Although working on the weekend is not a habit that you want to get into, a few hours here and there, if available, will not hurt too much. With 2010 closing in, now is the time that you need to create a business plan. You may want to keep with the same schedule and clients for the new year, but it is safe to say that you probably have some new ideas that you also want to work in. To make this happen, you need a solid business plan.
I usually don’t have tons of time during the work week for miscellaneous tasks, such as creating a business plan. This is why I put myself to good use on the weekend. Since it is my own project, I do not have to worry about getting everything done on schedule. Instead, I work at my leisure and have a good time along the way.
If you are free this weekend and have yet to create a business plan for 2010, you should think about getting this done. Before you know it New Year’s Eve will come and go, and January will be upon us. At this point, you either have your business plan in place or you don’t. It is better to get this out of the way when you have the chance than to find yourself scrambling at the end of the month.
It is sure to be a busy weekend for many of you, but if you can find anytime to prepare yourself for next year you should take advantage.
At some point in your freelance writing career a job will turn into a disaster. This may happen today, tomorrow, or not until next year. Or maybe it has already happened to you more than once in the past. While nobody wants to run into this problem, it is something you should expect. Everything cannot always go smoothly.
A seemingly good project can go wrong for a number of reasons. For the sake of this post, and the following information, let’s assume that the client did not approve of the end result. In this case, there are three things you can take away:
1. You can look back and see what went wrong. Maybe you will realize that it was your fault, maybe you will see that the client did not give you enough direction. No matter what you find, make sure you go over each and every step and detail with a fine tooth comb. It is good to know what went wrong, even if you are partly at fault.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. There is nothing wrong with asking the client, even if they are upset, for further information. Feedback, good or bad, can benefit your business in the long run. If you did do something wrong the client can tell you, and in turn you can avoid the same mistake in the future.
3. It will make you more grateful for other clients. Sometimes it takes a horrible client to make you realize what the good ones mean to your business. You should never take a client for granted – especially if they are easy to work with and treat you with respect.
The next time a job goes terribly wrong, use the three points above to learn from the experience.
With the holiday season right around the corner it is safe to say that you have a lot on your plate. You have to go shopping, spend time with family, cook, and much more. On top of all this, freelance writers need to answer one very important question: when will I be working?
Over Thanksgiving I received many emails asking how much I work on the holidays, whether it is a good idea, etc. It is simple for me to answer this question from where I stand, but just because I am doing something this holiday season does not make it right for everybody else.
Whether or not you work over the holidays is up to you. If you have the time to do so, and don’t mind sitting down at your desk for a while, I urge you to work. After all, anytime you can make a few bucks and keep clients happy you are making a good decision. Of course, you have to draw the line somewhere. Working on Christmas morning while your kids are opening gifts does not make much sense – you will regret decisions like this in the long run.
In the days to come I plan on writing more about how freelance writers should handle their workload during the holiday season. Hopefully you have a plan in place already, but if you don’t, stay tuned for some sound advice. It is not always easy to decide when and how much to work during the holidays. But as you know, soon enough you will be faced with this situation and a decision will need to be made.
