Archives for April 2014

Three Things to Help You Bounce Back When You Feel Like a Failure

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I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been there at least once.

failure

A client sends back negative feedback that is so scathing even a rhino’s hide would burn in an instant. Or maybe your boss tells you you’re not doing a good job, and you need to step up. Sometimes, even a simple statement from a friend or family member may bring you down and make you feel like you’re a failure at what you do.

Circumstances and triggers will differ, but these things happen, and the result is the same: you feel that you suck.

Some people bounce back easily, while others may need more time and effort to regain their balance. If you could use some help convincing yourself you don’t suck, here are three things I can offer you.

Let it go.

By that I mean let your emotions wash over you. So you feel that you suck? Cry about it if you need to. Punch some pillows if that’s your thing. Do whatever you need to do to let the sucky feeling pass, because, yes, as bad as you may feel at the moment, it will pass. Ignoring it – or trying to – will not make it go away. It might actually only make it worse and explode later on.

A word of caution: feel bad for a while, but please don’t wallow. Don’t let yourself drown in that pool of self-pity.

Look back at your successes.

When the tempest has passed – this doesn’t necessarily mean you feel like you’re on the top of the world – take the time to look back at the good things that you have achieved. Go through old client emails that thank you and praise your work. Read the pieces you have written that you are most proud of. If you have a blog, look for old entries that make you happy.

Trust me, you will find more positive things than you might expect, and they will certainly help you realize the truth: You are not a failure.

Spend time with people who truly believe in you.

It doesn’t have to be face to face if you don’t feel like it. Send an email. Chat up a friend. Know who really believes in you and what you are capable of doing. Let them know about your current circumstances and channel their belief in you. Sometimes, all it takes is reassurance from other people who know your worth.

Whatever it is that makes your feel that you are failure (at the moment), you don’t have to accept it. You know what you have gone through to reach where you are now. yes, there may be times when you make mistakes or you burn out, but that doesn’t mean you suck.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” So don’t give anyone, or anything, that consent.

What about you? How do you deal when something/someone makes you feel like you’re a failure?

Image via Tjook

Easy Tricks for Spotting Freelance Job Scams

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Protect your identity and integrity by avoiding fraudulent freelance job offers.

Image credit: Studio City Neighborhood Council

Image credit: Studio City Neighborhood Council

Because freelance job listings characteristically involve short-term telecommute work, they’re easier to fake than full-time, salaried job postings. If you’re a freelancer looking for a new project, get familiar with these easy tricks for spotting freelance job scams:

Take a Step Back from Start-ups

Start-up businesses should not be universally painted with the job-scam brush; however, it’s important to understand that con artists exploit the entrepreneurial spirit of start-up businesses to weave their web of deceit.

Beware of freelance job listings from newly established businesses that promise income from future earnings or a percentage of profits after “X” amount of labor. If an employer cannot afford to pay you now, then you cannot afford to say yes to the job offer.

Non-payment for freelancers

Image credit: Kimberly Back

Never Pay to Work

Although this sounds like career advice from Captain Obvious, job scammers resort to inventive methods to coax freelancers out of money. Never agree to pay for a contract, design or training materials, or distribution costs.

Protect Your Samples

It’s difficult to envision a freelancer in 2014 who does not have an online portfolio of work generated from educational assignments, internships, or previous employment. When a potential employer presses you for additional work samples or detailed outlines pertaining to a specific project proposal, recognize that you may be on the fast track to getting swindled.

Image credit: EAGNews

Image credit: EAGNews

Working for free on the promise of a job offer is bad business. Make sure you are always under the protection of a contract. If you readily provide free samples, don’t be surprised if you find your uncompensated work online, credited to someone else.

Avoid Calls for Inexperienced Workers

When have you ever contracted with a legitimate employer who is not interested in the professional and educational backgrounds of their freelancers? Even entry level positions require some measure of basic demonstrable skills or competency.

Jason Voorhees Trust

Image credit: Kimberly Back

Freelance job ads that boast “IMMEDIATE START – NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!” should be treated with as much caution as Jason Voorhees at a summer camp.

Respect Your Instincts

Similar to how you would refuse email lottery winnings from a “Nigerian prince,” go with your gut when conducting online searches for freelance employment offers. Remember to not take unnecessary RISKS:

• Research employers with accredited agencies, like the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• Investigate employers on social media sites and with other freelancers
• Skip the spec work
• Keep your guard up when asked to provide sensitive personal information
• Stick to this promise: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Image credit: Manner Effect

Image credit: Manner Effect

If you are solicited by a freelance job scam artist, do your part to stop the cycle of employment fraud and report the incident to the BBB’s Scam Stopper or file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

Have you been fooled by freelance employment fraud or are you aware of current scams circling the Web? Share your stories and tips in a comment.

Kimberly is the Social Media and Content Manager at Virtual Vocations, your one-stop shop for freelancers looking for legitimate telecommute jobs. Connect with Kimberly on Facebook and Google+.

On Reading: Do You Read the Right Way?

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Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited with saying “There is creative reading as well as creative writing,” and as writers, we know just how important reading is. But, is there such a thing as the right way to read?

I have been thinking about this thanks to an article I read last week, titled Does anybody read books the right way any more?

Reading

The article starts with:

And I’m not talking about paper versus digital. I’m talking about curling up with a good book, for hours. Sitting in a hammock, or in a chair by the fire, just totally pulled into a book. Is the long, totally focused book-reading session a thing of the past — and does this mean we’re getting less immersed in our stories?

Yes, for a moment, let’s forget about the ongoing debate about whether real books are better than ebooks. (For the record: Nothing beats the smell and feel of paper books, but ebooks make reading much more convenient for me.)

I think that’s what “reading the right way” is all about: reading habits. So, let’s examine our reading habits and how they affect our writing.

I’ve been asking myself the following questions:

  • What was the last book I read? When was this?
  • When was the last time I read a book without the TV (or something else) in the background?
  • How do I read? Do I read quickly, or do I pace myself so as to make sure I actually get the nuances of what I am reading?
  • How much time do I spend reading (books, essays, and longer material) in a week? How long do I read in one sitting?
  • Why do I read what I read?

These question – and more – have made me realize that I need to tweak my reading habits and go back to how I used to read: curled up in bed (or the sofa) for hours and just enjoying the book without thousands of distraction around me.

I’ve realized that reading books the right way, at least for me, is giving the book all my attention, with the intention of both enjoying what I am reading and learning from the author’s writing style. (I lean toward sci-fi and fantasy.)

I’ve realized that I need to also read more work-related material, and I mean read, not scan – the way Internet users tend to do these days.

I think that there may not be such a thing as reading the right way that it applies to everyone, but in my case, the article did make me think about how I read.

What do you think? Is there a right way to read? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Image via Jayel Aheram

7 Must-Have Home Office Tools for Freelance Writers

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Editor’s Note: This post was written by Brie Weiler Reynolds, the Director of Online Content at FlexJobs and a contributing writer for 1 Million for Work Flexibility. FlexJobs is the award-winning site for telecommuting and flexible jobs, listing thousands of pre-screened, legitimate, and professional-level work-from-home, flexible schedule, part-time, and freelance jobs. Brie provides career and job search advice through the FlexJobs Blog. Learn more at www.FlexJobs.com.

The profession of freelance writing has changed tremendously over the last few decades. Though it’s easier than ever before to find writing gigs and actually create pieces, there are an overwhelming number of tools for freelance writers to consider. These seven tools are ones that my team and I can’t live without, and most are free or very reasonably priced.

home office

Image Source

Here are seven must-have home office tools for freelance writers.

Wireless Mouse and Keyboard

If you’re going to be typing all day, every day, it makes sense to invest in a keyboard that you find comfortable, but one that’s also portable. Wireless keyboards allow you to to type in comfort wherever you might be, and today’s options are sleek, lightweight, and portable. A wireless mouse makes working from the coffee shop or even a park bench feel more like working from your office. My laptop never goes anywhere without my trusty wireless mouse.

Bullet Journal To-Do List

If you’re a fan of making paper to-do lists, the Bullet Journal method takes them to a new level. The video on its site walks you through the simple changes that will make your to-do list a tool for hyper-productivity. You’ll never look at to-do lists the same way.

Reliable Internet Access and Alternatives

fast internet

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Being able to access the Internet is an obvious tool for freelance writers, but how reliable is your service? And if it goes out, do you have multiple backup options? Take a couple minutes now to research and make a list of places with excellent Internet service. Then, go a step further and see if your smartphone offers a mobile hotspot option, which allows you to turn your phone into a personal wifi hotspot wherever you are, as long as you’re connected to your phone provider’s network.

Automatic Online File Backup

If you’re one of the unlucky many, you don’t realize how important this is until your computer crashes. Try to be one of the lucky few who reads this tip and takes action. Online file backup systems like Carbonite are easy to use and run constantly in the background, so even your most recent work is saved.

E-sign Software Program

Signing contracts the old-fashioned way through snail mail or by printing and scanning documents can be incredibly time-consuming. Stop taking time away from writing to do these tedious tasks, and use an e-sign program to make gathering electronic signatures a breeze. Echosign and Docusign are two popular options.

Speech Recognition Software

Talk about multitasking! Speech recognition software has advanced tremendously over the last few years and makes it possible to “write” on the go. Whether you’re stuck in traffic, walking the dog, or making dinner, if you can speak, you can write with these handy programs. You might invest a little money in Dragon speech software, but smartphones make it possible to dictate documents for free using voice-to-text with pretty accurate results. If you have the Google Drive app, you can speak into a Google Document, which will then be saved and easily accessible the next time you open up your laptop. Which brings us to…

Google Drive App

My team of freelance writers all use Google Drive to create and maintain documents. The Google Drive app makes it possible to access those documents on smartphones and tablets. Collaboration, sharing, and document creation are all much simpler when you can access your files regardless of your location.

Depending on the type of writing you do, these seven home office tools can help you be more productive, land more clients, stay better organized, and be more comfortable while you’re working. And since most of them are free, these tools are easy on the thrifty freelance writer’s budget.

The Power of a Nap

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I’ve come to realize that the freelance writing lifestyle is not as healthy as one would like to think so. Sure, you avoid the pollution by having to commute to work every day. You also avoid the stress of having to deal with irritating co-workers face to face (although that is easily replaced by other stress factors at home).

nap

Image source

On the other hand, even the most introverted person needs some social interaction. Staying within the boundaries of your home is not healthy, too. That’s why I mentioned before that it’s good to occasionally work outside.

However, there are bad days when one just can’t seem to get anything done, and even with the knowledge that changing one’s surroundings will help, one just can’t muster enough energy – or desire – to go out.

Today was one of those days for me.

The day started out pretty good, but by lunch time, I was running on fumes. I couldn’t get a single coherent sentence together. I couldn’t get my ideas to make sense. Heck, I couldn’t even manage to read an email without getting agitated!

Disclaimer: I’m sometimes over irritable/sensitive/anxious like that.

As usual, I tried to slug my way out of it. That’s how I roll. I force myself to stay in front of the computer and get things done. After an hour or so of fighting off a headache, trying to actually work, and about 5 cups of coffee, however, a thought suddenly occurred to me: maybe I should take a nap!

I don’t know about you, but as much as I love to nap, I try to avoid it during the work day simply because I want to finish my tasks as early as possible so I can enjoy a relaxing evening. This afternoon, my body and mind gave in. I didn’t even think of the consequences as I went to the bedroom, turned the AC on, put Vivaldi on, and turned the lights off.

An hour later, guess what?

I woke up, not feeling all perky and chirpy, but I felt so much better. I didn’t jump right back into work, but I did make myself another cup of coffee and a PBJ and settled down on the sofa.

After that, my focus was back, the looming headache gone, and my irritability levels down (somewhat).

I don’t know if you regularly take naps during the day, but I wrote this for those of you who may be like me who try as hard as possible to just keep working no matter what. I know there is always work to be done. There are clients to be satisfied, deadlines to be met.

If you do not listen to what you body (perhaps the mind, too) is telling you, though, you might end up burning out, and that’s definitely no good. The next time you feel really off, maybe you ought to consider giving yourself a break and taking a nap.

Oh, and if you think one nap’s just good as any other nap, here’s an interesting article about power naps that might just teach you a lesson or two.

How do you deal with “off days”?

Writing-Themed Home Office Decor

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In addition to family photos, notebooks, stacks of papers, and a random assortment of my daughter’s toys that are pulled into my workspace by some mysterious magnetic force, my desktop is home to this graphic print mug.

Image credit: Zazzle

Image credit: Zazzle

Whenever my idea well is dry, but I manage to break the hypnotic trance of the blinking cursor, I glance down at the mug, laugh to myself, and somehow get back on track. Like other writers, I am notorious for holing up in my office until I finish a project (or paragraph), but this has led me to realize how important it is to work in an environment that inspires me.

Fuel your creative fire by incorporating one or all of these writing themed accessories into your home office.

wall_clock_write_now

Image credit: CafePress

Write Now Wall Clock
Get it: CafePress
Price: $22.50
This statement wall clock is ideal for the writer who favors procrastination over production. Its faceless, modern design lets you know that “Write Now” can always be the right time to work.

Image credit: ElizabethanFolkArt

Image credit: ElizabethanFolkArt

Writer’s Blocks
Get it: ElizabethanFolkArt
Price: $20.00
A tangible, folk art spin on writer’s block could be the cure for it! Although small, these 1.5 square inch cubes, featuring definitions, pronunciations, and parts of speech for words like inchoate and timorous, could stimulate your creative process in a big way.

Image credit: LoveArtWorks

Image credit: LoveArtWorks

Punctuation Rules Bowl
Get it: LoveArtWorks
Price: $40.00
Even if you can’t embrace your grammar snob tendencies, you must admit that this handmade clay bowl is punctuation perfection. Keep it on the corner of your desk as a catchall for keys, change, and pens, or make it a home for your secret stash of snacks. It’s made with food-safe stains and lead free glazes so it could also aid you in satisfying those cravings for a bowl of cereal when you are up late writing.

Image credit: WallWritten

Image credit: WallWritten

Wall Decals
Get it: WallWritten
Price: Varies ($16.95 – $46.95)
The writing could truly be on the wall if you decorate your home office with a writing themed decal. Blank walls are a writer’s kryptonite. Filling the void with a big, bold quote from your favorite author or an encouraging phrase that reminds you of your talents could be the push you need to write well.

In addition to allowing you to generate your own custom decal designs, WallWritten hosts a variety of writing themed vinyls. Here are a few of my favorites:

how-to-be-a-boring-bad-writer

Image credit: AllPosters

Bad Writer Poster
Get it: AllPosters
Price: $19.99
Hang this poster in your home office to inspire your writing via reverse psychology. Similar to how your teenage self was motivated to do whatever your parents told you not to, playfully reminding your professional self of what not to do as a writer will put you on the path toward productivity.

Image credit: KnobCreekMetalArts

Image credit: KnobCreekMetalArts

Writer Text Metal Art Bookends
Get it: KnobCreekMetalArts
Price: $62.99
Even though this is a sleek, stylish solution to organizing your books and freeing up space on your desktop, what I love most about this metal art is its message. Writers are sometimes dismissed as not having “real” jobs. Most of us don’t have an engraved nameplate or embossed business card to solidify our career status, so this home office addition is a simple way to visually reinforce that we are legitimate professionals.

How do you incorporate your passion for writing into your home office decor? Leave a comment and share your easy and economical writing themed ideas. 

Kimberly is the Social Media and Content Manager at Virtual Vocations, your one-stop shop for freelancers looking for legitimate telecommute jobs. Connect with Kimberly on Facebook and Google+.

4 Tips to Cut Down Writing Time

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Writing time is always a touchy subject, as there is no such thing as a set length of time wherein a writer can finish a piece of work. Whether it’s a blog post, an article for a magazine, a short story, or a novel, it does not matter. How long you write is not a one-size-fits-all matter.

There are, however, some things that writers can do to cut down on writing time. This is especially important for freelance writers who get “paid per piece or per word or perhaps”, as humorist Robert Benchley said. The writing process may be touch and go at times, but more often than not, we need to hunker down and finish articles as fast as we can without sacrificing quality. [Read more…]

A Guide to Part Time Working in Retirement

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Looking back just a few decades, by the time most of us reached the state-designated retirement age, we were more than ready to put our feet up and relax with a cup of tea.

Today, however, we’re more active, healthy and raring to go than ever before, and we’re not quite ready to hang up our work clothes just yet. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service reports that there are now more than one million workers in the UK aged 65 or over – will you be one of them?

working in retirement

Is it Legal?

Absolutely! Just because you’re drawing a pension, either a private pension or a state pension, doesn’t mean you can’t work if you want to.

Working part time during retirement is completely above board, although there are laws that both you and your employer will need to adhere to. For retirees, any payments received through the supply of products or offering of services need to be logged with HM Revenue & Customs, even if you’re earning below the tax threshold. The exception is if you’re completing casual work such as online surveys, as payments from these count as ‘rewards’ rather than payment for services.

On the employer side, companies have an obligation to pay all workers, including retired part time workers, in accordance with the minimum wage guidelines – currently £6.31 per hour for anyone aged 21 or over.

What Sort of Work Can I Do?

working in retirement

There are more opportunities for part time workers in retirement than you may think, ranging from more casual work right through to formal contracts. Anything from delivering leaflets and cleaning homes through to administrative duties and accountancy.

The Office of National Statistics reports that nearly one third of retirees are self employed, which provides a good combination of the freedom that comes with retirement and a steady income. Opting to go self employed opens up unlimited opportunities. Some cake and sell cakes at local farmers’ markets, some sell paintings, some knit or crochet clothing and toys, some blog from home… if you’ve got a skill, then someone, somewhere, is willing to pay for it!

Why Would Anyone Hire Me?

The question is – why wouldn’t they? There are many benefits for employers when hiring older workers, and the Department for Work and Pensions reports that employment of those aged 65 and over has almost doubled since 2001.

With no dependents, older workers can offer more flexible working hours, taking on tasks that those with childcare commitments are sometimes unable to, and older workers also have much more working knowledge than those coming straight out of school. Providing you’re reliable and professional, and your skills match the job in question, there is no reason why age should have any influence over an employer’s decision.

Will I Need to Pay Tax?

working in retirement

This depends upon how much pension you’re drawing, and how much income you’re generating through your part time work.

All pensions, whether private or state, are taxable, as are any payments relating to part time work. You’ll need to add up these incomes, along with anything else you receive that is taxable, such as rent payments from properties, or some benefits such as Carer’s Allowance.

The annual tax-free income ranges from £9440 to £10,660 depending on when you were born. If your taxable income totals more than this amount, you will need to pay tax. On the plus side, you won’t need to make National Insurance contributions!

Are There Financial Implications?

Part time work during retirement is an excellent way to either delay your drawing of a pension fund, or bring in a little extra pocket money for luxuries. Overall, if you have the ability and inclination to work after you retire, then financially it makes sense.

However, there may be some minor financial implications if you have previously been receiving benefits related to living in a low income household. If you begin earning, you may no longer be eligible for benefits such as pension credit, council tax reductions, or housing benefit. It’s worth weighing up the pros and cons of losing out on this sort of financial assistance before taking on any work in retirement so ensure you’re doing what’s best for you.

This post has been written by Acorn Stairlifts, the first stairlift company in the world to be awarded the Ease of Use accolade by the Arthritis Foundation.

Freelancers Learn New Tricks for Financial Survival

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After the Great Recession hit in 2008, many people were laid off from positions they thought they’d have for a good long while. Industries shrank and corporate downsizing became the catch phrase of the day.

Freelance-Writing-Jobs-For-Beginners

Source

Former employees turned to less traditional forms of work, such as freelance writing, in order to keep a roof over their heads and the whites of a hungry wolf’s eyes from flashing as they imagined it circling their door.

How to navigate through the current wolf pack

For many of us who suffered the negative fallout of the recession, freelance writing offered an opportunity to earn money and remain productive in the dismal employment market. To some, it was the beginning of a whole new career; while others simply considered it a way to keep paying the bills until the economy improved.

Either way, it entailed the development of a new financial survival strategy that wasn’t dependent on a steady paycheck. Freelance writing can be lucrative for people who have dedication and talent, but the income stream can be sporadic.

Head back to steady work . . . or not?

As the economy began to improve again, some of these recent freelancers drifted back into full-time business positions because they liked the dependable salary, benefits, and the structure provided by a traditional office environment. Others were ready to give up their home offices for more sociable work settings, as well as the freedom to do their work without constant interruptions from friends, neighbors, and family who didn’t get that working from home is still actual work.

However, a substantial portion of us who gave the freelance life a try after our bricks-and-mortar jobs crashed and burned have grown to love it. We have no intention of entering the corporate arena again.

There is the fact, though, that successfully navigating the financial waters as a freelancer requires significant planning and organization. Choosing and using credit wisely goes a long way toward achieving and maintaining fiscal stability.

Just having basic money smarts may not be good enough today. You need to be wary of potential scams without being overly suspicious, to keep your bank account and lines of credit safe.

How financially savvy freelancers can succeed

Although advances in technology have created substantial improvements in most aspects of modern life, including electronic security measures, they may also have created an environment conducive to perpetuating scams.

Freelancers may be more vulnerable to predatory online con artists, so it’s important to keep up to date on information concerning credit card breaches and other threats to your finances. You probably learned the value of saving money while shopping online during the lean times.

If you’re a freelancer, you may also have learned that your career offers several other advantages in lieu of a steady paycheck: You can schedule your own time, avoid long and tiring commutes, and choose at least some of your projects.

Many modern freelancers really didn’t begin to thrive professionally until they were forced by adverse financial circumstances. The most successful ones have incorporating solid financial planning into their strategies for success.

How to Start Your Day on a Strong Note

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I’m not a morning person. I never was, and I don’t think I’ll ever be. I do realize, however, that I need to work on creating – and maintaining – habits that will help me make the most of my day. While it used to be that I could work till the wee hours of the morning, it’s simply not possible for me these days. As such, I need to turn in earlier at night and try to make as early a start as possible and hit the ground running. I need to start my day on a strong note  so that I can actually feel fulfilled and relax at the end of the day.
start your day
If you also struggle, here are some tips that can help you start your day on a strong note.

Don’t jump out of bed.

If it’s possible at all, don’t get out of bed the moment you open your eyes. Instead, stay there for a while, sitting down or doing some stretching. This will ease you into waking up without rudely shaking the cobwebs of sleep away from your brain.

I do this for 10-15 minutes, and by the time I go downstairs to make coffee, I don’t feel too sluggish anymore.

Meditate.

Or at least sit in silence for 10-15 minutes. This is different from sitting in bed as you ease out of sleep. If you have a patio or a garden, sitting there in silence will do you a world of good. Take the time to psych yourself up for the day ahead.

Have breakfast.

I used to NOT eat breakfast. My stomach just wasn’t used to having food early in the morning. Since I had serious health issues last year, though, I have had to eat breakfast – something more than coffee, that is. Surprisingly (for me, at least), having two slices of toast with a bit of butter and jam for breakfast works really well for me! Not only does it help me wake up even more, it also has become a signal to my brain that it’s time to get ready for work.

Start with the task you dread the most.

This is a common piece of advice, although it’s usually phrased as “deal with the most difficult task first”. The reason I used “dread” is that, for me, sometimes the task I don’t look forward to is not the most difficult one. In a sense, though, because I dread the task, it ends up being difficult to complete.

The trick is to get this out of the way first thing in the morning. Once this is done, then I get in the zone and everything seems so much easier.

In conclusion

I realize these tips may not work for everyone, and some of you may not even need them (especially if you’re a morning person who has no problems getting started every day). If you’re looking for new habits to form, though, why not give these a try?

And, if you have some of your own tips that work for you, do share them in the comments!

Is it organization that you need help with? Here are the best software and apps to keep freelancers organized.

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