Freelance
Writers' Series
Career & Business
Development Help
Freelance Writers: Why Aren't You Making the Money You Should be
Making?
As the
40 Days to a Successful Freelance Writing Career
series is winding down, I wanted to end with three observations that prevent
many freelance writers from making the income they should be making.
Writing this series
has really made me delve deep into the topic of what goes into the making of a
successful freelance career. The usual culprits like marketing, list building
and client retention are all obvious.
But, it’s the
not-so-obvious things that, in my opinion, are the biggest blockers to success.
My uncle and I were discussing relationships one day and he said something
that’s stuck with me. He said, “It’s not the big things that destroy
relationships; it’s the small, everyday things that drive you crazy that kills
most relationships.”
I’ve found this to
be true. And, I think it applies to business as well. Take for example, simply
getting started. A personal example illustrates this point perfectly.
Why “Getting
Started” Is One of the Biggest Blockers to Success
I’ve had an idea
floating around my head to expand my freelance writing business for about two
years now – yes, two YEARS. So, what’s prevented me from implementing this idea?
It’s not the biggies like money, time, or even marketing.
What’s prevented me
from implementing the idea is hiring a graphic designer to create one little
design and put it in the right file format to move forward. What? That’s it?
That’s all that’s stopped me?
Yep, that’s it.
“You’re stupid, lazy
and crazy!” you might be thinking.
And, I might be.
BUT, I’m no different from many who procrastinate their way into failure.
Why Most of Us are
Primed for Failure
Most humans are
primed for failure. Now, this is different from being born for failure. In fact,
I think the creator primed us for success. It’s us who screw up the game plan.
Why is this?
Take my failing to
hire a graphic designer to get the darn file I need.
1. We do what know: Most of us do what we know. We fail to reach outside of ourselves
for the help we need to expand our knowledge, profit centers, etc.
I don’t know
anything about graphic design. If it was something I could do myself, I would
have started my project two years ago. But, because I don’t know how to do it, I
keep putting it off and putting it off – to my own financial detriment.
But, as I’m able to
make my mortgage payment every month, there’s no rush factor to up the ante. If
I got out of my comfort zone and really pushed myself, paying off my house in 10
years would not be a dream, but a full push towards reality.
3. Dream killers:
Speaking of dreams, many of us have dream killers in our lives. What do I mean?
If I had a dime for every time someone has wondered why I don’t just get a
“real” job, my house would be paid off already.
I don’t even try to
explain what I do on most days – especially as I move away from strictly writing
– because I don’t feel like explaining and justifying what I do, how I do it,
why it works for me, etc.
As you start
achieving goals, you can let them in on what you do if you so choose.
4. Laziness: Finally, I think most of us are just plain lazy – and I don’t mean
lazy in the not wanting to work at all kind of way. But lazy as in not putting
the extra it requires.
I know I am
sometimes. Instead of working the extra hour or two a day to achieve a goal, I
do what is required and knock off.
I often think, what
if I worked as hard as I could for a solid year – I mean, really push myself. I
could probably accomplish more in 12 months than I have over the last 10 years –
really.
Have you ever
challenged yourself like this? I ran my first marathon last year – at 40 no
less. I trained for almost a year for that marathon because it was something I
really, really wanted. Although I had doubts until the end that I would achieve
my goal (finish in under 5 hours), I finished in 4 hours and 36 minutes.
If my house was
burning down, one of the first things I’d grab is my finisher’s medal. It means
that much to me.
What if I brought
the same passion to my work? What if you brought the same passion to your work?
The bottom line is,
to get started, you are probably going to have to do two things at one time – ie,
build your freelance career while you are working your full-time job. This means
conquering the very things that prime us for failure, eg:
Instead of doing
what you know, spending the time, effort and money to learn what you don’t know
(about marketing, starting a business, writing articles for promotion, search
engine optimization, etc.). Whatever area you lack in, tackle it.
Instead of dream
killers, surround yourself with people who support your vision – even if they
don’t understand or agree with it. Sometimes this means letting go of old
friends/family, or at least cutting back on the time you spend with them. And finally
it means getting up off your butt and putting in the work. “Want” is, after all
a verb. Verbs imply ACTION. So, if you want a freelance career, go out and get
it!
Sincerely,
10/17/07 Issue:
Sue
Fagalde Lick, author
of Freelancing for
Newspapers.
Whether you are an experienced or inexperienced freelance writer, this is one
market that eagerly accepts freelancers, as Sue outlines in her book.
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