Comments on: Coffee Break: Your Best Piece of Advice http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/ Freelance Advice and Freelance Jobs - FreelanceSwitch Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:33:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Sci http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/#comment-24180 Sci Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:44:58 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=857#comment-24180 Staying positive when the chips are down is my best piece of advice. Negative thoughts entering your head will delude you and demotivate you. If you are fed up, depressed feel like giving up. STOP switch of the computer and get outside -Wash the car, do some weeding, listen to your favorite music, walk, coffee. GET OUTSIDE I can almost guarantee you will come back fresh and and ready dive back in. If not repeat. Remember having the freedom to leave your desk is one of the benefits of being a Freelance therefore cash it in and take comfort in the knowledge that you can decide not your boss. Staying positive when the chips are down is my best piece of advice. Negative thoughts entering your head will delude you and demotivate you. If you are fed up, depressed feel like giving up. STOP switch of the computer and get outside -Wash the car, do some weeding, listen to your favorite music, walk, coffee. GET OUTSIDE I can almost guarantee you will come back fresh and and ready dive back in. If not repeat.

Remember having the freedom to leave your desk is one of the benefits of being a Freelance therefore cash it in and take comfort in the knowledge that you can decide not your boss.

]]> By: Ibrahim Al-Rajhi http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/#comment-21078 Ibrahim Al-Rajhi Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:57:02 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=857#comment-21078 Don't procrastinate, DO IT NOW! Don’t procrastinate, DO IT NOW!

]]> By: Starting Out On a Freelance Career - dkmwebdesign http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/#comment-20280 Starting Out On a Freelance Career - dkmwebdesign Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:59:47 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=857#comment-20280 [...] advice freelanceswitch provides some good information, i was currently reading an article on “your best piece of advice when embarking on a freelance career” There was some good feedback which i wish i knew before i started out on my own. I notice [...] […] advice freelanceswitch provides some good information, i was currently reading an article on “your best piece of advice when embarking on a freelance career” There was some good feedback which i wish i knew before i started out on my own. I notice […]

]]> By: Roger Obando http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/#comment-20244 Roger Obando Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:06:00 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=857#comment-20244 LEARN HOW TO SELF PROMOTE! One of the hardest things I had to learn to do was talk about what I do and why I'm better than other people who do it. Practice your "elevator speech". You need to be able to clearly and precisely expalin what you do in no more than 20 seconds or so. LEARN HOW TO SELF PROMOTE!

One of the hardest things I had to learn to do was talk about what I do and why I’m better than other people who do it. Practice your “elevator speech”. You need to be able to clearly and precisely expalin what you do in no more than 20 seconds or so.

]]> By: William Wallace http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/#comment-20168 William Wallace Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:05:50 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=857#comment-20168 Look professional in EVERYthing you do... When I started out, I dressed like a bum, and was compensated accordingly. Now I have collateral, I dress well, keep well groomed, and deal with good and well paying clients. Look professional in EVERYthing you do… When I started out, I dressed like a bum, and was compensated accordingly. Now I have collateral, I dress well, keep well groomed, and deal with good and well paying clients.

]]> By: Martin Muehl http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/#comment-20155 Martin Muehl Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:50:01 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=857#comment-20155 Don't undervalue your work. Even for your regular clients at least consider charging a premium because you may tend to work a lot more for them than compared to other clients. Giving discounts because someone is a regulat customer and at the same time spend more time on working for them instead of others may not be the right balance in the long run. Don’t undervalue your work.

Even for your regular clients at least consider charging a premium because you may tend to work a lot more for them than compared to other clients. Giving discounts because someone is a regulat customer and at the same time spend more time on working for them instead of others may not be the right balance in the long run.

]]> By: Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/#comment-20149 Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:17:09 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=857#comment-20149 1. Whatever your weaknesses are, be honest with yourself and be prepared to hire someone to help you in those areas. Some people I know have lost millions and are shutting down their new business. They were idea people, great with concepts and creating, terrible at business, accounting, and marketing. Due to control issues, ego, and tight funds, they tried to do everything themselves, and now have lost it all, including their house. Spending a little money in the beginning, budgeting, and planning, will save a lot in the end. 2. Have a financial safety net for at least a year, some kind of part time gig or income or saved money; you'll need it! 3. Coffee! (That's what brought me to this post.) Here's what I have to say about coffee: http://www.screenwritingforhollywood.com/life-tips/a-writers-best-friend-coffee (Great advice everyone. This is a fun forum. Thanks.) 1. Whatever your weaknesses are, be honest with yourself and be prepared to hire someone to help you in those areas. Some people I know have lost millions and are shutting down their new business. They were idea people, great with concepts and creating, terrible at business, accounting, and marketing. Due to control issues, ego, and tight funds, they tried to do everything themselves, and now have lost it all, including their house. Spending a little money in the beginning, budgeting, and planning, will save a lot in the end.

2. Have a financial safety net for at least a year, some kind of part time gig or income or saved money; you’ll need it!

3. Coffee! (That’s what brought me to this post.)
Here’s what I have to say about coffee:
http://www.screenwritingforhollywood.com/life-tips/a-writers-best-friend-coffee

(Great advice everyone. This is a fun forum. Thanks.)

]]> By: kerstin http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/#comment-20125 kerstin Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:51:22 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=857#comment-20125 Teach a class or two. I teach year-round and it's made me a better designer. I think faster on my feet and get a chance to see what the upcoming competition will be like. It's also a great way to socialize and force yourself to stay on top of the latest trends and technology. Most importantly, it's a form of steady income that can help you stay afloat during those dry periods. Teach a class or two. I teach year-round and it’s made me a better designer. I think faster on my feet and get a chance to see what the upcoming competition will be like. It’s also a great way to socialize and force yourself to stay on top of the latest trends and technology. Most importantly, it’s a form of steady income that can help you stay afloat during those dry periods.

]]> By: Ben http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/#comment-20121 Ben Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:08:56 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=857#comment-20121 Base your decisions on opportunity costs, not sunk costs. (And re-familiarize yourself with what these terms mean at least once a month) Outsource what you don't have a comparative advantage in. It's okay (and often costs less whether in time, money, or stress) to pay somebody to do what you are not good at. Base your decisions on opportunity costs, not sunk costs. (And re-familiarize yourself with what these terms mean at least once a month)

Outsource what you don’t have a comparative advantage in. It’s okay (and often costs less whether in time, money, or stress) to pay somebody to do what you are not good at.

]]> By: Lucia Bastenhof http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/coffee-break-what-do-experienced-freelancers-know-that-new-freelancers-dont/#comment-20106 Lucia Bastenhof Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:10:40 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/?p=857#comment-20106 Persist and relax -at once. Persist and relax -at once.

]]>