I’m so thrilled to host the 5th day of the Creative, Inc. Blog Tour! A few months ago, I had a lovely chat with one of the author’s of Creative, Inc., Joy Deangdeelert Cho, to talk freelancing. I was getting a steady amount of freelance work, and had a number of questions, fears, and concerns about how to properly “go solo” as a freelancer. I wasn’t sure it was the right move for me, but after our chat, I began to form a much clearer picture of what it takes to become a successful freelancer. Long story short, I’ve been eagerly waiting for the debut of Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business, by Meg Mateo Ilasco and Joy Deangdeelert Cho.
Whether you are a newbie or veteran in the creative industry, Creative, Inc., is a great addition to your reference library. The book is chock-full of information and resources pertinent to running a successful freelancing business, all in an easy-to-digest format. I spent last weekend pouring through it, and I’d like to share a bit of advice I gained from the book about preparing for a career in freelancing.
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1. Learn to continually cultivate a passion for your craft.
“A successful freelancer is passionate about his art and seeks inspiration to fuel it- even in his off-duty hours- simply for the sake of generating work he loves.” pg 13, Creative, Inc.
Turning your hobby into a career takes guts and passion, and the desire to keep practicing, learning, and evolving is a necessity. Once you stop perfecting your craft, you run the risk of your work becoming stagnant.
2. Be aware of your weaknesses.
The saying “knowing is half the battle” applies here. There are enough talented people out there to get lost in the crowd. It takes a mixture of business sense, street smarts, communication skills, and talent to make your small business run profitably. More than likely you are naturally better at one skill than another, so making an effort to do a little research can save you from loosing time, money, or making a rookie mistake.
3. Get to know other freelancers.
There is a lot of value in learning from other freelancer’s triumphs and missteps. Swap stories with others in your field. Getting a general sense for the climate in your industry enables you to take note of what is and isn’t working for freelancers, what services are in demand, and what needs aren’t being met.
For more helpful guidance from the ladies of Creative, Inc. follow meg and joy around their blog tour on the following sites:
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8/23 Poppy Talk {behind the scenes of the Creative, Inc. stop motion video, seen on Design*Sponge}
8/24 Oh Happy Day {interview with Meg & Joy}
8/25 SFGirl By Bay {tips for building a strong portfolio}
8/26 Mint {interview with Meg & Joy, and a giveaway!}
8/27 Wit + Delight {preparing for a career in freelance}
8/28 Cathy of California
8/29 Book By Its Cover
8/30 Not Martha
8/31 Frolic
9/1 Upper Case
9/2 Craft
9/3 Decor8
9/4 Kris Atomic
9/5 Grain Edit
Creative, Inc. The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business is available for purchase here.
