Tag Archives: goals

Business Strategy , , , 2 Comments

Seven Resolutions for 2011 Part 1 of 2

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Happy New Year!  You had to see this coming,  so here we go with the resolutions.  We’re at the top of the year and it’s a time-honored tradition to look forward and plan to succeed.  I hope the list that I’ve pulled together inspires you to get busy.

1.   Set financial goals  

Whether you’re 35 or 55,  financial goals are a must.  Establishing these goals as a Freelancer presents a  unique challenge,  because our incomes are often neither predictable nor secure.  A fickle revenue stream makes adequate planning even more of an imperative.  We must get our arms around the money thing and take as much control as possible.  Our ability to live a comfortable life throughout our lives depends on it.  The idea is to avoid going broke,  especially in the elder years.  Those with a  steadily employed spouse have a huge financial advantage,  while those who are single or married to a fellow Freelancer have more variables and hence  a more challenging mountain to climb.  Consider what you want your balance sheet to look like in five years and make an appointment to discuss your financial wish list with your accountant.

2.   Develop a budget  

You may be expert at monitoring and tracking expenses,  but developing a budget encourages one to anticipate the year’s fixed and variable financial obligations,  as well as revenue that is likely to be generated.  One budgeting objective can be to prepare for the inevitable peaks and valleys in a Freelancer’s revenue stream.  When do you typically bill the most hours and when the least?  Which annual conferences do you like to attend,  when and where are they held and what is the cost?  Where and when is it (or might it be) advantageous to advertise?  Have you been mulling over the idea of making upgrades in certain of your marketing materials?  What about your credit needs—do you need to apply for another card to help float strategic expenses,  or can you cancel one?  When can you make contributions to your retirement fund and what should that amount be?  Can you take a vacation this year,  when can you take it and how much can you spend?  The idea is to figure out how to pay for what you must do and also cover a couple of items from your wish list,  to reward yourself.

3.   Review business priorities  

Should you form a strategic partnership,  to give your business entrée to a new segment of your market?  Should you aim to sign more new clients,  or focus on obtaining repeat business from previous clients?  Or would it be wiser to try wringing more billable hours out of your current roster?  Which clients might be most amenable to which strategy?  Also,  should you do more teaching and/or speaking this year? Which institutions will benefit your reputation and client list the most?

I’ll be back to complete the list of resolutions next week. 

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Professional Development , , , 2 Comments

What if…You Change Your Mindset and Seize the Moment?

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For the umpteenth time,  we all know that business conditions are less than stellar and competition is fiercer than ever.  Everything is in flux (or seems to be),  the ground is unsteady and we all have to get comfortable with ambiguity.

But honestly,  none of this is new.  When has life not been ruled by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune? When has life ever been safe and predictable? If you chose to get out of bed this morning,  then consider yourself a risk taker. 

Freelancers expect the earth to quake and shake.  We walk the road less traveled and we reach for the stars.  We  expect to be tested.  We know that the only way to become capable,  confident and successful leaders is to face down our fears and challenges.

Freelancers don’t make excuses,  we can’t afford to stay mired in a rut for years at a time and we know when to color outside of the lines.  We assess the big picture of the marketplace and recognize when it’s time to adjust how we fit:  when it’s time to rebrand,  enter a new market,  sharpen our message,  boost our skill set with a helpful seminar,  or forge a strategic partnership.  Freelancers know how to exit our comfort zone to keep what we do fresh, relevant and valuable in the eyes of our clients.

Still,  sometimes we need a little inspiration because alas,  we are mere mortals and cannot always dwell on Mount Olympus.  According to Bill Bartmann,  CEO of Bill Bartmann Enterprises in Tulsa, OK,  there are three behaviors that we must recognize and modify to keep ourselves in positive thinking mode and break the cycle of second-guessing and inaction that repels success.  Be mindful of the influence (for good or ill) that our mindset has on the fortunes of our business and our lives.  Remember that the glass is half  full.

1.  Awareness.  Catch yourself in the act of making excuses or resorting to defensive behavior (“But my situation is different…”) as you seek to justify why you haven’t achieved target goals.  Avoid becoming mired in negative thinking that sucks you into the self-sabotage vortex.  Remember that fear of the unknown is normal.  Realize that like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz,  we must step outside of our comfort zone in order to learn,  grow and move forward.  The Yellow Brick Road presented many surprises as it wound its way to the Emerald City.

2.  Acknowledge challenges.  Denial of reality prevents us from overcoming obstacles.  Just  don’t allow yourself to be handcuffed by them.  Inevitably,  some possibilities will be closed to you,  yet others will be available.  You may have to work hard (and smart) to make those possibilities a reality and you might need some help to reel them in.  A Freelancer is a leader and according to Linda Hill,  professor at the Harvard Business School and co-author (with Kent Lineback) of Being the Boss (January 2011),  “Leadership is not about getting things done yourself—it’s about accomplishing things through others.”  So if your goal is somewhat beyond your grasp,  do not become overwhelmed with despair about the impossibility of it all.  Reach out to the right person.

3.  “What if…” is the phrase that encourages us to see beyond limitation and all the way to the pot of gold.  Say  “what if”  and put yourself on a positive trajectory that allows you to see or create competitive advantages that will be of great benefit.  The  “what if”  mindset is a powerful magnet for good ideas.  The glass half empty mindset is negative.  It crushes good ideas and rebuffs those who could help us realize our goals.  Instead of thinking  “What if I fail”?,  imagine  “What if I succeed”? and let your mind take it from there.

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare,  but because we do not dare that they are difficult”.  

–Seneca 

Thanks for reading.  I hope you’ve managed to survive and thrive this year and I hope that you’ll stop by in 2011.  I value your support.  Thanks again to those of you who’ve made comments.

Kim