Now that December is here it is only natural to begin thinking about the new year. But before you look too far ahead, there are a few things you definitely want to do in the 12th and final month of the year.
1. Take a look back to assess how things played out in 2010. Did you reach your goals? Did you stay on path, or did you take your business in a new direction? Even if you don’t like what you see, it is important to look at the previous 11 months so you have a good feel for what you should be doing in the year to come.
2. Look to the future. As noted above, December is a time for thinking about the future. Are you going to take your business down the same road in 2011? Are you interested in changing your business plan in hopes of increasing sales and earnings? Every December I closely analyze my current business plan, while weighing it against my goals for the year to come.
3. Rest up and have fun. The holiday season is supposed to be a good time. While it is important to focus your efforts on work related tasks, don’t forget to keep a smile on your face and spend time with your family as well.
December is always one of the most exciting months for me. In addition to the holidays, the new year on the horizon gets me thinking about the future of my business – and that is something I enjoy!
Hey all! I am hoping that some (or all) of you can help me with a contest I have been keeping my eye on. This doesn’t have anything to do with freelance writing, but with one post already up today I figured it would be okay.
A good friend of mine, Zack Fettig, is in the running to be the ESPN Radio Army Athlete of the Week. At this time he only has 20.7 percent of the votes and needs to make up some ground before Thursday of this week.
Although I am not working a lot today, I wanted to add a quick post wishing all of my readers a Happy New Year. This past year it was a pleasure interacting with many of you on a regular basis. I am sure that 2009 is going to be just as fun and educational for all of us.
With the new year upon us it is time to get off to a good start. Do you have your goals set for 2009? If so, there is no time to waste on getting started. If not, take the time to set both short and long term goals so you have some direction as the months go by.
Once again, Happy New Year and I hope all of you have a successful and healthy 2009!
To all my readers, have a Merry Christmas. I know you probably are not working today, but if you are like me, you have checked your email and favorite blogs at least once. Of course, you don’t want to stay online too much today. After all, this is one of the best days of the year for family, food, and much more.
Once again, Merry Christmas. I hope all of you are having a great day!
To those of you celebrating Thanksgiving, have a great day. Even if you are not celebrating be sure to make the most of the day, and of course, get plenty of work done. While I am working for a couple of hours this morning, I am not going overboard. After all, freelance writers need to take time off just like everybody else.
No matter if you are celebrating today or not, take some time to think about why you are thankful for your freelance writing career. Even if you are just getting started in the industry it is safe to say that you are thankful for something; whether it be the freedom, the potential income, etc.
On this day I would love to hear what you are thankful for as far as your career is concerned. And of course, if you would rather touch base via email, instead of leaving a comment, that is fine as well. I love hearing from other writers!
If you live in the United States, there is a good chance that you are not working today. After all, it is Labor Day. That being said, I am sticking to my usual holiday routine and working a few hours in the morning. Even on holidays, I like to get up, check my email, and do a bit of work here and there. This is not always the best idea, but I have a hard time staying away for too long.
Since 1894, Labor Day has been a federal holiday in the United States. For those of you in other parts of the world, I am sure that you have similar holidays that pop up from time to time.
Anyway, I hope everybody has an enjoyable Labor Day. And if you are not in the United States, enjoy your Monday. Starting your week on the right foot is always a good thing! Â
Just wanted to make a quick post wishing everybody a happy 4th of July. Even if you do not live in the United States, you can still have a great day.
Why are you working on the 4th? This is a question that I have been asked several times this week. I am going to put in a couple of hours this morning, but for the most part I will probably take it easy. With most of my clients also celebrating the 4th, there is not really any reason for me to be at the computer all day long.
Is anybody else in the United States working today? If so, make sure that you leave some time for family and relaxation as well. After all, you do not want to burn out!
When I first started this blog I was not entirely sure in the direction that it was going. I wanted to offer tips and basic freelance writing information, and I feel that this goal has been attained to a certain extent. At the same time, my initial thought was to offer information on professional blogging, making money online, and other related topics. Although I post on these areas from time to time, they are few and far between.
At this point, I am looking to take ChrisBlogging.com to the next level. What does this mean, exactly? Well, I have some ideas of my own but at the same time I would like feedback from my loyal readers as well. After all, you guys and gals are the ones who keep the blog moving in the right direction. Without you, I would simply be talking to myself.
One of the first things that I plan to do is finish the site redesign. But before I do this, I must decide which direction I want to take the blog. Here are my thoughts:
1. I am definitely going to keep up with at least one post per day. This is the backbone of ChrisBlogging.com, and this is never going to change. Additionally, I want to make sure that this content is easy to find and view from the front page of the blog.
2. If you are familiar with freelancewriting.com, you are aware that they offer much more than tips. They offer detailed information on job openings, newsletters, and much more. In other words, they are a one stop shop for everything freelance writing. This is something that I am considering.
3. I also want to begin to offer more value to current readers and others interested in the make money online niche. Possible ideas for doing so include regular reviews of blogs, products, and services related to writing and earning online. I am also mulling around the idea of holding monthly contests in order to increase reader participation, and to give back to all of you who have helped to make ChrisBlogging.com successful.
Overall, my main goal is to expand from a basic blog to more of a full-blown resource center for freelance writers and other like minded professionals. What do you think of the ideas above? Is there anything else that you would like me to consider including?
Any thoughts would be a great help. I am looking forward to all of your ideas!
Hope everybody is having a great Easter. Even though it is Easter Sunday I am sure that some of you are working a little bit here and there. If this is the case, make sure that you take some time off as well. After all, tomorrow is Monday and you can work as long as you want!
In the meantime, take a look at two posts from March that have become quite popular:
Scott Wainner at wrevenue.com is offering $20 to any blogger who makes a post linking to his about living longer. Scott’s post on stopping the aging process really got me thinking, and it will surely do the same for you.
After all, the longer you live the more freelance writing projects you will be able to complete!
