Monthly Self-Appraisal.
I needed a system to check for myself regularly if I’m doing well. This review template is what I devised over the last few years to facilitate self-appraisal.
Mind Your Business.
If you feel like you’re doing SO MUCH work, but the bank balance doesn’t reflect it — here’s something that can help.
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Have a rainy day task list.
A rainy day task list is basically work that will keep you busy, while there is no one pushing you to do it.
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Don’t sign contracts you don’t agree to.
Most importantly, make the contract equal.
Read more — about Don’t sign contracts you don’t agree to.
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Last step in a project isn’t payment. It’s testimonial.
When you ask for a testimonial, clients are forced to articulate their feelings about your work, which they might not have considered so far. You want that.
Read more — about Last step in a project isn’t payment. It’s testimonial.
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Be multiskilled.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m mediocre at many things.
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Learn to talk about yourself. Clearly and confidently.
If “hey, what do you do?” stumps you, you’re in the wrong business.
Read more — about Learn to talk about yourself. Clearly and confidently.
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Why I don’t do free trials anymore.
Those who ask for free trials are generally those who don’t care. They don’t want to bear any risk. They don’t want to invest in a relationship. They are not willing to participate as equal partners to make this project work.
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How many hours does it take to write 8 pages of website copy?
Well, it goes without saying that if you can avoid it, don’t charge by the hour. But the larger point I’m making here is: It takes so much longer to do something than you think it does.
Read more — about How many hours does it take to write 8 pages of website copy?
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Invest in backup.
Identify everything you ‘need’ to continue your freelance career undisturbed, and invest in backup for them all.
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Prioritise for your needs.
When your list feels out of control and too many things scream for your attention, put them aside. And think about what you want. That’s your priority.
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Nothing is truly urgent.
If a customer tells you they needed something yesterday, laugh. Because it’s a joke. Everyone knows that you can’t get things done in the past.
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Mind your business.
If you feel like you’re doing SO MUCH work, but the bank balance doesn’t reflect it — here’s something that can help.
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On second thought.
Have you ever made a decision under some kind of pressure and later realised you don’t want to do what you agreed to?
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Always have an exit plan.
So, to end the work engagement without ruining the relationship with the client, and the one who referred you to the client, is a skill you absolutely need.
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Shark Tank taught me to accept myself as a ‘writer’.
I learned that you don’t need to be the next Tesla. You can do great even if you invented a better kitchen scrub.
Read more — about Shark Tank taught me to accept myself as a ‘writer’.
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Fear of judgment.
Many many years ago, I pitched to an editor, who was also a Twitter celebrity. I sent him an email and spent the entire day on his Twitter page worrying. My fear: That he will screenshot my email and out me as the stupidest person in the whole world.
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The ultimate joy of abandoned projects.
If you’ve started a million things and not completed all of them, don’t beat yourself up over it.
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Is self-deprecation your defence mechanism?
If we don’t believe in yourself, no one else has any reason to.
Read more — about Is self-deprecation your defence mechanism?
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How are you naming your files, eh?
Would you believe me if I told you that a senior leader once sent me a document with the name ‘untitled’?
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Learn actively.
Everything is learning, right?
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What do you want: Feedback or validation?
Have you ever called a friend to ask for feedback on something and got so much negativity in return that left you angry?
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What kind of learning is wasteful?
If you spend an entire day trying to figure out how to change the default colour of your website font, is it time well spent or not?
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Should you go freelance?
If you are considering freelancing, here’s one question I’d like you to ask yourself: Are you ready to run an entire business all by yourself?
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Choose your tools wisely.
If you’re going to ideate on a spreadsheet, you will think in rows and columns. So, choose your tools wisely.
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Who is your right customer?
The biggest demand of being a freelancer or a small business owner is to be able to confidently tell who’s right and who’s not.