In today’s post, Mridu Khullar Relph explains why freelance writers need to take a cue from entrepreneurs (like the shopkeeper above) to think and act like the small business operators that they are. — Michelle R.
As a journalist with a bit of an entrepreneurial streak, I often find myself reading business books by people who’ve gone solo in the world of commerce.
I particularly enjoy interviewing successful entrepreneurs because like writers, they share a certain passion for their work, a vision that helps them create something incredible from a tiny seed of an idea.
But when it comes to the way they view business and finance, entrepreneurs and writers differ. As freelancers and solopreneurs working in an increasingly branded world, it is important to take some of the lessons of business and entrepreneurship and apply them to our work.
Here are a few:
1. Entrepreneurs believe in their product.
No businessperson I know has started a company to sell products they don’t think are fantastic. Ask an entrepreneur to talk about their offerings and they’ll tell you why their product is unique, why they should be top of the market, and why you should buy now.
That’s exactly the way we writers need to approach our ideas and projects. Entrepreneurs are so passionate about a particular idea or product, they’re able to sell it with a lot more ease because they believe they’re helping YOU when you buy it. Writers need some of that attitude.
2. Entrepreneurs spend money on networking.
Networking is essential when it comes to business, and entrepreneurs routinely spend good money taking clients to pubs or coffee shops to talk to them one-on-one. This helps them get to know people on a personal level, people who may be eager to help them with their work, give them advice, or spread the word about their business when the opportunity arises.
We writers stick to our pajamas and high-speed Internet. But friends and colleagues who share your vision can be a huge asset to your freelancing career. The next time you get a chance, ask one of them, “Would you like to get coffee?”
3. Entrepreneurs don’t think of it as rejection.
You queried an editor and are worried about getting a “no.” Fair enough. Now think about the entrepreneur who has spent time, energy, and who knows how much effort to get funding, a business set up, employees, office space, etc. Once their product is in stores, many more people won’t buy it than will.
That’s not a rejection. It’s someone not wanting something at that particular point in time. Needs change. Maybe tomorrow they’ll need this exact thing. Entrepreneurs understand this. Writers should, too.
4. Entrepreneurs allocate money to learning.
At least once a year, most businesspeople I know go to a conference, seminar, or networking event to learn new skills, make new contacts, and stay updated on latest developments in their industries. Many send their employees to events as well. Change is constant, and given the vast changes in our industry at the moment, it is important that writers stay connected, keep abreast of new happenings, and keep learning. One way to do that is by attending writing conferences or taking classes. Another is join groups like the American Society of Authors and Journalists and participate in their events.
5. Entrepreneurs measure progress and outcomes.
Entrepreneurs measure their success or failure in numbers, not feelings. A good work day is one in which a certain number of units sold, or a project was completed under budget. When it comes to business, year-end financial reviews are extremely important when it comes to business.
Writers, however, don’t like to talk numbers. We mention a per-word rate or an income goal every now and again, but most of us shy away from hard numbers. That is fine, as long as you’ve got a spreadsheet somewhere that lays out in black and white how you’re doing.
Take your cue from entrepreneurs, and measure your daily output. You could track how many words you wrote, or how many queries you sent. You could measure the number of tasks you put on your daily to-do list and how many you actually checked off. Or you could measure your daily, weekly and monthly income.
Don’t be afraid of numbers. If you are, check out freelance math writer Laura Laing’s excellent blog, Math for Grownups.
6. Entrepreneurs take risks.
Every business idea is a risk. So is every book idea, every query you send, every time you sit down to create something that hasn’t been created before. It’s a risk but only you can decide if it’s a risk worth taking.
Mridu Khullar Relph is an award-winning journalist. Get her free e-book “21 Query Letters That Sold,” with queries that landed her in The New York Times, Time, Ms., Writer’s Digest, The Writer, and many more publications, at Mridu Khullar.
[Flickr photo by infomatique]
Bar none — one of the best posts I have read in a very long time.
Thanks, glad you liked it. Although it makes me wonder about the posts I’ve been writing……
Michelle
Thank you, Marina!
Wow – I’m so glad I read this! There are many moments where I stop believing in my product. Or where I take rejection to heart.
As a freelancer, I have learned to treat what I do like a business, but not in these ways. Fabulous post.
I’m bookmarking this post. I think I’ll rename it “The Six Commandments for Freelancers.”
Thanks, Mridu, for writing it. And thank you, Michelle, for bringing it to us!
Thank you both!
It’s interesting how you are able to tie business and writing together. These two realms certainly meet at some point as when you write, you sell your ideas as businesses sell their wares. Writers can certainly learn a thing or two about risks, rejection (or not seeing it that way), and returns from entrepreneurs.