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| Freelancers, Who moved my cheese? |
Would it not be easy if -
You have a map to guide you through your freelance career?
The same old routine worked wonders – each time and every time?
You did not have to face change, at all?
As a freelancer, we know, Change is inevitable and constant. Our work requirements, work, everything changes.
Situations You Will Face as a Freelancer
- No work or it isn’t coming as it did. (Double your marketing efforts.)
- A client criticizes your work. (Find out what your client needs.)
- Industry changes. (You are still eating old cheese, and not enjoying its taste.)
- A project requires teamwork. (Even if you love to work alone, sometimes, you may need a team to meet your client requests.)
- Sudden expenses, more work. (Emergencies can happen, and you may need to take on more work.)
As a Freelancer, What Attitude Do You Need?
Here are five good attitudes every freelancer needs:
- Confidence.
- Determination.
- Optimism.
- Loyalty.
- Reliability.
Now, that you know what type of attitude you need, work towards developing them. It will bring you closer to success.
How to Improve Your Attitude?
- Focus on the good.
- Deal with things and move on. Do not gripe.
- Avoid complainers and negative people.
- Read and program your mind with positivity.
- Mind your health.
If work – cheese - is important, you will hold on to it. We often become complacent.
But, Change Happens, someone keeps moving the ‘cheese’. You can become extinct if you do not change. Am I instilling fear? Yes, sometimes fear can be good. It keeps you moving, even to unknown territories. Fear prompts action. It makes you hustle.
You must Anticipate Change and get ready for the cheese to move. How do you anticipate change? Watch around and look for slow signs. Are you finding new clients? New work? Trust your instincts, they are your guide. Stop, evaluate, and act. Make small changes that make a big difference.
Monitor Change to Anticipate Change. Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old. Keep a watch, check yourself, and your work. Are you offering anything new? Get going, add some freshness to your work. Learn new skills and improve on your work every day.
Adapt To Change Quickly. The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese. If you have old less paying clients, let go of them so you can find new ones. When your work is not paying you enough, look for other things to do.
Sometimes, you may progress by two steps and move back one step. That is okay. You will face challenges. Moreover, nothing comes for free and this will add some fun to your daily routine. And, you will realise it’s not that bad at all, to look for new work, something you have not tried.
When discouraged, take charge, and do not wait for things to happen. They may never. And if you feel like giving up, is it only because you are afraid to move?
Think about this, what would you do if you were not afraid at all? Stay, not act, and get old. So, it is better to admit ‘your fear’. Are you afraid of going on alone? Or afraid of what lay ahead?
Fear will only make things worse. Take a deep breath, invigorate yourself. Stop being afraid. You will feel good, as you have nothing to lose. And move in a new and different direction.
Imagine, yourself enjoying the new cheese, it will lead you to it. Aha! Law of attraction works, indeed. The more you imagine, getting new work and clients, the more believable, it will get. Imagine your ‘gain’ rather than what you will ‘lose’.
Remember, Change will lead you to something better, so move with the cheese. You must try out different things. Try new work and get better at it. But, Be Ready To Change Quickly and Enjoy It Again. Do not settle down with the new cheese. Why? Because they keep moving the cheese.
Look for opportunities that bring change and enjoy the change! Savour the adventure of new work, clients and enjoy the taste of new cheese! What would you do if your cheese moved? Share your thoughts.
