The Habits of a Freelancer

Many of these habits are also the downfall of effective creatives: in-house designers, agency workers, media folks, or even the pencil pusher with an internet tendency. Wasted time that trickles away can really nag at project deadlines when you're not as motivated as usual. Be it low company/dept morale, pay cuts, hiring freezes, increased workload for less pay, or even lack of feeling valued in this harsh economy, a creative tends to seek inspiration outside of their office, including via the internet. The following 7 Bad Habits are ones that I am trying to stay on top of while battling the list of reasons to mope above. 

So far I've cleared off my desk, altered my morning routine away from checking mail, promised more realistic deadlines, and I've tuned into my jazz channel on Pandora to tune out the din of coworkers. I think progress is being made! - CM

Excerpted by a blog entry of 7 Habits to Kick as a Freelancer  by Samar Owais
1. Excessive Social Networking, Instant Messaging And Internet Browsing
This has been written and told so many times that you’d think it would be engraved in people’s head by now. Even if you’re super careful and watch your time, social networking and browsing have a habit of sneaking up on you and making you ignore the clock.

Stop Stumbling, Digging, or going through your RSS reader for an unscheduled period of time. If there’s work on your desk that’s being ignored in favor of it then you’re wasting time and momentum.

2. Email Obsession
Ah yes. We all have the email bug. Here’s how you ditch the habit.
1. Turn off the notification sound
2. Shut off your inbox
3. Check every two hours or any (reasonable) time period of your choice.
4. Rinse and repeat

You could also check email as a reward. Completed an article? Check email. Met a deadline? Omg, I so deserve to check my email now!

Yes you’ll go crazy, but your work will thank you for it!. Think of the happy clients and stress free pace of work as you’re free from the anxiety of having things added to your to-do list with every email.

3. The “Yes, Right Away” Attitude
A quick clarification: I’m not asking you to ditch the “Yes, I can” attitude. What kind of a freelancer would I be if I told you to ditch the secret behind your success? I’m telling you to ditch the “Yes, right away” attitude. There’s a difference.

As freelancers and web workers, we tend to think that if we don’t act immediately, we’ll lose out. That’s the wrong attitude. Not everything requires your immediate attention.
Prioritize:

Make the distinction between clients who’ll appreciate and reward the quick response and those to whom it wouldn’t make a difference if you replied a few hours later or the next day.

If you’re replying to emails as they come in your inbox, you’ll spend your entire day dealing with them and get no work done. Ever wondered where your day went when you haven’t taken a break all morning?

Nine times out of ten, your day went to your inbox.

4. Information Overload
Sometimes I think ‘freelancer‘ is a synonym for ‘continuous learning‘. We read or at least scan everything that comes in front of our eyes, we bookmark religiously, download e-books like we’re obsessed and research is our middle name.

All this leads to information overload.

I’ll be the first to say that we never know when we’ll need something. However, short circuiting our brain trying to cram everything ruins our work. Not to mention the headache it brings on.

5. Clutter
That desk of yours? It has to be cleaned. Your papers need to be filed, pens need to be set in their holder and you need to pick up the trash. Even your desktop needs to be organized.

And no, dumping everything in your drawer is not called de-cluttering.

Very few people thrive in clutter. Organized chaos is fine but the minute you spend more than 15 seconds looking for something, it’s not organized anymore.

So ditch the clutter and organize.

6. Distractions
Distractions come in many forms. Every freelancer has their own set of distractions. It could be unnecessary phone calls, the neighbor’s noisy dog or even your own children.
Respect your work time and figure out ways to eliminate these distractions. Get a baby sitter for your kids or get them involved in extra-curricular activities. Dealing with your neighbor’s dog could be easy or you may have to be a little uhh… innovative.

Whatever your distractions, they can be eliminated. Turn the force of your “can do” attitude on your distractions and watch them melt away.

7. Extremes
Moderation is the name of the game. Don’t waste your time getting distracted or procrastinating but don’t become obsessed with productivity either.
Set goals and meet them. That’s the definition of a successful and productive day. If you don’t meet them every now and then, it’s ok. It doesn’t mean that you’re going to fail.

Creative Layoffs in a down economy

(Editor's Note: December 2, 2008 was my last day at my previous job. I was laid of mid-November due to budget cuts in a company that even at this date can't get the cash to pay the bills and risks closing it's doors after 30+ years of success. I've hopped on the emotional roller coaster that everyone's talking about and never seemed to even remember getting in line to ride. The wait is growing and we're all praying that the train malfunctions and the ride shuts down.)

Of all the people to lose their jobs, creatives have to have the easiest time bouncing back. It's what they do. We tailor our work for our clients and sell our selves and our product constantly. Now while we may not land a job that's a perfect match, we can still fit into the description pretty well. Everyone can use marketing help, sign design, a little product development...

But paying the bills may not go hand in hand with employment. It's been 2 months since I was given my notice that my position was eliminated and hours upon hours of job applications later, not a nibble. I've found 40 hours with a previous part-time job I had on the north side of Indianapolis. The owner is a doll and has a drive to grow. It's a fine art portrait studio specializing in a combination of techniques to create digital oil and water color paintings. It's the only place like it in America. Nifty! I have moved from a sales associate position (which I knew was a temporary fix until a full time option came along) to an artist in training spot. Excited as all get out about learning this technique of imagery, I fear that it will not pay the bills. It sure would be a fantastic skill to add for illustration and visual communication but the minimum wage part of training will not support a newly wed couple with the other spouse student teaching, banned from taking a job during that semester.

Reality: I'm earning 44% of what I had at my last job and savings is trickling out the door. I have to keep looking for other full time work as this new version of my position develops.

But with all the locations that are killing their marketing departments and outsourcing, creatives are ravenous and employers have the creme de la creme to pick from. Lost in a pile of resumes from extremely qualified executives, every day I try to stand out with my humble but solid experience. It's just that when it comes down to it, if some former art director applies for a graphic design spot because there's nothing else out there, I can't compare on paper to their qualifications.

Wheels spinning, my objectives shift. Relocate? Apply to grad school? Launch a business?
Luckily, a new President should be easing my transition shortly and I look forward to deciding where I'm going, and fast.

For now, Careerbuilder, Monster AIGADesignJobs and LinkedIn, show me the way.
CM

Learning and Successes

Many things have happened in the last month! Still like what I do, having to evaluate how much I like it is hard. Environment vs tasks can play a large part in the life of a happy worker bee.

I wrapped up the marks developed for the University I was working with and delivered them. They're thrilled with their new youth logos and we share excitement about finally seeing them printed and embroidered on official school merchandise! Success!

Many new opportunities to do creative work at the office have found their way to me. A new coworker was hired and took over many of my non creative tasks (wonderful!!) and frees me up to spend more time on the work I've committed to. Exploring significant redesign or our company materials, business stationery system and other visual communication techniques. It's a hard sell when they don't see a problem with the stuff they have.

Mean while, I had my first life lesson in dealing with a coworker that had some behaviors violating our company's core values. I stifled my feelings for 3 months after sharing them with my boss and on St. Patrick's Day, just when I thought the entire office was going to have a sit down chat about behavior, I was asked to call out my coworker. It was not the best way to do things at all but in my boss's eyes, it was done. I guess that's all I have to say about that. Later that evening, Scott's Brew House ran out of green beer. It was a tough day.

Last Thursday, I attended a talk put on by Google and AIGA Indy about marketing and brand - how small to large businesses can use Google's tools to launch their success. Interesting presentation but I could have easily subbed for the main presenter. Eitherway, it reinforced my view that Google is hot stuff.

My fiance and I signed a lease for our first apartment together. I will be moving after the wedding and have chosen to be to commuter. It will take me around 1hr15min to get to work and 1hr30min to get home. This decision will affect my work when weather gets dangerous in the winter, when I am sick, if I have car trouble and if traffic gets bad. Discussion will begin about a month before I move regarding potential work from home scenarios or telecommuting options to save money and time one day a week. With soaring gas prices (down to $3.29 this week,) even a small car becomes a third mouth to feed. I'm exploring carpool options to cut wear and tear on my car, gas expenses, environmental impact and mental exhaustion.

New horizons, the bar is raised and I've gotta lace up my shoes.
Cait

Don't forget to change your status in job search websites

Oops, I changed my CareerBuilder account but not Monster. I got a phone call today seeing if I was interested in a full time Graphic Design position. Note, I am gainfully employed as a new hire at a small but successful company. I may pursue the offer in hopes of project based work. But leaving your setting as "Looking for Full Time" and having your current boss come across it could be touchy.

Here's to learning from mistakes and maybe even getting benefits.