Are you pondering the idea of taking your freelance career to the next level in 2010? For many, this means going full-time. Although you may think that this is nothing more than a dream, every year many people turn this into reality. There are many things you can do to better your chance of becoming a full-time freelancer in the new year.
Here are a few tips that should get your mind right, if nothing else:
1. Start thinking like a business owner. When you decide to become a full-time freelancer you are deciding to take your entire career into your own hands. For this reason you need to have the mindset of a successful business owner. This means taking your job seriously down to every last detail, no matter how big or small.
2. Find a mentor. This is something that I strongly believe in. If you want to become a full-time web designer, find somebody who already owns a firm and ask them for help. You may be surprised at how many people are willing to help you chase down your dream. With the right mentor in place you will find a smooth transition much more likely.
3. Jump in and believe in yourself. Month after month, year after year, people think about going full-time. But the question still remains: when are you going to take a leap of faith and test the waters? There is always going to be some level of stress involved with changing careers. Until you give full-time freelancing a try you will never know for sure if you can make it.
This is only the tip of the iceberg. Obviously, there is a lot more that goes into expanding your freelance career. If 2010 is the year that you are going to move into a full-time capacity, try to follow the above tips.
As a freelance writer I take as much advice as possible. No matter if it is coming from another writer or a client, I love feedback. This is a great way of seeing what you are doing right, what you are doing wrong, etc. Unfortunately, some freelance writers do not feel the same way. Instead, when a client gives feedback they get all bent out of shape and upset.
Why would you possibly want to ignore the advice and feedback of your clients? After all, they know a thing or two about your work because of your current relationship. This is not to say that you have to listen to every word of advice that you receive. But at the very least you want to take it into consideration, see if you can use it, and then move on. You never know when you will receive a morsel of information that can make you a better writer.
Believe it or not, I ask some of my freelance writing clients for advice and feedback from time to time. Instead of waiting for them to come to me, I take the initiative and ask them what I could do better, what they like, if any changes are needed and other similar questions. Not only does this help me as a freelance writer, but it also shows the client that I truly care about them and our working relationship.
You should never ignore sound advice. Sure, there are going to be times when you receive feedback that you simply don’t agree with. But even then, you can take something away from it. If a client is willing to take the time to lend advice, you should open your ears and see what you can learn.
No matter your career, 2010 is a time to start fresh. If you are a freelance writer this definitely holds true. Did you have a good year in 2009? If so, next year you should be looking for more of the same. On the other hand, if you did not meet all your goals, 2010 is a time to turn the page and get on the right path.
Of course, there is a lot that goes into starting fresh. In other words, you cannot simply say that things are going to be different next year. You need a plan for making things better. And once you have a plan you need to be willing to work through each detail to ensure success.
Although it does not take a new year to make changes, for many freelance writers this is the best time to tweak their career. There is something about a new year that makes you feel that everything is equal once again.
This post is meant to get you in the right frame of mind. If you begin to think about your goals and aspirations for 2010 in February you will have already missed a large chunk of the year. A fresh start is not something that you want to waste. Now is the time to think about what direction your career is headed in the new year. Are you ready for bigger and better things in 2010?Â
