Late last year a friend
proposed a question to me as I was ending my relationship with a former
employer. She asked, "Why don't you try working for yourself?" She
asked.
Always a company man, I
was taken back by the suggestion. Working for myself seemed like a distant
dream, not something I could realistically achieve in my mid-twenties.
After all, what tools and resources did I have to be successful?
Following the meeting I
reflected on the question further and came to the conclusion that
thanks to a perfect mixture of life circumstances and professional
experience, persuing a solo endeavor was actually quite possible for me.
The initial conversation
I had at the start of the year led to a shift in the New Year which made me realign
my focus and priorities. Now in my seventh month, I've had the opportunity to
work with a few clients including Citizen University, Marx Foods, and most recently Seattle Goodwill and Tripcierge.
The transition from a
component of a PR agency to a solo life hasn't been seamless; I've had my
fair share of learning moments and reconfigured take offs.
Here are a few lessons
I've learned so far on this unexpected journey.
Clients are people
Common sense but easy to
forget when conducting business. Connecting with people on a 1:1 level and
sharing personal information helps you connect with clients and enhances your
relationship with them. As I was once told, no one wants to do business with
jerks or robots.
Update your network
New business can sprout from just about anywhere. Your friend or former client
could help you discover your next lead. Thanks to social media it's easy to
quickly update your network. LinkedIn is often the best tool for this task.
Keep in touch
Contracts by nature are
designed with an end date in mind but it's important to keep communication open
with former clients. A friendly email or call usually will suffice.
Weekends are Imaginary
Weekends are a product
of the industrial 9-5 work culture. While they
won't completely disappear, prepare for the lines to blur; work isn't
confined strictly to Monday - Friday.
Meet new people
Entrepreneurship requires
creating new connections frequently. Networking is a vital comment to success.
Recharge
Batteries run down much
quicker when you're on your own; Ways to prevent it include spending time with family and friends, consuming inspirational media, and indulging in
guilty pleasures or hobbies.
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