Have you ever considered a home business?
Many people dream of getting up in the morning and not having
to suffer a long drive to work, or better yet, not have to suffer the presence of a boss.
working from home allows you to be your own boss.
This means that you set your own hours, set your own goals,
and not answer to anyone else but yourself.
But are you ready to launch your own work at home?
There are many pros and cons to consider when making this decision.
A bit old, but last July, Evan highlighted an interesting point made by sci-fi writer Jerry Pournelle, on episode 149 of TWiT:
The people who are going to make money are the ones who are going to figure out how a guy who knows how to do something useful and doesn’t care about computer science can sit down and teach the damn machine to do something useful without having to spend four years learning to program.
As our technological tools become more advanced, we won’t have to spend as much learning how to use, we’ll simply do. Jerry makes a good point about the successful ones being those who know how to do something useful. That’s no surprise, because as an author of many popular novels set in the future, it’s obvious he has a grasp of how future developments can affect man.
In practical terms, as our tools become better-developed, the mastery of the tool becomes less important, while the ability to communicate and to come up with creative solutions will become even more crucial. It may be years before we can see any significant development in how we manipulate our creative visions, but I’m confident that focusing on developing your communication and creativity are extremely useful activities, even now. After all, it’s not really about what you have, but what you can do with it
All Freelance lists 4 factors to consider when setting a price, discussing them in some detail. In addition to everything listed at Pricing and Positioning Amongst Other Freelancers, I think freelancers should approach pricing on a case-to-case basis. No doubt, formulating and following a set of prices for a certain kinds of projects will make negotiating a price much more straightforward, but the freelancer has to be aware of any extra factors that may add—or even deduct—from the final price.
Examples include a request to be on call 24/7, or to concentrate exclusively on a certain project. No doubt, the price for these setups will be steep. Conversely, you may charge less for a project if the requirements are very similar to a previous one, so much so that only minor modifications are needed. You may make less, but the goodwill built with the client (”hey, he’s not charging so much for a little tweaking!”) may turn out to be priceless
The post preceding this one was written in less than 10 minutes, representing a burst of creativity and productivity. You all know what it’s called; that productive groove is usually a rare and gratifying experience. The mere volume of output produced practically effortlessly in a relatively short period of time always creates the welcome sensation of fulfillment. I’ve listed down some of the factors that have led to my own productive grooves. Hopefully they will be of use to you. Read More
Wouldn’t you know it? I’ve just wasted the last three not only playing a video game, but trying to find out as much of the in-game universe as possible. My eyes are very tired from reading wiki entries on protagonists, allies, and of course, villains. It’s as dealing with the sites freelancers should avoid taught me nothing!
Right now I’m wondering if I could’ve made better use of my time, and focused it on something more useful. I know that we should have fun from time to time, but three straight hours isn’t exactly moderate for my sensibilities. Especially when I currently have projects pending. Read More
In any case, before you even think of communication on an international scale, you should be familiar with what you absolutely, positively, must have. Read More
Freelance Folder has gotten some of its readers to provide some tips for fellow freelancers. Massive List of Killer Freelancer Tips by and for Our Readers is a lot to take in, so you can either visit the post here, or take a look at what I’ considered highlights:
Always strive to be more efficient and conquer your fears (JamieO)
Carry a U3 USB drive with Firefox and all my bookmarks on it (Charles Burger)
Make marketing an integral part of your day-to-day activities. (Avonelle Lovhaug)
Read, subscribe, employ, and repeat. (Seth Godin through Justin Bessler)
By chance or intention, you’re cut off from the internet, and you’ve had enough relaxation for the moment and want to get things done. What to do?
Go Through Your Finances. Even if you use an online application to keep track of expenses and earnings, you still (should) have all your receipts, invoices, and other financial documentation at hand. Why not go through everything, to see if you have to make changes to your budget or financial setup?
If you have the time, feel free to read The Shark Investor’s Alternative Income: Selling Illustrations, Photos and Videos. An interesting article, primarily because it actually cites concrete examples to back up the wordy discussion.
Recent Comments