Join in if you are self-employed and work from home

Seaxwyn

Well done Wordsmith. I didn't' do even one article. I got distracted doing an application for a part-time job - the closing date is 5 April but I emailed them with a question yesterday and the agent replied that she's shortlisting today!

So I have done a CV and letter for a job and also edited another article that was sent to me, but haven't even started on the 9 that are my main task. Grrrrr

In answer to your question about where I get work - well I am incredibly lucky to have 6 or 7 regular clients who keep me fairly busy. Before I went freelance 13 years ago I was publications manager at a large organisation and they were my first freelance clients, and also recommended me to others in their sector. I work in a sector where there is a lot of moving around, so people I've worked with in one place tend to pop up elsewhere. And so without much effort on my part, I have a good list of clients.

HOWEVER, I do feel very vulnerable as the work could easily dry up. Some clients that used to reliably give me work each month are now less frequent. The average size of my invoice has shrunk. Hence deciding to apply for a part-time job. It's only for 9 months, so a chance to test out whether life is in fact better on the employed side of the fence without making a long-term commitment.

Wordsmith

Mudbath, I also like the way you try to turn things to your advantage. I have to try much harder to do this, too. I know it's a cliche, but I find that going through difficult patches really does help to make one stronger.

I went through a hard time a few years ago. One afternoon I was walking through a soulless shopping arcade in the rain, feeling really miserable. The man in front of me was using an umbrella and suddenly it collapsed over his head. It made me giggle (sorry anonymous man) and I realised that no matter how bad things were there were still things that could lift my spirits just a tad (it says little for me that what lifted my spirits was someone else's misfortune ). When a friend of mine got really depressed I suggested she keep a "smile diary" - and no matter how bad things felt, she should write down a tiny something each day that reminded her there was something beyond the darkness (when you are feeling down it is hard to recognise anything good, let alone remember it). She did just that - one day it might be seeing a beautiful flower, another day it would be the dog nosing up to keep her company, or seeing an elderly couple holding hands. What was really nice was that she looked back over it a year or so later and smiled again at being reminded of little incidents that otherwise would have been forgotten about for ever.

What I also do when I have a job that's horrible to do, is force myself to like it. This takes some effort, but I have managed in the past to start enjoying the mechanics of something that I previously hated doing. And I set myself little tests - for example, in the shop it can get a bit mind numbing passing things by the scanner for the till to add up, so I try to work out in my head how much change the customer will get (but I never rely on it ). Silly things that I normally wouldn't own up to, but they help me get through some boring tasks.

Horace

Sammy115 - please can you clear out your PM box? I am trying to send one but can't because you are jammed up:rolleyes:

I have had a strange day today - this morning I went to help my local conservatives get signatures on a petition regarding a local college, missed the first bus and caught the second one which conked out:mad: I decided then that it was quicker to walk - so I walked the 1.5 miles to the college but managed to get a lift back. It was handy helping out the conservatives because there was talk about social events and how they need someone to organise them - so I pipe up and say that I will do them, so watch this space. It might mean working for free but at least I will get a testimonial out of them.

Had a chat too with a new wedding magazine whom I met at the Wedding Show at the NEC the other week - they have offered me half price advertising for a quarter page ad and it comes with the opportunity to be added to their supplier listing. I can't believe my cheek sometimes because I offered to do their Q&A page for brides - they already have a planner that does that for them but they are willing to rotate us:j I also hope to be involved with their editorial feature on wedding planners - anything to raise the profile of my business. I do feel bad because I missed the call because I had fallen asleep on the sofa:eek: but at least they were understanding as I called them straight back.

I still haven't done my assignments...grrr

Mudbath

I've just got to share this with someone and sorry for shouting but....

I'M TOTALLY UP TO DATE WITH ALL MY ACCOUNTS - YEAH YEAH YEAH:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: .

All i've got left to do is the rest of March and i'm ready for the accountant! How different from the days i'd be doing it in December!!!

Ok, i'll calm down now and thank my poor children for being off poorly! What a mean mum I am .

Wordsmith - i'm laughing at the image I have of the poor man with the brolly (sorry brolly man!).

Can I ask for your advice....i've been off work for three months after an operation. I went back to work at the end of February. All my regular clients had asked me to phone them when I was back at work which i've done and they've all come back. Do you think I should write a letter to the not so regular ones to let them know i'm back (even though they might not know I was off) and maybe include an offer or is that being pushy? What do you think?

Now I need to decide what tomorrow's tasks are....this thread has already got me more organised than i've been in ages. Thank you xx

Wordsmith

Horace, you are going great guns. You are an inspiration as to how to get your business "out there". Selling yourself is key to self-employment and you seem to be doing a great job of it.

Hollyberry, you too are an inspiration with your forward planning.

I must take a leaf out of both of your books.

Wordsmith

Well done, Mudbath, for getting your accounts up to date. Needless to say I am late with mine and have been fined (both in England and in Ireland, which I need to look into) for being late. I must take a leaf out of your book, too. Big sigh as I realise just how disorganised I am. Re-realise. Re-re-realise. ...

All you new self-employed-wannabes, note that planning, selling yourself and keeping the paperwork up to date are all ESSENTIAL to success. Listen to all these lovely people who do that (though I think making your children sick to provide the opportunity may be a step too far). And listen to me, who doesn't - it causes no end of grief if you are made from the Wordsmith mould.

Mudbath, I would certainly take this opportunity of having a good reason for contacting all your clients. It can't do any harm and certainly isn't being pushy - go for it. Good luck.

Horace

Wordsmith wrote: »

Horace, you are going great guns. You are an inspiration as to how to get your business "out there". Selling yourself is key to self-employment and you seem to be doing a great job of it.

Thanks but the one thing I am lacking is clients who will pay:rolleyes: I don't doubt that they will come but I need them now. The product launch thing has gone quiet and I am starting to think that Business Link are taking the piddle:rolleyes: Still I shall keep beavering away.

Well done on doing your accounts Mudbath and Wordsmith you keep me going with your stories about your day - the flight one just killed me:rotfl:

Mudbath

Horace - I wish I had your gumption when it comes to getting yourself out there. My biggest fault when it comes to my business is not being very good at selling myself. I know i'm good because once I get a client they stay but I'm not very good at approaching new people. Oh well, I guess that's what i've got to work on!

Wordsmith - have you made a start on 2008 - 2009 accounts yet? I challenge you to complete last April's accounts by the end of March....if you accept my challenge i'll accept one from you (why do I think i'm going to regret this!!) xx

tyllwyd

Wordsmith wrote: »

Mudbath, I would certainly take this opportunity of having a good reason for contacting all your clients. It can't do any harm and certainly isn't being pushy - go for it. Good luck.

I totally agree - it is an excellent excuse for contacting everyone. Even if you decide not to mention that you have had some time off, why not send them a flyer of some sort anyway. I'm sure they won't be offended, it's just good business practice to keep in touch with your old client list. And if they aren't interested, then you haven't lost anything because they wouldn't have been back anyway!

----
I've had a bit of a strange day - I wanted to get on with a big editing job I should really get finished by Friday, but got sidetracked with sorting out another job I've passed on to another editor because I'm swamped, and then a regular client emailed a very small but urgent job, and because it's something that turns up every few months I didn't want to turn it away, so I've been busy but not got very far with what I should have been doing.

Mudbath

My task tomorrow is to sort out a letter to send to clients i've not heard from for a while. I'm going to offer them 20% off to entice them back. Thanks for encouring me to do it.

Tyllwyd - sounds like you've been busy even though you've not done what you planned to do. Hopefully you'll get your planned work done tomorrow.