close to, your ideal client profile. Send a mailer to those companies describing your services and follow through in a few days with a phone call.
• Activate Your Personal Network. Another tactic you can use to find higher paying work is to activate your network. Let your friends, family, and former employers know that you are freelancing and that you’re freelancing and that you are available. I once knew a freelancer who was hired by his former employer at more than double the pay. Even if they are not able to use your services directly, they may know someone who can. You haven’t burnt any bridges, have you?
• Make Sure You Have an Online Presence. Can potential clients find you online? Are you active on social media? Do you have an online portfolio and website? If you answered “no” to all of these questions, you’ve got some work to do. Nearly all professional freelancers have an online presence and potential clients will expect you to have one as well.
• Rethink Misplaced Loyalty. A final reason that many freelancers are underpaid is because they have a misplaced loyalty to a long-term client. If this is you, try asking for more money. Really. Often, that’s all it takes. However, if the client says “no” to your rate increase, then it may be time for you to re-evaluate your professional relationship. Do you really want to continue working for someone who refuses to recognize your true value?

Stuck In a Creative Rut

So, you’ve been freelancing for a while. At first, the projects were fun and exciting, but lately you find yourself doing the same boring type of work over and over again. Is there any fix for this?

If this is you, you may be a victim of your own branding. While it’s great to have a specialty, sometimes freelancers can find themselves boxed into such a narrow niche that they begin feel stifled.

The answer to this is, believe it or not, more branding. In some ways, changing niches or adding a new freelancing specialty is a little bit like starting new as a freelancer. You’ve got to make sure that you have portfolio pieces or references that support your new specialty. (Yes, this might mean doing an unpaid project for a charity so that you have a sample or reference.) You have to make sure to include your new specialty in your online materials.

In many ways, you are reinventing your freelancing business.

However, just like when you started out as a freelancer, it gets better once you get a few jobs in your new niche under your belt. Soon, clients and prospective clients will recognize your new expertise.

Stuck with Outdated Skills

Maybe you’ve been too busy working on projects to keep up. Maybe you’ve been a little bit lazy. Or, maybe it’s a little of both.

No matter what the situation, freelancers can’t afford the luxury of falling behind. Ultimately, falling behind can cost you clients.

The fix is easy, but not painless. Here are some steps to take:

1. Make sure you have enough money saved so that you can take up to a week off. You will also need additional money to purchase any resources that you need.
2. Look around for the best resources on the skill that needs to be improved and purchase that resource. If it’s a class, sign up. If it’s a product, buy it.
3. Schedule training time on your work calendar. (If you don’t schedule it, it won’t get done.) Treat it just like another paying project–don’t schedule anything else for the same time.
4. Take the time to learn. Attend class. Read a book. Complete a tutorial.
5. Apply the knowledge. You may also have to rebrand yourself (see the section on being stuck in a creative rut) to let your clients know you’ve learned something new.

Your Turn

Can you think of other ways that freelancers get stuck?

Share your own experiences (and solutions) in the comments.

Image by michael clarke stuff

Freelancers are constantly on the hunt for new ideas. Is it any wonder that creative folks sometimes complain that they can’t think of any new ideas?

Where, exactly, do ideas come from? In this post, I’ll look at some common sources of creative inspiration that can help you capture your own creativity.

Music

Song titles, and of course all music in general, can be great for inspiration. Even when the song is about something totally different than what you’re trying to create, the mood of the song can still inspire you.

For me, a song will also often trigger a memory or past experience, which in turn leads to something that I can write about.

Some freelancers like to keep music on all of the time while they are working. Although I can certainly understand that, I tend to listen to music between projects and then turn it off to develop my ideas in detail.

Headlines in Newspapers and Magazines

A few years ago, Brian Clark encouraged his readers to write magazine-style headlines for their blog posts. While the exercise was a lot of fun, it was also a great way to get inspired. Magazine and newspaper headlines are specifically designed to grab the reader’s attention and stir their imagination.

Book titles can work for inspiration as well. For example, my unlikely inspiration for this post, Mastering the Art of Client Relations was the movie Julie & Julia, which referenced Julia Child’s great work, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. After watching the movie, I started thinking about how there was an art to client relations just like there is an art to French cooking.

Another way to find inspiration from publications is to personalize the news. Describe how the news makes you feel. If you’re are an artist and you just read a piece about the economy, you can illustrate how the economic news made you feel. If you’re a writer and you just read the same piece, you can write about how the economy is likely to impact you and other writers personally.

Nature

Nature never ceases to amaze me. From grandiose views like mountains, sunsets, oceans, or storms to tiny scenes like the petals of a flower or the wings of a butterfly–there’s something in nature to move everyone.

When I noticed a garden flower growing in an unlikely place (a crack in the pavement), I wrote this post titled, Thrive, Even When Odds Are Against You. I wrote the words, but nature provided the spark of inspiration that I needed to get started.

Artists and designers, in particular, can create patterns inspired by what they see in nature. And of course, the colors found in nature are also inspiring.

Technology

Technology may seem like the polar opposite of nature (and in many ways it is), but technology can be equally inspiring.
Of course, the most obvious way to be inspired by technology is to think about how you, as a freelancer, can make use of it.

However, the patterns, textures and colors found in technology can also be inspiring. The other day I was near a construction site and I noticed how the shadow of the construction equipment against the shiny glass of the building next door was making an unusual, but interesting, pattern. If I were designer I might have tried to replicate that pattern in my designs.

Everyday Occurrences

If something is happening to you, it’s probably happening to someone else as well. That’s why everyday occurrences can be a great source of inspiration.

If you’re having a problem, write about it. Chances are someone else will be able to relate. If you’ve just solved a problem that’s even better. You can share your solution.

A large number of my posts come from my everyday experiences. For example, I wrote this post, The Amazing Power of Personal Encouragement, after receiving some very kind words from a friend.

One word of caution about sharing your everyday occurrences: it’s usually best not to provide specific information such as names. You never know who’s reading and besides, you might feel differently later. It’s usually best not to burn bridges. (That’s one reason why we don’t mention clients by name in our blog posts here on Freelance Folder.)

Blog Posts and Websites

Naturally, blog sites and websites (such as Freelance Folder) can be a great source of information for all creative freelancers. Not only can you learn about new techniques and trends to try for yourself, but you can also join in discussions that are specific to your field.

Blog posts and websites can also be a great source of inspiration, especially for writers. You can elaborate on a topic, refute it, or look it at from a different angle entirely.

Your Turn

How do you capture your creativity? Where do you turn for inspiration?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by Alyssa L. Miller

While it may be tempting to look for a simple, single factor that always leads to freelancing success, the real truth is that all freelance success is due to the sum of many parts.

There’s no single path to freelancing success (and this can be frustrating). As I’ve said before, what works well for one freelancer may totally bomb when another freelancer tries it. That’s because every single freelancer brings something different to the job. Who you are, as a whole, contributes to the freelancer you become.

Holistic means looking at the parts that make up the whole and that’s just what I’ll do in this post. I’ll take a look at the whole freelancer and examine how who you are impacts your freelancing business overall. Here are some of the factors that we freelancers bring with us into our freelancing businesses:

Factor #1. Freelancing Field

What type of freelancer are you?

Your experience as a freelancer will be different, depending upon what type of freelancing you do.

For example, the web is content-hungry. Because of the constant need for content, I’m convinced that freelance writers have an easier time getting repeat business than other freelancers whose clients might only need their services once in a great while.

Also, is your field broad, or are you in a narrow niche? Your answer makes a difference. Being a niche freelancer can be beneficial, but watch out! If your niche is too narrow, you’ll have trouble finding work.

Factor #2. Education

While formal education can help you as a freelancer, it’s not always necessary. At Freelance Folder, we also support those who are self-taught.

Check out these posts to learn more about how to teach yourself about some select fields:

• Can You Teach Yourself Web Design?
• Can You Really Teach Yourself to Be a Freelance Writer?

Another aspect of education and learning that impacts who you are as a freelancer is whether you are continuously learning. I definitely recommend that you view learning as a lifelong process.

Factor #3. Past Work Experience

The jobs you’ve held in the past definitely play a part in your present freelancing success.

Oddly enough, you can get skills to take with you into freelancing from nearly any work that you do–not just those jobs in your chosen field.

Check out these real life stories from freelancers with varied backgrounds:

• From a former private investigator–5 Lessons Being a Private Investigator Taught Me About Freelancing
• From a former belly dance instructor–Freelance Lessons Learned–Make Your Own Music
• From a former fast food worker–5 Freelance Lessons I Learned from Working in the Fast Food Industry

As you can see, your work history plays a big role in who you ultimately become as a freelancer.

Factor #4. Personality

Is there an ideal freelancing personality?

Many, would say “yes.” In fact, the internet is full of courses and ebooks that recommend a “cookie cutter” approach to running your small business. It can be tempting to think that we are all the same with the same personality, needs, and goals. But personally, I don’t think there is just one ideal freelancing personality (although obviously some personality types may struggle with certain aspects of freelancing more than others).

If you really want to freelance, you can adapt it and make it work for you. So, whether you’re naturally shy, outgoing, messy, neat, whatever your personality type–there’s usually a way to make your freelancing fit you.

Factor #5. Values

Another aspect of yourself that you bring into freelancing is your values.

Are you the type of person who takes pride in what they do, or do you like to just do enough to get by? Can you be counted on to meet a deadline, or do you believe deadlines are just guidelines? Do you like people, or find them annoying?

Whatever your values are, they’ll come right along with you into your freelancing business.

Related to values is the question of what drives you (in other words, what is important to you). Are you seeking after life balance? Power? Money?

How you, as an individual freelancer, feel about these questions affects your freelancing business. In the end, that is why your freelancing business will look different from mine, which will look different than Lexi’s freelancing business, which will look different from… Well, you get the picture.

Your Turn

In this post, I attempted to examine the whole freelancer. The key thing is to understand the various aspects of your background and personality and how they affect your freelancing business.

What aspects of yourself have you brought into your freelancing business that are uniquely yours?

Image by noii’s

However, sometimes you must fail before you can succeed as a freelancer–and failure hurts.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating failure for failure’s sake. I definitely believe in working smart. That’s one reason I share my experiences and knowledge here on Freelance Folder–to help other freelancers

But sometimes, failure is the best teacher. Did you know that failing can sometimes make you a better freelancer in the long run? When failure happens to you, here’s how to make sure you learn from it.

Acknowledge Your Hurt

It doesn’t do any good to pretend you’re not upset that you failed, because you probably are. Immediately after a failure is also not the best time to analyze your mistake. You’re probably not thinking as clearly as you should be, anyway. Give yourself time to work through your natural emotional reaction.

For some freelancers a failure means getting angry, for others it means crying or even grieving over the mistake. It’s okay, though. Remember that nearly every freelancer has made a few mistakes.

Now, find a trusted friend who would understand your experience. (Beware of venting online, though. Angry or upset words on the Internet can come back to haunt you. Remember to protect your online reputation.) Or, if physical activity helps you, go the gym or run or whatever it is that you do.

Make Amends, If Necessary

Once you’ve worked through your emotion and feel relatively calm, it’s time to do some damage control. If the mistake was your fault and resulted in a loss to a client or colleague, you need to try–to the best of your ability–to fix it.
First off, contact whomever it is that was affected by your mistake and apologize. I know it’s hard, but just swallow your pride and do it. Next, offer to fix your mistake.

Fixing a mistake might mean redoing a project for free, refunding a client’s money (I told you this would be painful), or offering them something else that makes the situation right.

Your mistake may have cost you a client, but making amends can keep you from losing your reputation as a freelancer.

Conduct a Project Post-Mortem

Once you’ve made amends, it’s time to put your analytical hat on. You really need to figure out what went wrong. Here are a few questions you may wish to ask yourself:

• Was there a miscommunication between myself and the client? If so, at what point did the miscommunication occur?
• Did I allow enough time to adequately complete this project?
• Was my knowledge and experience as a freelancer complete enough to do this project well?
• Did I have the proper tools to work on this project?

(I’m sure you can think of other questions to ask yourself, as well.)

If you’re still on speaking terms with the client, you should ask them what they thought went wrong. They may have an entirely different viewpoint about what happened.

Once you’re armed with the knowledge of what caused your failure, you can put processes in place in your work habits and in your business to ensure that you avoid making the same mistake again. (This is the part where you recover and start to succeed.)

Some of the processes might include (but are not limited to):

• Getting a project description in writing
• Having the client review the work at crucial stages of the project
• Buying additional tools for your freelancing business
• Taking training classes to learn a new skill

Of course, take the remedial steps that best fit the cause that you discovered. Your remedial steps may be different than the ones I listed above.

When Needed, Ask for Advice

Sometimes, when we make a mistake, we really have no idea how to avoid it. If this happens to you, You have nothing to be ashamed of–you may still be able to work out a way to solve the problem.

This is where having a strong peer network and/or a freelancing mentor comes in handy. Often, your mentor or your peers have faced (and solved) a similar problem and can share what they did.

You can also look for articles, forums, and other online resources for freelancers (such as the Freelance Folder blog) where good advice is given. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the freelancing community for advice.

Your Turn

What processes do you have in place in your freelancing to avoid problems? Have you overcome a failure?

Let’s learn from each other! Share your answers in the comments.

Image by rocknroll_guitar

All of these motivations can be achieved through freelancing, but it is often the first one–a desire for balance–that seems to be the most elusive for many freelancers. And often, balance seems incompatible with the other motivators. It may even seem impossible.

With the many hats that most freelancers must wear and the huge amount of online advice available to the typical freelancer, the goal of lifestyle balance can seem discouragingly out of reach. When you’re a freelancer, there’s no way around it. There’s simply a lot to do.

In this post, I’m going to focus on achieving balance as a freelancer. I’ll share a few questions that will help you determine if you’re really doing all that you can to balance your freelancing with your life. The answers may surprise you and ultimately, help you to find more balance.

Question 1: Who Are You Listening To?

The first question to ask is “who am I listening to?” Whose advice are you trying to follow?

Now, I’m not talking about whether the individual dispensing advice is qualified or not (although that’s also very important to discover). What I’d like you to examine this time is whether or not the advisor’s business goals and motivation are aligned with your own.

Over time, I’ve discovered that the advice of some very qualified folks doesn’t work well for me simply because we have completely different goals for our businesses. It’s most effective to choose qualified mentors whose goals and motivations are similar to your own.

Question 2: Who Really Runs Your Business?

The next question to ask yourself is “who is running my freelancing business?” Too many freelancers let their clients run their freelancing business.

Yes, we work for our clients–but as freelancers, we do have the power to negotiate terms that are favorable to us. That is one of the things that sets us apart from employees.

Yet, some freelancers fail to negotiate. They simply accept each client’s terms, as they are presented, without question.

If you’re looking for balance, it’s important that you fit your work into a reasonable amount of time. You can’t do that if you always say “yes” to projects with unreasonable timeframes or with too little pay.

Fortunately, I’ve discovered that most clients are willing to do some negotiation on most projects (within reason). So, don’t be afraid to ask a client for reasonable adjustments to a project during the acceptance phase.

Question 3: Have You Set Your Boundaries?

Another factor that keeps a freelancer’s life unbalanced is not having clear boundaries about what work they will not accept. As a freelancer, you should know what type of projects you will not do–and stick to your guns in refusing bad projects.

Here are some common boundaries that freelancers set:

• No rush work
• No projects that pay below x
• No projects of type x
• No vacation or holiday work

Of course, the specific boundaries will vary, depending on the freelancer.

If you don’t set boundaries, you may wind up accepting all work that comes your way–including projects that really are not good for your life or for your business.

Question 4: How Organized Are You, Really?

It takes time to be disorganized. If your goal is to find more balance in your life, the last thing you need to be doing is fumbling around looking for an invoice you misplaced, a client phone number you lost, or a resource you want to use.

Yes, it takes a little bit of initial time to set up an efficient organizational system, but the time spent getting organized is time well spent compared to the time and money that being disorganized can cost you. Don’t let disorganization derail your freelancing goal of balance.

Some Words of Encouragement

Of course, there will be some times during your freelancing journey that you are closer to your goal than others. In fact, there may even be times that you decide to put your goal of balance aside and focus on something more immediate. You may even change your primary freelancing motivation to something else. That is all okay.

These ups and downs happen to all of us. Don’t let an extraordinarily busy period (or an extraordinarily slow period) in your business get you down. Instead, just keep working towards your goal using the best methods and tools that you have. In the end, it’s not a single day (or even a single week) that determines how balanced your freelancing lifestyle is overall.

Your Turn

I hope that this post has helped you discover how to make a balanced freelancing life possible for you.

Do you struggle to balance the demands of your freelancing business with the demands of your busy life? What are some of the techniques that you’ve used to find more balance in your freelancing lifestyle?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by abnelphoto.com

Of course, there are many variables behind a successful freelancing career.

Talent and skill definitely do count for something as does providing good customer service. However, I’m convinced that a key characteristic of many successful freelancers is their positive attitude.

A good attitude can help to carry you through a lot of tricky freelancing situations. The right attitude can help you effectively deal with difficult people. Simply put, the right attitude can keep you from giving up when freelancing gets tough.

In this post, I’ll share some examples of situations where attitude makes a difference. I’ll also discuss how you can cultivate a good attitude. Finally, I’ll invite you to share your own thoughts on the difference attitude makes in your own freelancing business.

5 Situations Where Attitude Makes a Difference

Maintaining a good freelancing attitude isn’t always the easiest thing to do. It’s just too easy to get the freelancing blahs. A good attitude, however, can make a difference between freelancing success and freelancing failure.

Let’s look at the following common freelancing situations:

1. Work isn’t coming in like it used to. Nearly every freelancer faces a work slowdown at one time or another. The reason could be the economy, or it could be something the freelancer is doing that needs to be changed. Whatever the cause, attitude is key. At this point, a freelancer with a negative attitude may give up. He or she may feel sorry for themselves without doing anything. A positive proactive freelancer, however, will double his or her marketing efforts while examining current practices to see if anything needs to change.
2. A client criticizes your work. Dealing with criticism is an important freelancing skill because nearly every freelancer receives some criticism. How you deal with client criticism can make the difference between keeping a client (or at least keeping a client from badmouthing you to others) and losing one. A negative freelancer may blow up when criticized. On the other hand, a positive freelancer won’t take criticism personally. Instead, he or she will seek to defuse the situation and (if possible) find out what the client really needs.
3. You’re hit with a sudden unexpected expense. Costly emergencies can and do happen. Freelancers are not exempt. When it happens, it can be an extremely stressful time. Keeping the right attitude throughout this crisis can make all of the difference. If you don’t have an emergency fund, you can try to work something out with your creditor. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to take on extra work temporarily or even a part-time job.
4. Your industry changes and you need new training. Let’s face it. You may have great skills right now, but most freelancers will constantly need to update their skills. If you have the wrong attitude you may feel put out or uncomfortable about having to find training (especially if it’s expensive). If you have the right attitude, you’ll be excited about learning new things. Plus, you’ll look for creative ways to learn if you can’t afford the training.
5. Your new project requires you to work on a team. You may think that you left teamwork behind when you started freelancing, but if you do think that freelancers never work on teams you’re wrong. A significant number of freelance projects require that the freelancer work as part of a team. As a freelancing team member, you’ll need to have a good attitude to mesh well with the rest of the project team.

As you can see, having a positive attitude generally pays off. But how can a freelancer get and keep a positive attitude?

How to Cultivate a Good Freelancing Attitude

Nearly everyone slips into a negative attitude sometimes, but if you find your attitude is consistently bad you may need to take some steps to change it. Here are some positive steps you can take to improve your attitude:

• Choose to focus on the good. Nearly every day both positive and negative events occur. The events that you choose to dwell on will influence your attitude. Choose to focus on the good that happens each day.
• Make a conscious choice not to gripe. You may think that griping is making you feel better, but in some cases it is just a form of dwelling on the negative. When something bad happens, deal with it and move on.
• Avoid complainers. If you surround yourself with negative people you are much more likely to adopt a negative attitude yourself. Avoid spending too much time with individuals who complain excessively.
• Program your mind with positive materials. Read uplifting books and blogs. A few good examples include The Happiness Project, The Positivity Blog, and LifeDev.
• Take care of yourself. If you’re tired or sick, you may have more trouble maintaining a positive outlook. So, be sure to get enough rest and treat any possible symptoms of illness promptly.

Your Turn

Does having the right attitude make a difference in your own freelancing business?

Share some examples in the comments.

Image by {Charlotte Morrall}

This being the case, you may wonder whether your freelancing business would benefit if you became fluent in another language. Of course, many freelancers already are bilingual, and I invite them to weigh in on this topic.

In this post, I’ll discuss the freelancing pros and cons of learning a second language.

Advantages of Learning a Second Language

There are definitely some potential advantages for freelancers who can understand more than one language. Here are a few of those advantage:

• Being able to reach more potential clients. Have you ever received an email, a tweet, or other message from a serious prospect in a language that you don’t understand? Imagine what might happen if you could respond back intelligibly in the same language. Of course, you could use an online translation tool such as Google Translate, but these tools are sometimes not accurate or may not take into consideration local expressions.
• Being able to casually converse with potential clients in their “heart” language. If you live in an area (as I do) where it is common to hear more than one language spoken, then learning that second language can help you in face-to-face networking. I’ve also heard that many who are immersed in a culture with a language other than their first language often really appreciate hearing that first language spoken.
• Understanding discussions as you travel. Freelancers are free to enjoy a location-independent lifestyle. Understanding a second language broadens a freelancer’s travel options. It’s always more comfortable and easier to function in an environment where you understand what is being said around you and where others can understand you.

Disadvantages of Learning a Second Language

There are also some potential pitfalls to learning a separate language:

• Time commitment. Learning a separate language requires a substantial time commitment and it could take several years to become truly fluent in a second language.
• Misunderstandings. If you are just learning a new language it is possible that you might accidentally miscommunicate with or even offend a client or prospect without intending to.
• Which language to choose. As the freelancing marketplace becomes more global, it can be difficult to know which language to focus on. If you learned a language in school, but are rusty–should you attempt to review that language, or should you pick the most practical language?

More Considerations

If you’re planning on learning a second language here are a few additional tips:

• Immersion (living in a country where the language is spoken) is the best way to learn another language. If you can’t go to a place where the language you are learning is spoken, try to find a native speaker to practice with.
• Choose to learn the conversational, rather than formal, version of the language. Your goal here is to be able to communicate effectively with others, not to get another credit for your transcript.
• Beware of contracts and other formal agreements. Unless you are extremely fluent with a language and understand the culture, it is best to have a translator and/or legal professional review contracts and other agreements.

Here are some tools that can help you learn a second language:

• Rosetta Stone. Language software used by businesses, schools, and even government officials.
• Your local community college. Most community colleges offer language courses.
• LiveMocha. Community-based online learning that allows you to practice the language you are learning with native speakers. (This may be better used to practice or as a review than for actual lessons…)
• Rocket Languages. A more traditional online course that includes cultural information as well. You can purchase discs or access online.

Note: You will have to pay for most of these options.

What About You?

Personally, learning a second language is on my freelancing wish list. I took four years of a language years ago in school, but I’d never consider myself fluent in that language today. Since I live in an area where two languages are frequently used, I feel that learning a second language would certainly be to my advantage.

What about you?

Do you speak two languages? Have you found it beneficial to you as a freelancer? Why or why not? What tools do you use?

If you speak a single language, would you like to learn another?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by Enokson