Yesterday was a bit of a blur. I was here, but I wasn't
here. I'm working like mad to finish up two rather large projects by tomorrow, so my day was end-to-end work. It felt good. I'll be done in time, but I'm one who would rather get done early and have some wiggle room than put it off until my back's to the wall and something goes wrong.
I will say that a surprisingly short turnaround time on one project (the biggest one, naturally) had me kicking it into hyper-speed. I'd had the project in my hands maybe three days and was chipping away at it. The added pressure forced me to think faster. The result - my thoughts somehow became clearer. Weird how that happens.
Today is more of the same, though I'm well ahead of the work at this point. I'm about to get another large project in, so the more I do now, the less I stress later.
Did I mention I'm sporting a cold?
I did have a spare minute or two to discuss rates and things with another freelancer. Where she lives, the cost of living makes it possible to live really well on $30K a year. If I tried that where I live, I'd be eating the cardboard my generic macaroni would come in. Our cost of living is ridiculously high (in my small-town opinion), so $30K wouldn't begin to cover what I need.
In a separate conversation with another writer, I realized my truth about needing a
résumé isn't her truth. She doesn't use one and doesn't need to. I do. If I didn't have one, I wouldn't be able to land the corporate crowd I target. Her clients aren't asking.
I say all this to illustrate a point - what's true for me may not be true for you. Before you say "Duh", hear me out. I'm about to hit you with one more obvious statement - businesses are different. No one rule applies to everyone.
Okay, say it in unison - "Duh."
It is obvious, but how many of your so-called experts disagree? Plenty. The Internet is choking with advice that fits one person, but frankly stinks for another person. Yet if they're calling themselves experts, the crowds will follow blindly.
So I suggest this. The next time anyone says "You must do this" (including me), measure the advice against these parameters:
Has this been my truth? I can tell you all day you need a
résumé, but if no one has asked you for one, is that really what you need? Likewise if someone says you have to have an accountant, an agent, a land line, a blog, etc. If you don't see a real need for it, it's not for you.
How would this change my business for the better? Would having a blog bring in more business, or are the clients you're trying to attract more of the offline sort? What about a website? Frankly, I think every writer should have a website, but I'm not every writer. If you can convince me you're working like mad without one, I'll let that one go.
Would the impact of doing this help or harm me? If you took a week to put together a stellar brochure and paid a thousand to print it, is that an investment that will pay off? If you score one gig, probably. But if you don't, you've wasted your time and money. Weigh every factor involved - who do you send to? How much can you earn in one gig from one new client? Does that justify the time and cost? Will having a blog help you find new clients, or will your strong opinions or lackluster posts make you look unapproachable or incompetent?
Do I trust the messenger? It's tough to know if you've just discovered this messenger that the advice is given without hidden intent or with any type of authority. If you came across Joe
Shmoe's site and he was going on about how every writer must take a
copywriting course to increase income, how do you know Joe isn't selling courses? Likewise if someone decides they're now an expert. Where did that expertise come from? Is it actual expertise or an embellished background? Do some research. Know whom it is you're following before you take any advice verbatim.
How do you measure what's right for your business?