Let me begin by saying there are legitimate reasons to be wary of the ever expanding digital universe – a glut of junk information, loss of privacy, time wasting, and addiction. But there are also irrational fears at work based in part on our inherent resistance to change. Read more.
Posted in Business, Home Office, How to, Personal historian, Resources, Self-employed, Tips
Tagged Business, digital resources, digital universe, How to, Personal historian, small business, success, Tips
I’m a “ham” at heart so I love to get in front of an audience, big or small. But when it comes to an important presentation where I know I’ve got to make a good impression, I can feel the pre-presentation jitters creeping in. Over the years I’ve learned some practical steps to calm myself. Try these the next time you’ve got to make a “big” presentation…Read more.
Posted in How to, Marketing, Personal historian, Presentations, Tips
Tagged Business, control nervousness, How to, Personal historian, Presentations, self employed, small business, Tips
In this Monday’s Link Roundup there’s lots of practical advice. In particular, I recommend Freelancing: a Complete Guide to Setting and Negotiating Rates. It’s useful no matter what kind of service you provide. For something to feast your eyes on, take a look at Best Bookstore In The World? It’s stunning!
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Posted in Monday's Link Roundup
Tagged Ancestors, Anne Frank, Apple, best bookstore, Business, China, death, Diary of a Young Girl, digital afterlife, fake Apple products, freelancer, freelancing, Google, How to, iPhone, iPhone 5, link roundup, negotiating, offerings, Qingming Festival, rates, setting, small business, strengths, supercharge, Tips
No clients knocking on your door? Feeling discouraged? Thinking of quitting?
I’ve been there and know what that feels like. It’s no fun. So what can you do to get through the gloom and doom?
Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.
Things happen – both good and bad. That’s life. Accept the fact that as grim as your present situation is, it will change.
When you catch yourself listening to the voices of gloom and doom nattering in your head, switch channels. Your thoughts are just thoughts. They’re not solid objects. Just let them pass without becoming caught up in them.
Take some time to examine your intentions.
What were your intentions when you started your freelance business? Was it to make a lot of money? Serve your community? Supplement your income?
How have your intentions changed? Do changed intentions require you to re-evaluate your marketing approach? Maybe your intentions are different and you no longer have the same passion that you started with.
Stepping back and examining your intentions may provide a clue to your present dilemma.
Looking at colleagues who are successful can lead to feelings of envy or incompetence. Likewise, identifying with others who are struggling like yourself can be demoralizing. You begin to think, “Why bother? It’s all hopeless.”
The quickest way to spiral into gloom and doom is to compare yourself to others. Avoid comparisons.
Close the door to your office, disconnect from your beeping electronic devices, and indulge in things that bring you real joy. Forget about your business for a couple of weeks. It’ll still be there when you get back.
Returning to your work after a complete break gives you more energy and gives you fresh insights into your business.
We all need support.
Thinking that you can do it all on your own is a recipe for disaster. Make sure you connect with people who can provide practical advice, a shoulder to cry on, and inspiration.
No one said it would be easy establishing a new business. Overnight success rarely happens. Unrealistic expectations about your success will inevitably lead to disappointment and doubt.
Be prepared for the long haul. It’ll take a couple of years of hard work before you begin to see the fruits of your labor. Knowing this will help keep you from despair when times are tough.
Last but not least, laugh more! Some days the old saying “If I didn’t laugh, I’d cry ” sums it up. We need to lighten up. Grim determination and a furrowed brow won’t make work easier.
If you need a quick fix of laughter check this out.
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Photo Credit: The Waterboy
Posted in How to, Personal historian, Self-employed, Tips
Tagged advice, Business, freelance, freelancer, freelancing, health, Home, Home Office, How to, lessons learned, personal care, Personal historian, small business, survival, Tips, work
Are you looking for a reliable, quality, short run printer? These six all come highly recommended by my colleagues at the Association of Personal Historians…Read more.
Annie in the plum tree.
Groan. Don’t you just hate puns?
Anyhow, my cat Annie is a source of inspiration for my life and business. Previously I wrote 6 Lessons My Cat Taught Me About Time Management. I might add, she was quite pleased by the positive response that article received. 
Here are some more of Annie’s pearls of wisdom.
1. Take time to play. Every day Annie insists we play at least once if not twice. If I’m not available, she’ll make up her own games. She’ll race madly about the house, dive into a stack of newspapers, or climb the plum tree. She knows the wisdom of the old saying “All work and no play makes…”.
Make certain to build play time into your daily schedule.
2. Exercise caution in any new situation. Annie doesn’t immediately take to new things. A new chair, plant, or visitor is carefully and gingerly approached, sniffed, and either tentatively accepted or rejected until she feels more comfortable.
Whenever you embark on a new project or work with a new client, you could emulate her behavior (well maybe not the sniffing part). Take time to do your homework and assess the situation before plunging in.
3. Claim your territory. Annie has claimed the backyard as her territory. She defends it vigorously from other cats. And for the most part they now leave her alone.
It’s important to claim your space in the business world. Be clear on what you’re offering and to whom. Then stand up and stand out!
4. Be curious. All cats love to explore. And Annie’s no exception. In the summer she spends hours in the backyard, peering into flower beds and checking out the next door neighbor’s yard. She comes in at the end of the day, tired and stimulated.
Curiosity is a tonic that keeps your business fresh and relevant. Be curious about your competition, potential new products and services, and interesting marketing ideas.
5. Be gentle but strong. Annie is petite, soft, and gentle. That is until she feels threatened by another cat. Then she puffs herself up to twice her size and lets out a blood-curdling scream. It seldom goes any further than that. The other cat receives the message and retreats.
I’m not suggesting you puff yourself up and start screaming at people who upset you. Even though this might satisfy the “inner cat” in you. What I am saying is that you must be clear that you will not be taken advantage of or treated poorly. Stand up for your rights!
6. Break the pattern. Annie’s a creature of routine. She has her favorite chair and set times for eating. She loves a snuggle while I’m watching a little TV at night. But she also mixes it up. She’ll decide to move to a different spot to sleep or skip the snuggle and be on her own.
It’s useful in our business to avoid becoming stale by doing the same thing over and over again. Follow Annie’s example and change things now and again.
Annie has looked this post over and approved its content. Whew! She can be so demanding.
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Photo by Dan Curtis © 2012 all rights reserved
Posted in Business, Self-employed, Tips
Tagged advice, Behavior, Business, Cat, Home Office, How to, Pet, self employed, small business, Tips, wisdom
For first time visitors to my Monday’s Link Roundup, welcome. This is an eclectic list that features articles I find engaging, whimsical, and educational. And I hope of interest to other personal historians, biographers, videographers, family historians, and memoir writers. Enjoy!
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Posted in Monday's Link Roundup
Tagged benefits, Blog, books, Business, copyright, digital, firing, freelancer, How to, illegal, immortal, journalist, legality, link roundup, literature, Marketing, media coverage, No, online, photo use, publicity, publishers, saying no, small business, Tips
I call myself a professional personal historian because I consider what I do and how I do it to be professional. But what does that actually mean? And who really cares?…Read more.
Posted in Business, Personal historian, Self-employed, Tips
Tagged Business, Career, criteria, experience, expertise, hobbiest, Personal historian, professional, professionalism, self employed, skills, Tips
If you’re a fan of documentary films, you’ll want to check out The Best Documentaries of 2012 in this week’s Monday’s Link Roundup. And with all the severe weather experienced in many regions of North America, be sure to take a look at Emergency Preparedness, Response & Recovery. You’ll find excellent advice from the Library of Congress on saving precious family collections.
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Posted in Monday's Link Roundup
Tagged 2012, Andrew Stanton, Arts, BBC, best, book reviewing, Business, collections, documentaries, Emergency management, family heirlooms, How to, Library of Congress, link roundup, literature, memory, New York Review of Books, Oliver Sacks, Preservation, Robert B. Silvers, Self-Help, Speak Memory, storytelling, TED, Tips, United States
In this Monday’s Link Roundup you’ll find a fascinating article on memory – The Mysteriously Memorable 20s. It seems that we more easily recall events from our early adulthood than any other period in our lives. And for some charming and poignant images, be sure to check out Intimate Portraits of Old Folks Dancing.
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Posted in Monday's Link Roundup
Tagged 20's, Adult, art, Business, Calligraphy, common mistakes, critique, Dance, dancing, Dear America, discounting, How to, letter writing, link roundup, Marketing, memoir, memories, memory, Monday, old people, Photos, prices, reminiscence, reminiscence bump, research, sales, Tips
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