Comments on: Who’s Really In Control Of Your Freelance Business? http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/ The Blog For Freelancers And Web-Workers Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:02:35 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Community Resources for Graphics designers | DesignsAndCreations.com - Graphics and Web Designers Community http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/comment-page-1/#comment-23965 Community Resources for Graphics designers | DesignsAndCreations.com - Graphics and Web Designers Community Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:24:58 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=1022#comment-23965 [...] Who’s Really In Control Of Your Freelance Business? You end up working for multiple bosses who don’t care about your personal world, yet still want to micro-manage your creative work. [...] [...] Who’s Really In Control Of Your Freelance Business? You end up working for multiple bosses who don’t care about your personal world, yet still want to micro-manage your creative work. [...]

]]> By: Genuine Chris Johnson http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/comment-page-1/#comment-15980 Genuine Chris Johnson Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:58:12 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=1022#comment-15980 Not bad. But lead generation is king of the world till you get an assistant. Not bad. But lead generation is king of the world till you get an assistant.

]]> By: Amy Hengst http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/comment-page-1/#comment-15979 Amy Hengst Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:54:40 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=1022#comment-15979 Thanks everyone for your great comments. It is refreshing to get a glimpse into the lives of other freelancers. We all have such different experiences and strategies. David Hepburn--you are right. I've thought about incorporating and in fact my tax attorney has advised me to do it just for the financial reasons. It also seems like a good step forward in changing the perspective, to look at freelance as a total business strategy, not just something you're doing for yourself. Also it opens up the possibility of an idea I have a love-hate relationship with -- outsourcing! Jeff, I'm honored this is your first comment :) You are so right that a heavy work load isn't enough for a satisfying life. Nicole, I have the same experience. I have a few clients who supply a lot of my workload. The stability is nice, but then they expect to be the *only* client and get put out when I mention that I have other commitments too. I have started to balance this by reminding clients up front that I have other jobs, and that I will need advanced notice and planning to schedule everything well. I think that planning helps them as much as it helps me! Patricia, take care of yourself! If you make your livelihood typing and drawing you can't afford to hurt your arms. Maybe you can work with the clients to set up a schedule that helps you plan your time and sets clear boundaries about how much they can expect from you at once. Make sure to take breaks, to exercise and protect your body--that is your most valuable resource. I know, because I once had to quit a job due to arm pain and problems. Now I manage and write a blog about repetitive stress injuries like tendonitis and carpal tunnel, with tips and tricks for treating the pain at home. You're welcome to check it out, at rsihealer.com. Hope it works out for you! On the bright side it sounds like you have a lot of fun and rewarding projects to work on, and I hope you can enjoy them. Ardy, that is great to have company. I go to coffeeshops at least once a week, just so I don't feel I'm working alone! Good luck. Gem, I'm glad you've learned to go easy on yourself. Freelancing isn't any fun if you're too stressed out to enjoy it. On the other hand, it's great that you have that many opportunities! Everyone, thanks so much for your comments and best of luck with your business. Take care! Thanks everyone for your great comments. It is refreshing to get a glimpse into the lives of other freelancers. We all have such different experiences and strategies.

David Hepburn–you are right. I’ve thought about incorporating and in fact my tax attorney has advised me to do it just for the financial reasons. It also seems like a good step forward in changing the perspective, to look at freelance as a total business strategy, not just something you’re doing for yourself. Also it opens up the possibility of an idea I have a love-hate relationship with — outsourcing!

Jeff, I’m honored this is your first comment :) You are so right that a heavy work load isn’t enough for a satisfying life.

Nicole, I have the same experience. I have a few clients who supply a lot of my workload. The stability is nice, but then they expect to be the *only* client and get put out when I mention that I have other commitments too. I have started to balance this by reminding clients up front that I have other jobs, and that I will need advanced notice and planning to schedule everything well. I think that planning helps them as much as it helps me!

Patricia, take care of yourself! If you make your livelihood typing and drawing you can’t afford to hurt your arms. Maybe you can work with the clients to set up a schedule that helps you plan your time and sets clear boundaries about how much they can expect from you at once. Make sure to take breaks, to exercise and protect your body–that is your most valuable resource. I know, because I once had to quit a job due to arm pain and problems. Now I manage and write a blog about repetitive stress injuries like tendonitis and carpal tunnel, with tips and tricks for treating the pain at home. You’re welcome to check it out, at rsihealer.com. Hope it works out for you! On the bright side it sounds like you have a lot of fun and rewarding projects to work on, and I hope you can enjoy them.

Ardy, that is great to have company. I go to coffeeshops at least once a week, just so I don’t feel I’m working alone! Good luck.

Gem, I’m glad you’ve learned to go easy on yourself. Freelancing isn’t any fun if you’re too stressed out to enjoy it. On the other hand, it’s great that you have that many opportunities!

Everyone, thanks so much for your comments and best of luck with your business. Take care!

]]> By: Gem http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/comment-page-1/#comment-15977 Gem Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:36:53 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=1022#comment-15977 When I was new to freelance, I grabbed all the opportunities that I can get. I was desperate. This went on for about two months, until I got tired and burned out and just let those opportunities pass by. In the end striving for balance is the key to a successful freelance life. When I was new to freelance, I grabbed all the opportunities that I can get. I was desperate. This went on for about two months, until I got tired and burned out and just let those opportunities pass by.

In the end striving for balance is the key to a successful freelance life.

]]> By: Ardy http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/comment-page-1/#comment-15849 Ardy Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:57:57 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=1022#comment-15849 Amy WOW! Great post you summed up everything that I m going through. The only thing that helps me is that I am not alone (literally i have two mates who work with me). Keep up the good work Amy ;) and Patricia I would like to offer you my help. It would be an honor to help a fellow freelancer so if you want, we can give a face lift to your website we won't charge you anything (scout's honor) for it. Amy WOW! Great post you summed up everything that I m going through. The only thing that helps me is that I am not alone (literally i have two mates who work with me).

Keep up the good work Amy ;) and Patricia I would like to offer you my help. It would be an honor to help a fellow freelancer so if you want, we can give a face lift to your website we won’t charge you anything (scout’s honor) for it.

]]> By: Lazy Sunday Link Love http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/comment-page-1/#comment-15814 Lazy Sunday Link Love Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:01:50 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=1022#comment-15814 [...] Who’s Really In Control Of Your Freelance Business? Another great question, plus seven things to do to regain control of your freelance career. [...] [...] Who’s Really In Control Of Your Freelance Business? Another great question, plus seven things to do to regain control of your freelance career. [...]

]]> By: Patricia Ann Lewis-MacDougall http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/comment-page-1/#comment-15766 Patricia Ann Lewis-MacDougall Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:25:47 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=1022#comment-15766 I believe in every word that is printed in the blog but I want to share my sob story on the net anyway. I'm going into my second year with only an afternoon per week to really relax and that's only when my husband or my best friend forces me to take a break. So I find it very hard to make that "I'm in control with my freelancing career" belief a reality! I'm an illustrator, and at this moment I only have 3 clients on the roster but that consists of 6 children's books and 18 giftware figurines and to meet every deadline that they came up with. Now I normally can juggle up to half a dozen clients with smaller projects but this is my first time with just 3 clients and working on 3 very large and time consuming projects. Now I signed the contracts they provided (in the book publishing business, you don't write up the contracts, they do.) but that was over two years ago and now they all came back at once wanting me to illustrate for them at the same time! What do you do, I signed the contracts and must commit to them. Fortunately they are very wonderful people to work with and I do LOVE my job but right now while I'm writing this, I'm exhausted and my hands ache and my forearms feel like someone is bending them in two. I am planning to take a wee vacation in October and to not take on anymore major projects until spring 09 (I think I can manage it finacially.....I think) I also have a closet full of unfinished projects consisting children's books of my own, giftware designs and fine art projects that I would like to persue . And I'm terrified to look at the untouched book-keeping that is piling up in my office and networking projects that is constantly pushed aside (my website is in shambles). One more thing I would like to mention before I get back to work is that I do head out to the gym and yoga studio 5 times a week but feel guilty doing so. It's not a zen workout when all you can think about is illustrating other peoples ideas and know longer feel refreshed after my sun salutations. So if anyone has suggestions for me, I would be more than happy to hear them! ~Pat Ann~ Who use to be a very positive person and would like to be that again! I believe in every word that is printed in the blog but I want to share my sob story on the net anyway.
I’m going into my second year with only an afternoon per week to really relax and that’s only when my husband or my best friend forces me to take a break. So I find it very hard to make that “I’m in control with my freelancing career” belief a reality!

I’m an illustrator, and at this moment I only have 3 clients on the roster but that consists of 6 children’s books and 18 giftware figurines and to meet every deadline that they came up with. Now I normally can juggle up to half a dozen clients with smaller projects but this is my first time with just 3 clients and working on 3 very large and time consuming projects.
Now I signed the contracts they provided (in the book publishing business, you don’t write up the contracts, they do.) but that was over two years ago and now they all came back at once wanting me to illustrate for them at the same time!
What do you do, I signed the contracts and must commit to them.
Fortunately they are very wonderful people to work with and I do LOVE my job but right now while I’m writing this, I’m exhausted and my hands ache and my forearms feel like someone is bending them in two. I am planning to take a wee vacation in October and to not take on anymore major projects until spring 09 (I think I can manage it finacially…..I think) I also have a closet full of unfinished projects consisting children’s books of my own, giftware designs and fine art projects that I would like to persue .
And I’m terrified to look at the untouched book-keeping that is piling up in my office and networking projects that is constantly pushed aside (my website is in shambles).

One more thing I would like to mention before I get back to work is that I do head out to the gym and yoga studio 5 times a week but feel guilty doing so. It’s not a zen workout when all you can think about is illustrating other peoples ideas and know longer feel refreshed after my sun salutations.

So if anyone has suggestions for me, I would be more than happy to hear them!

~Pat Ann~
Who use to be a very positive person and would like to be that again!

]]> By: Nicole LaMarco http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/comment-page-1/#comment-15748 Nicole LaMarco Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:55:03 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=1022#comment-15748 This is an awesome post and there are great tips here! As a ghostwriter, there are many clients who will assume you are working only for them and your time is wide open. Time management is something I have been working on since I started this business! Basically, once I started putting restrictions on how much work I take on, I was better able to manage my time. This is an awesome post and there are great tips here! As a ghostwriter, there are many clients who will assume you are working only for them and your time is wide open. Time management is something I have been working on since I started this business! Basically, once I started putting restrictions on how much work I take on, I was better able to manage my time.

]]> By: Jeff Long http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/comment-page-1/#comment-15730 Jeff Long Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:37:59 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=1022#comment-15730 Great points all. When I work with clients, I know they are looking for a knowledgeable person(s) to get the job done and most of the time they want a company and not a freelancer. The benefit of being a freelancer is that you get to the point where you have several people feeding you work. As a small company you have to go out and look for work which means that technically you are out of a job after each project. As a freelancer that may still apply but I know for a fact (cuz I've been both) that having a good balance of life and work is the best thing ever. You can't have a satisfied life with only a heavy work load. It's good to get out of the office/basement where you work and enjoy some fresh air, family time and fun with friends. Long time reader...first time posting. I feel like I just called in to a radio show! Jeff http://improvemyvideo.wordpress.com/ Great points all. When I work with clients, I know they are looking for a knowledgeable person(s) to get the job done and most of the time they want a company and not a freelancer. The benefit of being a freelancer is that you get to the point where you have several people feeding you work. As a small company you have to go out and look for work which means that technically you are out of a job after each project. As a freelancer that may still apply but I know for a fact (cuz I’ve been both) that having a good balance of life and work is the best thing ever. You can’t have a satisfied life with only a heavy work load. It’s good to get out of the office/basement where you work and enjoy some fresh air, family time and fun with friends.

Long time reader…first time posting. I feel like I just called in to a radio show!

Jeff

http://improvemyvideo.wordpress.com/

]]> By: Mason Hipp http://freelancefolder.com/whos-really-in-control-of-your-freelance-business/comment-page-1/#comment-15726 Mason Hipp Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:51:57 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/?p=1022#comment-15726 David -- I completely agree. Personal reasons aside, there are many marketing benefits to looking and acting successful. Incorporating is a standard action for many companies -- companies that have a ton of credibility -- and mimicking that in a freelance practice can have a lot of benefits. Of course, incorporation has its downsides too :-) Great post, Amy, thanks! David — I completely agree. Personal reasons aside, there are many marketing benefits to looking and acting successful. Incorporating is a standard action for many companies — companies that have a ton of credibility — and mimicking that in a freelance practice can have a lot of benefits. Of course, incorporation has its downsides too :-)

Great post, Amy, thanks!

]]>