Freelancers - Who Moved My Cheese?

Freelancers, Who moved my cheese?

I am sure you have read the book by Spencer Johnson, if not, click here to read. Now, back to my blog. As a freelancer, we encounter situations to find the unfathomable ‘Change’.

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.

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Freelancing

Things I knew before freelancing

Having lived a corporate life for 15 years, I believed it would be great to be my own boss and set my own work times. I thought of testing waters as a freelancer after tying the knot as I wanted to ensure I spent enough time at home.

Though I made the decision to freelance, based on the little I knew. It was not a well-planned move. Surely you must have done something like that; else you would not be reading this.

I did not know the number of hours required to complete a job, or the payment terms, as I was content getting projects. Without a mentor, things were difficult. Lack of information made things difficult and jumped in unprepared. Here are the 10 things I wish I knew before freelancing.

• Mentor or guide

Initially, I knew a few things about freelancing; not knowing how to withdraw funds from PayPal or Skrill (never required it during corporate life). Clients often ran away with payments for the assignments completed.

I sought advice from my husband regarding a few things or at times when I was low and needed some motivation. It is best to research and seek a mentor who can be your guide.

• Padding work hours

I constantly placed bids and struggled, completing jobs without contemplating each job had a different workflow and may require some extra time to accommodate proofreading and a few other things that were unpredictable.

Over time, I began projecting extra hours to account for the unpredictable. This helped me and the clients to set the right expectations and an achievable timeline.

• Never work for free

When I began working, I wrote sample articles wherein some clients did not pay for them. They claimed the articles were not up to the mark or they simply did not want to pay. Some suggested articles would spruce my portfolio.
I happen to search Google for my articles, this helped me to get the pay for those published (though they were not in my name).

• Set work hours

Having a number of jobs and working relentlessly for up to 18 hours a day, jumping from project-to-project without focus, burned me out most of the time. I began refusing a few well-paying clients and took a few days off work. However, this did not work. I was busy, but not efficient or productive.

As a freelancer, I overlooked the leverage to work out my day and choose the number of clients I wish to work with. It is best to say ‘No’ to be efficient and productive. Now, I work a few hours every day and split my time 4 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening.
I heard about the Pomodoro technique of time management which helped me a lot.

• Charge more; ensure you are comfortable

Talking money makes me uncomfortable. Charging less will be an injustice to other freelancers. I did a constant research on the prices freelancers were charging. Constant encouragement and advice from my partner helped set a price based on my skills. I increase the rates every year now as I get new clients.

• Do not work, until the client makes a bank deposit

Ensure the client will make a deposit in your bank account before you begin work. Make sure your bid/contract stipulates that you will not begin work until an initial deposit has been made in the account. It is important to be protective of your work and time.

• Use bookkeeping and invoicing

Bookkeeping will help you manage your projects and forecast your goals, ensure your payments from several clients. With the tools like Excel and software in place, you will spend less time managing it. It frees up your time to work better.

• Carve time for your own projects

Give time to your own projects; experiment, read or learn new things. Free up your time to build a personal website and manage it or create a professional looking LinkedIn profile, as it may serve as a great resource for jobs.

• Work with freelancing job sites

Look for freelance jobs on sites like Upwork or Freelancer, it was a great experience. Initially, I was hesitant, however, the secured payments boost my confidence.

The process may seem frustrating, however, there are several tips to win the bid. It is important to follow instructions mentioned in the project, pick projects carefully and choose the ones that excite you, not anything at random. Add some personality to your bid and covering letter, add proof and samples, bid higher.

You must try new projects and it is a great way to test the waters and learn more, however, do this with caution; do not overdo this. I believe in taking action, even if it is imperfect.

• Do not depend on one client

Work with several clients instead of just one. Today, though there are several different clients I work with, it is dry occasionally. It is a good practice to look for new projects and work on them, even if they are minor projects. Let go of low paying clients, do not fear losing work at the cost of quality.

You will have to find new different clients all the time who pay better to ensure you get a steady paycheck. Line up work constantly so in case a contract ends you still have projects to work on.

A time came when I realized my mistakes and understood the difference between being productive and busy. I learned to focus on just three or four things on my to-do list and found it was difficult to multi-task as it took longer to complete the tasks. Now, I focus and get things done, giving 100%, take my nap and get my 8 hours of sleep. I have set my priorities. How about you? This is everything I learned. Did you experience anything different and would like to add.? Share in the comments.
Recommendation
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and complete a purchase, I will earn a commission. (Thank you for that!). However, this monetary relationship does not in anyway sway my recommendations, it’s something you should be aware of on this site and others online. As always, you should do your own due diligence before making any purchase decision.
Today you can get help is here, consultants, independent contractors, the self-employed, “solopreneurs,” and everyone else living a freelancer’s life will never be unknown. Be a part of a strong and vibrant community. I recommend you buy and read the book by Sara Horowitz. It’s the one-stop, all-encompassing guide to the challenge of being a nimble, flexible, and successful freelancer: the three essentials of getting clients and the three most important ways to keep them happy and achieving financial freedom.
Here is another book worth reading if you want to be a freelance writer. This essential guide by Zachary Petit will work as a road-map to a fruitful and rewarding freelance life.

Spend or Save? How & Why You Should Do Either

Have you thought about how you handle money the way you do? I am a ‘saver’ and feel immense pleasure in knowing the amount saved and feel discomfort when spending. On the other hand, you may be an impulsive shopaholic and pay little attention to the future needs. Saving and spending are two sides of the same coin. This is a tricky dilemma for many, as our fathers and forefathers tell us to save for the rainy day.

However, it is okay to spend a little and enjoy the short life we have. Most people are nervous about spending money and outliving their money. According to Warren Buffet, “Spend what is left after saving”.

Here are 3 reasons why you should ‘Save’.

Financial Independence

For many people “being rich or wealthy” means having financial independence. It means a heart and mind free from all ‘What-ifs’ of life and savings to depend on. Financial freedom means having the liberty to make life’s choices and remaining wealthy. This is possible with the knowledge about money.

For some, it could mean the ability to go on a vacation whenever you want or have the option to leave work and go back to school or start your own business. For me, financial independence means having the potential and capability to invest in someone else’s business. To someone else, it may mean taking up a less financially beneficial but a satisfying job. It would mean retiring with a less stressful, secure life with enough reserves for the future.

Financial independence does not depend on a paycheque. It makes you feel rich beyond imagination. Moreover, it gives you the ability to live a lifestyle you desire. You would not need to rely on anyone for money or work for it.

Unforeseen Expenses & Emergencies

The savings often come handy at the time of emergencies or unforeseen expenses like car repairs, home, and appliance repairs or illness. A recent study by Bankrate suggests, 41% people turn to savings in case of sudden costs. They do not rely on banks to lend them money for such expenses. It is often better to anticipate and prepare for such situations. As many as 28% of the silent generation take care of surprise expenses and use credit cards to pay for it.

Emergencies happen and are usually untimely. For example, A member of the family may fall ill, you may need to travel, harsh weather conditions may cause damage to property or a funeral. These emergencies are big-ticket, and so it is better to equip ourselves, be self-sufficient and self-reliant if possible rather than become a target.

To Have a Good Life

Living from day-to-day or paycheque to paycheque is stressful - emotionally, psychologically and physically. When people don’t save, it is imminent, they often run from “crisis” to “crisis.”

Happiness comes from organizing and planning. However, it does not mean that just organizing everything will make us happy, nevertheless, it helps. When the future is uncertain, putting aside savings, taking charge of future and any financial apprehensions are organizing. Saving will make you better off in the future.

Here are three reasons you must ‘Spend’.

Make More Money

Spending money is imperative and when you spend intelligently you can earn more money. More earnings help in saving more. It is a cycle. You do not need to spend all your earnings, that will be foolish. We save to spend and enjoy life so the main idea is to save and spend wisely. Spending money on important things is imperative, like buying a house.

Live Life’s Experiences

We earn money to spend, but it depends on what you would choose to spend on. Many people spend money on gaining life’s experiences. This could be by traveling, cruising or adventure sports and creating wonderful memories, like photographs and souvenirs.

Living life ‘Today’

Most important of all the reasons to spend is the reason to live life ‘today’. You will save for tomorrow, how about spending money for today? Living life 'today' is important. Life is knotty when lessening debt - ‘cut expenses, spend small, save more’. However, that does not mean you will not spend money to live a penny-pinching life. This necessitates spending on today and preparing for tomorrow.

When you take steps to spend wisely, you will make more money to save more. If you begin today by keeping aside some money from each pay cheque in a savings account, you will have reserve funds up to $1,000 and more with time. Put aside bonuses and refunds as savings and as life transpires, funds may dip. You need to build it up with some work.

Spend and/or save enthusiastically and welcomingly, else you will miss out on the great benefits of saving and spending wisely.

Recommendations
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and complete a purchase, I will earn a commission. (Thank you for that!). However, this monetary relationship does not in anyway sway my recommendations, it’s something you should be aware of on this site and others online. As always, you should do your own due diligence before making any purchase decision.

Here are a few banks you can buy and save for almost every occasion. 
 You can get this black Prinz Rainy Day Bank with an exclusive design and slot for money on the top.

 I am sure you would love this Engraved Honeymoon Fund Shadow Box made of Blackwood when you are saving for your honeymoon. You can even personalize it with your names.

If that is not your style, here is Young's Adventure Fund Suitcase Buckle Wooden Travel Savings Bank. I am sure you love this one, especially if you are saving for an adventure trip.

Here is one I recommend if you are saving for education, Prinz 'Tuition Donations Accepted' Wood bank.

This mini lock box is great! If you are looking for a small compartment to stash money from your yard sale and save it for later.

Make saving for your next big purchase fun with Cypress Home Family Vacation Wooden Shadow Box Bank.

Teach your children to great money habits with this  Save Spend Share Piggy Bank for Kids.

References

http://economiccollapsenews.com/2017/01/13/study-half-of-americans-dont-have-500-for-an-emergency/

http://theextraincomeproject.com/7-essential-reasons-save-money/

http://www.mymoneycoach.ca/saving-money/why-save-money

http://youqueen.com/life/10-reasons-why-you-should-save-money/

http://cashmoneylife.com/spending-money-is-good/

Discover Ways to Hustle Successfully

 

Discover ways to hustle successfully

“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” - Abraham Lincoln

“Hustle” carries a distinct energy. It means different things to different people. I hustle every day only in pursuit of happiness. If you are hustling you are motivating, inspiring, and captivating. A lot of people hustle and burn out. They eventually stop hustling or making progress.

To get there, where you want, you need to hustle. If you like to be more successful, discover how to hustle with these ten habits.

1. Don’t half-ass two things, whole-ass one thing. Even if they are handling several long-term projects at a time, they devote time passionately to the tasks at hand.
2. Building a sustainable business is by caring for people and helping them by offering valuable and innovative solutions to relevant problems.
3. Eliminate distractions that serve no purpose. Highly effective hustlers know refreshing their Facebook feed will not help build their business. They identify time-wasting and least satisfying activity and eliminate them premeditatedly. This includes unsubscribing from unnecessary emails, disabling text notifications, silencing their phone, and watching television.
4. Don’t stress out about making mistakes. Highly effective hustlers know that failure teaches them to be successful. They can get ahead in spite of the occasional mistakes.
5. Strive to improve continuously every day. Personal growth is important to avoid the state of monotony as it stagnates progress. Monotony kills their passion and inspiration for their hustle.
6. Dream larger than life. Highly effective hustlers often pursue ideas bigger than themselves. They often remind themselves, “If it was meant to be easy, everybody would do it.” when they are stressed-out or doubt their judgment.
7. Build a solid network for success with at least one mentor willing to offer guidance. Mentors give an occasional push in the right direction. Their network comprising of like-minded friends helps share their ideas with other people in order to get feedback on it.
8. Be a strategist and foresee the outcome. Highly effective hustlers are outstanding strategists capable of foreseeing the outcome of their actions. They prepare themselves for everything that life throws at them.
9. Embrace total authenticity. They embrace everything about themselves, including the awkward or weird. Effective hustlers create a genuine, unique and special emotional connection with everyone they work with.
10. Do not quit or surrender. Highly effective hustlers follow the mantra, “You don’t lose until you quit, so don’t quit.” Success is not “quick” or “easy” and so they practice patience and let go of the need for instant gratification.

I hope you discover ways to hustle and achieve your goals successfully with these habits. Tell me which of these ways do you plan to put into practice. If you are thinking of a side hustle then here are a few lesser-known and well-known ideas(100+) Do you do anything differently? Happy hustling!

Recommendation
Read the book 'High Performance Habits' by Brendon Burchard. It is about the art and science of how to cultivate and practice these proven habits.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and complete a purchase, I will earn a commission. (Thank you for that!). However, this monetary relationship does not in anyway sway my recommendations, it’s something you should be aware of on this site and others online. As always, you should do your own due diligence before making any purchase decision.

5 Little-known Side-hustle Ideas

5 Little-known side hustle ideas

Are you looking for a way to make some extra cash? A side hustle is an asset that works for you. It allows you the flexibility to pursue what you’re passionate about like a chance to delve into fashion, shoes, or gaming without quitting your day job. In my previous post, I have shared more than 100 side hustle ideas (click to read).

In this post, I will share with you little-known side hustles ideas to help you make extra cash, especially if you have no ideas or sell-able skills. It does not require much of your time as they work for you all the time.

My first little-known side hustle is called service arbitrage. You can find freelance services in-demand that are offered at a low price on freelancing websites to individual freelancers. Market the services to businesses that need it. Once you are successful in getting a sale, hire the freelancers to deliver the work for you.

You will make money by quoting a higher price to your clients than your freelancers and pocket the price difference as your profit. This is a variant of freelancing. You are outsourcing the work to other freelancers instead of working yourself.

All you need is marketing skills or an expertise in an area to turn it into a service that you can offer yourself on the side to earn some extra cash. You can read about Service arbitrage business here. It shows a step-by-step system you can follow to launch your service arbitrage business.

Here is another one - Online Arbitrage via Amazon FBA. It is an online variant of the service arbitrage. You can easily take advantage of it. Simply find the products in demand like accessories on Amazon for a lower price at retailers such as Walmart, Target, etc and purchase them in bulk.

Sell them on Amazon; it will manage everything for you including customer inquiries, refunds, and returns for orders on Amazon marketplaces, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This simple flipping can earn you at least a 6-figure income. It’s simple and easier than a garage sale. Click here for a complete guide to Online Arbitrage by Nate McCallister that will help you make more money on Amazon.

Now, if you are someone who likes doing nothing here is one more. Collect old, unwanted things from people, do the necessary patch-work and sell it at a higher rate. You do not need to shell a single penny for the product. Modify old and torn clothes to sell it online or offline. Most new trends are actually old trends (well, most of the time).

In an office, you must have noticed unused toner cartridges, imaging units, drum kits etc. piling up in the storage. You can choose to return them or sell toner cartridges for fast cash. They have quick service and the payout is up to $300 per toner.

Here is a fun side-hustle. You can be a game tester (click link) and earn $7 - $9 per game for your opinion. It only takes less than 30 minutes. Though it is not a massive amount of cash, it is fun.

If you love designing or drawing, then you will like this one. It is an online print-on-demand (POD) service, as on TeeSpring, Redbubble, and Merch (managed by Amazon). Simply upload your artwork, product type, and color, price it, and add a product description. amazon will create a product page for you and when a customer buys your product on Amazon, they handle the production, shipping, and customer service with no upfront costs.

Aren't these simply amazing and little-known side hustles? Keep visiting for more ideas, you never know what I will come up with. If you have any, share them with me. Until then you can read 100+ side hustle ideas.

65+ Amazing Side Hustle Ideas

Are you looking for ways to earn a few extra bucks with a side hustle? You'd likely encounter many strategies to mint money. Some sound like quick 'rich schemes'. But there is really no easy way out. You must hustle and bustle.

You may want to side hustle for various reasons:

• Get out of debt
• Pay bills
• Save for college
• Save for vacation
• Extra spending money
• Pay off student loans
• Pay off your mortgage faster

Today, you can leverage the internet to making money. It is no longer a constant and never-ending struggle. Most of these ideas here on the list don’t need a huge investment or a highly specialized skill-set. However, in your spare time, they have the potential to earn you some extra income. Anyone can do it.

If you have not come up with any ideas to side hustle. Here is a list of well-known side hustles - online and offline.

1. Affiliate marketing.
2. Baker.
3. Be a blogger.
4. Drive for a transportation network company like Ola or Uber.
5. Rent your space on Airbnb or any other online rental platform.
6. Beauty consultant with Jafra, MayKay, Oriflame.
7. Sell electronic parts and any used gadgets.
8. Be a local craft vendor or online.
9. Sell perishable goods like cookies, jams, and pickles.
10. Sell products on eBay or Etsy.
11. Be a magazine writer.
12. Run errands on TaskRabbit or Fiverr.com.
13. Be a virtual assistant.
14. Pet sitting (check Rover).
15. Babysitting.
16. Be a DJ if you love music.
17. Catering or a personal chef (join HireAChef).
18. Be a mystery shopper for stores.
19. Caregiving.
20. Product review writer.
21. Personal Shopper (like in the movie 'In Her Shoes').
22. Offer organizing/cleaning services.
23. Dog/Pet Trainer.
24. Write a business proposal.
25. Doula service.
26. Massage service.
27. Furniture making service.
28. Ghostwriting service.
29. Accounting/ Bookkeeping service for small businesses.
30. Build niche websites.
31. Junk hauling services (if you own a truck).
32. Medical transcription.
33. Modelling.
34. Online survey.
35. Click photographs and sell online.
36. Photography service.
37. Video making service.
38. Car wash service.
39. Car flipping service.
40. Proofreading.
41. Assemble a computer.
42. Computer tutoring.
43. Investment management services.
44. Create an e-learning course (Udemy or Teachable).
45. Tutor on Skype.
46. Sports umpire.
47. Teach a language.
48. Counsel on Skype.
49. Grooming services (people/pets).
50. Personal trainer (weight loss, fitness, grooming).
51. Resume writer.
52. Tour guide.
53. Start peer-to-peer lending service or join one like Lendingclub.
54. Teach driving/ music lessons/ yoga (anything you are good at).
55. Teach online or with pre-recorded lectures.
56. Web Designing/ Logo designing/ business card designing.
57. Food Taster (read here).
58. Deliver goods/products/drugs (medication).
59. Scriptwriter.
60. Social media manager for small businesses.
61. Part-time retail job.
62. Theme-party planner/manager.
63. Get paid to answer professional questions.
64. Do home renovations or decorating.
65. Real estate agent.
66. Intra-trade (requires you to invest and generate income).
67. Investing
68. Be a brand ambassador.

Get more side hustle ideas here.

Recommendation:
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and complete a purchase, I will earn a commission. (Thank you for that!). However, this monetary relationship does not in anyway sway my recommendations, it’s something you should be aware of on this site and others online. As always, you should do your own due diligence before making any purchase decision.

Inspire yourself with these 10 real-world examples (in this book) of how regular people just like you and Nick Loper are earning side hustle income outside of traditional employment. Many have even turned these part-time ventures into full-time businesses.

Here is another book by Chris Gullibeau, with a detailed roadmap that will show you how to select, launch, refine, and make money from your side hustle in under a month. Read, What If It Does Work Out? by life coach and professional side-hustler Susie Moore, who offers expert tips and guidance to help you earn an extra source of income by doing something you love.

Some of the ideas have links you can visit to get more information. I intend to update this list often. Hope this helps.

If your idea is not here on this list, I encourage you to help me add yours. Leave a comment and get your creative juices flowing.

Oh nothing! Just Hustling in Pursuit of Happiness

Why side hustle?

What’s a Side Hustle?

Everyone hustles (well, almost everyone!), but side hustle? This is new, and not so new. A side hustle may be something you are passionate about or a way to start your future business until it grows. It is a secondary revenue generator for your day job. And, everyone must have a side hustle. 

On weekends, Shawn teaches fitness and build websites. Francis sells vintage video games, he also designs t-shirts. I work as a part-time freelance writer for the internet. Even senior executives in a corporate, side hustle. Today, many of them consider one side income stream while staying in their corporate jobs.

How does a side hustle help?

Irrespective of how much you make a side hustle helps:

• Reduce stress
• Gives a sense of freedom
• Make you happier (well in comparison to your job, I mean).
• Generate revenue - Anything can be a side hustle if you plan well; they may be low maintenance but high revenue generators.
• Hedge against uncertainties - Today, few jobs are available for an ever-growing population. Globally, the job competition is getting difficult and positions are harder to find. Side hustle works as a perfect backup plan.
• Learn a new skill - Most entrepreneurial side hustles are an effective way to learn new skills.
• Start and build a new network outside your existing network.
• Brings exposure to a newer range of ideas makes you resilient and valuable to others over a period.

It helps build a strong personal brand. People with a side hustle come are across as innovative and ambitious, a leadership quality.

What can you do for a side hustle?

You can do anything for a side hustle.

• Start and run a website, a blog site, social community, eBook etc.
• If you have a skill, make use of it and build something of your own.
• Consulting
• Coaching
• Creating a product or service
• Speaking

Start slow and small. Work on it little by little and it will grow into something significant. For that, you must actually do it. Many side hustles can never be full-time jobs or entrepreneurial ventures.

Oh yes! Do not quit your day job. You cannot lose the goose laying the golden egg, it is your main source of income. Not every side hustle may work out as a full-time entrepreneurial venture. While some experiments may take off.

For instance, Pat Flynn, a successful blogger, and podcaster wrote about his optimistic future after being laid off. He had something to fall back on; his first e-book was a hit and brought in $7900/- that month. 

Companies often restrict their employees to work outside their full-time job. This was the reason I never thought of a side hustle. Many workplaces have comparable stipulations. You must ensure you are not breaking any contracts or rules with your current employer.

Why you must side hustle?

Here are my reasons. When I lost my job in 2007, I had no options to fall back upon (come to think of it, nor did my dad when he lost too.) At work, the young and smart had diverse skill sets and a likely side hustle. I realize it’s good to have options, though you love your job. One colleague had a Great Dane with plans to set up dog breeding as a side hustle which could earn him at least $1000.

A side hustle inculcates some new skills and enhances your outlook. It will earn you financial independence through small business. If you don’t have a side hustle, take some time to yourself. One weekend, just do something you love. You can maintain it if you feel passionate week after week. Moreover, you don’t have to work on it every day or every week, just spend two hours on a Sunday. But just do it because it may teach you something about yourself and makes your life purposeful.

Recommendations:
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and complete a purchase, I will earn a commission. (Thank you for that!). However, this monetary relationship does not in anyway sway my recommendations, it’s something you should be aware of on this site and others online. As always, you should do your own due diligence before making any purchase decision.

If you really want to know more, I recommend you read this book on how a side hustle can change your life. Here is another good read to find the quest that will bring purpose to your life. Get it for yourself or as a gift for someone special and it helps me earn a small commission to run the blog.
So get going and start a side hustle in pursuit of happiness! If I can do it, so can you. Watch out for my next post on side hustle ideas. Good luck till then and tell me if you got a side hustle.

Bag Lucrative Freelance Jobs: Hone Your Writing Skills

Hone Your Writing Skills

Freelancing is making its way as a desirable job for obvious reasons. It offers perks one cannot expect from a regular job. And, presents new avenues for those in need of the exposure.

Budding writers need to struggle for a rewarding freelance writing job. One that showcases and improves their writing abilities while attracting a good pay.

In the beginning, I stumbled upon avenues like online academic writing. I realized ghostwriting, web content writing, press releases are promising options.

Today, I learn every day and inch towards being the best. I look for ways to improve my writing skills by reading. I believe I have a foolproof way to improve writing skills. Here is a step-by-step process, I follow and hope you will find it helpful.

1. Brush Up Your Basics

“Brush up your basics like you do your hair.”

You need to understand the basics of grammar and spelling. Your grammar may be perfect, but it helps if you go back to the basics every now and then.
• Learn to write good sentences
• Choose flavored words
• Write in active voice, avoid passive voice
• Avoid fillers, adverbs, and prepositions
• Compose smooth transitions and flow

Create a writing structure; it helps organize and channelize creativity. It makes your writing more systematic and comprehensible. You will find, it often helps to create a “zero draft” or ‘brain dump’ before you draft your work.

I agree it will be a terrible piece of work. However, having a draft in the mind is not good enough. Pen it on paper and build a good piece upon it. Edit it to make your piece perfect. It will help de-clutter your brain, lets creativity flow, and enhances your writing.

Online resources like Grammar Girl and Merriam Webster are helpful. If you think a workshop will be helpful, join one. Click the links or search for online workshops or writing workshops near you.

2. Read and Research

“If you don’t have the time to read, then you don’t have the time (or tools) to write. Simple as that.”- Stephen King (American author)

Today, in my free time I read all that I can lay my hands on including books, blogs, and social media posts. Reading adds fuel to fire, nurtures perceptions and gets the creative juices flowing. When I began as an article writer, I did research on relevant topics. Because of my passion for in-depth study, I got academic writing offers by clients.

Research and reading sprees help me when I face difficult or unknown topics. It keeps me updated, introduces me to new writing techniques, styles, and methods. This brings lucrative options and offers to take my writing career forward.

3. Write Regularly

“Write regularly, whether you feel like writing or not, and whether you think what you’re writing is good or not.”- Anne Lamott (American novelist)

Write every day, maybe a blog, a diary, or scribble something even if it looks ‘shit’. You must learn to pour your thoughts on paper and make it a habit. Initially, I found it straining, as I had to force myself to pen a few lines. Sometimes it was difficult when I would search for words and phrases to express myself. This could be due to low vocabulary or because I was not clear headed.

Today, I am incomplete without writing. It has become a habit. Now, I notice an improvement in my writing. Sorry, but there is no shortcut as ‘practice makes man perfect’.

4. Keep Pace with the Times

“Keep pace with the present. Take a trip to the moon. Envision the future.”- Uta Hagen (American actress)

Stay apprise on the current affairs to polish your writing skills. Keep track of what is happening around. Everybody wants to hire someone who is familiar with the trends. ‘Old is gold’, however, if you are not aware of the trends, your content will not be original or innovative.
Update your skills, implement them, and add value. Once you improve your writing skills your content will come across fresh. Learn different writing styles and presentation techniques.

It helps keep track of what the readers like and are likely to accept. You can change your style to attract readers as a freelance writer. People will follow you ‘only’ because of your writing style, your tone, and fresh interesting way of delivering a message.

5. Write a Journal

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”- William Wordsworth(Poet)

Yes, keep a ‘writing journal’. Maintain a ‘list of writing topics or ideas’. These can-do wonders to improve your writing skills. Journals are effective means of channeling your thoughts when they clutter your head. You can look back at them when you face a writer's block or are contemplating thoughts and concepts.

Flip through it time and again; it will bring your attention to mistakes and helps you avoid them. List your to-do tasks or references for topics and words to organize your mind. It helps you focus on important tasks.

6. Originality and Innovation

“You were born original, don’t die a copy”- Ben Mikaelsen (Bolivian American writer of children's literature, Touching Spirit Bear)

No content on the internet is 100% original. You may come across content that looks like a copy of something you read elsewhere. The key is to develop your thoughts and ideas. Challenging! Yes, it is. Coming up with fresh and original content is rewarding. This will help you in gaining a good reader base. At the same time, it will land you some lucrative freelance writing jobs.

7. Study the Masters

“Most chess players know, thanks to the study of master games, that two bishops are stronger than two knights or than bishop and knight, though very few know the reason for this advantage and how to turn it to account.”- Richard Reti (Austro-Hungarian, later Czechoslovak chess grandmaster and chess author)

You can learn to write by studying the masters and stealing proven style and technique. Study the magazines and learn to write attention-grabbing headlines. Read children’s books to learn to talk about difficult topics using simple words. Pay attention to words used in reports, reviews, and novels and make a note of them in your journal.

You can also study direct mail and sales copy to polish your persuasive writing skills. Practice empathy in your content by adding some live examples. You can include rich details or borrow authority by including quotes (like I did) and stats. Share information nuggets your readers will love. Nourish your content with ideas, advice, comfort and some inspiration.

8. Expressive Style

“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.”- Rachel Zoe (Fashion designer and editor)

As time flies by you will develop your own unique style. If you follow the golden rules to write better:
• Use short and simple sentences for better clarity in writing.
• Use simple phrases as it grabs the interest of your reader.
• Avoid long and elaborate sentences.
• Use words and phrases anyone can recount.
• Do not use difficult and flowery (ornamental) words.

Readers find it difficult to comprehend ornamental words. Impress them with short and crisp passage related to the topic. You will create an engaging narrative by telling the reader what you want to tell.

9. Do Not Oversee Editing
“Read more, write less.”

This is the mantra. For that, you must proofread and edit your content. This will polish and sharpen your writing skills and your piece. You can choose a partner to edit and proofread. A fresh pair of eyes will do good. They can help weed out unnecessary words and phrases that clutter your writing.

You can use Hemingway editor to check the readability score. It helps take care of the passive voice, clear away hard to read sentences and make your writing simpler.

If you can describe something in 20 words instead of 100, do it. Proofread as you write; it is effective in forming sentences. It helps structure your writing better. However, do not forget to edit and proofread after you finish writing. Look for other errors in punctuation or grammar.

If you do not have someone to read, use tools like Grammarly, Ginger, and Slickwrite to double check your content. Have a friend or kid read it to check the flow of your content.

10. Read Out Loud What You Write

Reading what you write will improve your writing skills. "Will Strunk (The Elements of Style) got out of this predicament by a simple trick: he uttered every sentence three times."  This helps in many ways:
• Determines whether you have been able to convey your message.
• Omit needless words, proofread, and edit content.
• Learn to express yourself in a better way.
• Identify areas that need improvement.

You will find your content straying and the first draft is very different from the final copy. Reading will help you to identify where you lost track.

Here is the masterly Strunkian elaboration on the nature and beauty of brevity:

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all sentences short or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.

These are all tried and tested methods to hone your writing skills. Hope you found something for yourself to improve upon. If you follow these ten secret techniques, you will see a marked difference in your work. You have the talent, so get behind your desk and inspire your readers.

Recommendations
You can read these books (click the link for pdf) and diligently apply the lessons you learn from these books.
• The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. (Click here to buy)
• Bird by Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott.
• The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Stephen Pinker.
• The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life by Ann Patchett

Have you got any other techniques to hone writing skills? Your thoughts and comments matter.