Comments on: Freelance Veteran Makes Stunning Confession

By: Robert Earle Howells

Robert Earle Howells — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:49:03 +0000

Great sound bite, Wally and Bob! Oh, wait; that’s Wally and ME. My main point was that I learned long ago that fretting and worrying do absolutely nothing to bring in business. We need to be smart, on our toes, open to new approaches and technologies. We need to hustle, have fun, have lives, and not fall into an abyss every time work runs a little thin. Can’t wait for your whole product to see daylight!

By: Wally Conger

Wally Conger — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:07:59 +0000

Thanks for sharing, Stephen!

You’re soooooo right. You can survive in ANY economy, as long as you’re positive, flexible, and willing to try just about anything.

It’s hard to suggest a marketing “system” for you, because I don’t know who your perceived prospects are for your oil paintings, or how you’ve reached out to them in the past.

But lemme suggest this: your marketing “system” will probably NOT show up in a nice, tidy package. It’ll be something you build out of LOTS of different tactics and approaches — print advertising, direct mail, website, flyers, press releases to the local papers, etc.

Keep your eyes open, though. I’m sure you’ll pick out some ideas here that seem workable to you. Stitch ‘em together and see what happens!

Wally

By: Stephen Voight

Stephen Voight — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:36:18 +0000

Hi Wally,
Thanks for all you do.
I am one of those freelancers that is very busy, then very slow.
It is hard to find a steady stream of oil painting clients. I love doing it though and it gets better every year. I am working more on marketing and promotion, which is how I found you, and I am finding it difficult to find a system for creating a steady stream of qualified prospects. It is very easy to blame the economy and a lot of my peers do that very thing but I am stubborn….I think there are people who want paintings done no matter what the economy says. In fact, I believe freelancers are going to be the ones to change the world economy for the better!
Stephen Voight

By: Wally Conger

Wally Conger — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:54:46 +0000

Hey, Mike!

Good for you! What you have — that a LOT of folks don’t — is awareness of your intangible assets (skills and knowledge) and confidence in yourself. That gives you options…and flexibility.

Sounds like you’ve positioned yourself extremely well.

Keep rolling, pal! And please keep in touch!

Wally

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:25:33 +0000

Wally,

I am an employee now, but that’s just for the health benefits (yes even in Canada we still need those) but I have the luxury of working in software. And not just software, which is booming, but in IT Security which is and always will be booming. For more than 5 years now I have never feared for a job or where the next pay cheque will come. I get calls at least 2-3 times a week from head hunters.

Its not cockiness, but confidence in my skills as an IT Security expert, programmer, architect and in my ability to market myself. Right now I choose either contracting (freelance as you call it) or employee status based on how interesting the company is and the kind of work they do.

I even have my own dormant corporations and a bunch of ideas should I decide to start on my own.

There was fear at first but that has long since gone. Nothing breaks that fear like the first success. Except maybe the second or the third.