Seven Business Goals for Beginners
1. Know everybody.
The writing job at the newspaper was great for meeting people. If I didn’t meet 5-10 new people every week, there was something wrong. These people know people and when I finally got that book published I had plenty of extra work with speaking engagements and local book signings. If you know people, you can ask their advice. If you know a lot of people you can get a lot of advice and make connections with other people that will help you out. Personal examples:
· A member of the board of education, whom I quoted frequently in the newspaper stories I wrote and with whom I shared a love of old buildings, became my publisher after I left my reporter position.
· One lady who had heard my book talk took my information to another library. I got a call from that librarian and was given the opportunity to speak there as well.
· Another member of the community whose advice and information I valued as I researched my newspaper stories later hired me for some freelance work and also taught me quite a bit about how networking and the Internet really work.
2. Take every job.
I’m not proud. I just want to work. I have taken jobs that I really didn’t like, but I did them gladly because it was work and it was MY business. Most of those jobs I learned to like. Sometimes I didn’t like the job because I didn’t really know how to do it. When I learned it, I liked it and got efficient at it. Then I got more jobs in that area. Everything you do adds to knowledge that enhances every other thing you do.
3. Don’t give it away unless you have nothing better to do.
Yes. It’s true. I gave it away. I did it for free. For every two payless jobs I garnered one paying job. My average may not be yours. I’m just saying, if you aren’t working do some pro bono stuff and watch how it expands your customer base.
4. When there is nothing on your schedule, go somewhere and meet new people, take a class, go to a presentation or workshop on something out of the ordinary, cruise the yard sales, read the newspaper, go to the coffee shop and listen to conversation.
I went to the 4th of July fireworks and took pictures. Someone there gave me their email and I sent them some of my photos. No pay, just my name being passed around. I went to a concert that led to me joining that choir that led to me meeting someone that needed a piano player. I got paid for that music gig. I went to McDonald’s after a slow night and got a great idea for a book. I went to the park to watch re-enactors create a scene of an Indian kidnapping in the woods. I sent some of the photos that I took to the park and now those pictures are on their website.
5. When you get lost in the chaos, go back to the beginning.
My desk is a mess. I have always been a writer, but I received this desk to earn money at it. I need to go back to the beginning of my original goal. So, after taking some time to think, I realize some of these files of stuff aren’t going anywhere or earning any money so I stash them all in a box. Then I pick up a paying project I need to finish and finish it. I now feel great and I can pick up the next file with a little more gusto. When things slow down I need to go back to that novel. I add to it from time to time, but for now the paying projects take precedence.
Another method for going back to the beginning – box up everything and then sit quietly. Wait for a while – maybe a day or two. The thing you should be working on will call you from the box.
6. Call Mom.
Everyone needs to vent. Find a mom, if you don’t have one that works, and call them. Vent. Listen. Learn. Reassess. Laugh. Have some tea and go to bed happy. Then wake up tomorrow and find a little more joy in your chosen mission. Somewhere is a person that is behind you in your venture. Find them. Don’t forget to thank them frequently, buy them Christmas gifts and include them in your book acknowledgements.
7a. Be willing to give more than you get.
When I was hawking my book I decided to take copies to all my local (and not so local) libraries. I was strongly advised to NOT give my books away. In about a week after the drop off I would get a call from my publisher or from someone who read my book asking to buy one or giving me a story for my next book. I averaged selling two books for every one book I gave away to the library. I was being asked to speak. I also asked permission to speak with local schoolteachers and librarians and offered copies of my book. I gave them the open invitation to call me if one of my books just happened to “disappear.” I would happily replace it. Think about it – someone liked my book enough to steal it! (Of course, I haven’t taken into consideration the few books that may be gathering dust bunnies under pre-teen beds.)
Be the go-to person. Go out of your way to help. Give them the option to use your ideas or not. Let them have complete control of their money, their time, their advisors. I’m not going to get along with everyone, but I will hit it off with a few. Those few are my people. I will go out of my way to help those people.
Yes. There will be users, but even users serve a purpose. When they tell you they don’t have much to pay you for your efforts tell them that’s fine the first time, or try to work out a barter. The second time is show me the money time. If they like your services they will pay. Be nice about it. Tell them you’re booked solid til doomsday and you need to start charging. If you are consistent with your personal rules (mine is “first one’s free, second charge a fee”)
7b. Barter.
I love to barter:
· I did a job for a lady who was short on cash and offered me a stone bench for my garden. I love it. We both made out on the deal.
· A gentleman who needed a press release done paid me by putting up a website for me. I got much more than my press release was worth, but he disagrees.
· I wrote a series of articles on the newspaper in exchange for writing and marketing education.
· I occasionally read writers’ manuscripts in exchange for them reading mine.
· I gave a library two copies of my book, both of which had to be replaced. A few months later I was asked to give a writing workshop for which I was paid.
Sometimes a barter doesn’t turn out the way I planned. That’s OK. Experience has taught me to think carefully about how much time and effort I put into a thing and if I would even barter for that particular job. One drawback – bartering doesn’t pay the bills.
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