Mindy Long

The Personality Test

mindylong_web — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:50:19 +0000

I had always wanted to become a full-time freelancer—someday. I always worried about the typical issues that surround being self employed—no 401(k), no life insurance, no health insurance, etc., etc., etc. Leaving the comfort that came with the steady paycheck of an office job always seemed a little risky. But around the time my son turned one, I knew that for me the benefits of being self employed far outweighed the risks. At that point I also had a good network of contacts and had the experience and confidence that have helped make my venture a success.

I think there are certain things you have to consider when deciding to venture out on your own—particularly with a home-based business. The most important is your personality. For those thinking of hanging their own shingle, ask yourselves these questions:

Can you carve out time specifically for the business?

Moms and dads especially can be drawn to self employment because of the flexibility it offers. But don’t think that you’ll be able to work without childcare. I can and do complete a lot of my writing after my son goes to bed at night, but there are a lot of things that have to be done during normal business hours. For me it would be impossible to interview a source or discuss a story with an editor while balancing my toddler on my lap. I wouldn’t be able to focus and I think it would be hard for clients to take me seriously.

Do you need someone else to help you find structure?

If you need someone else to help you stay on task, get organized or prioritize your projects, running your own business isn’t for you. You’ll be responsible for keeping projects straight, taking care of paperwork and getting the job done. You may be your own boss, but you’re going to be answering to a lot of other people. When I became a freelancer, I traded one boss for six (or more depending on how many clients I am working for at the time).

Can you treat your business as a business?

It is easy to forget about the business side that comes with running a business. I’m a writer. I write. But now I also track my income goals, invoice and file quarterly tax estimates. Successful business owners pay as much attention to the back-office tasks as they do with the product their selling.

Family Space

mindylong_web — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:08:35 +0000

As a work-at-home freelancer, I often have to remind myself that I’m the one who sometimes intrudes on the family space and not that the family is invading my workspace.

I recently found myself telling my husband the hockey game he was watching was making it hard for me to concentrate on the story I was editing. Then I realized that I was in the family room—the only room in the house with a t.v, sofa and high definition cable. I could write anywhere else in the house, but my hubby couldn’t watch the game from my office, the kitchen table or the living room.

I try to avoid working with my son on my lap, but it does occasionally happen. When it does, I try to be patient—even when he decides to help me type. He is used to our time together being his and doesn’t understand when I say, “Just let me finish this e-mail.”

Knowing when I’m the one who needs to retreat and seek out different space helps keep frustration at bay—for all of us. Sometimes I can put in my earphones, listen to music and still be in the family space while writing, but other times, there is no place like my office desk to keep me focused and my hubby and son happy.

Punching Out

mindylong_web — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:43:28 +0000

I work at home. I have a home office with two desks—one for personal use and one for my business—and a separate e-mail so I’m not mixing my personal and work messages. Closing the door and stepping away should be relatively easy. However, the reality is that pending deadlines, my to-do list and the actual business portion of running an at-home business come calling at all hours of the day and every day of the week.

This weekend I had the rare treat of actually punching out. My sweet hubby had a few days off last week, which meant he took on the household duties and gave me extra time to catch up on my to-do list, clear my desk and get three stories off ahead of my deadlines. As I shut down the computer on Friday evening, I realized I didn’t have anything I had to do over the weekend.

So, instead of thinking about work, we grilled outside (our first grill fest of the year), hit the bookstore, and delivered a dozen donuts to my hubby’s grandma for a leisurely breakfast of coffee and pink-frosted-and-sprinkled sweets. More than anything, I took time just to relax.

I did sneak away for an hour or so to catch up on some business thank you cards that are long overdue, but penning a handwritten note is something I so rarely have time to do that it felt like a special treat.

I need to start finding specific time to punch out and I’m going to spend the next month experimenting with different ways to streamline the business side of all that I do—expenses, invoicing, taxes, marketing. I’m going to be installing some new software, implementing more online tools and overhauling my current system of tracking expenses (something my CPA, who is also my husband, will appreciate). I’ll let you know how it goes and would love any tips you can share!

Being Confident

mindylong_web — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:42:23 +0000

I recently read this quote about being confident in your work and I couldn’t agree more:

“There is a difference between being arrogant about yourself as a person and being confident that your work has some value. The first is unattractive, the second is healthy and natural. Some people respond to one as if it were the other. Don’t confuse them. Marketing is not bragging, and touting one’s wares is not evil. The baker in the medieval town square must holler ‘fresh rolls’ if he hopes to feed the townfolk.” — Jeffrey Zeldman.

I think it is crucial that a any business owner be confident in the work or service he or she provides. If you’re not confident in your work, why would any of your potential clients be confident in you? By knowing the value you provide and the expertise you bring to the table, you show that you have a product that is worthy of the price you charge.

The Joy of Working from Home

mindylong_web — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:39:03 +0000

We’re having some work done in our house today and I needed a quiet place where I could conduct a phone interview for a story. I sought out some solitude on our back deck and got to sit in the sun for a full 30 minutes while running down my list of questions and learning all about a great new product that will be hitting stores this summer. It’s days like today that make me so grateful I work from home! I should make it a point to utilize my backyard office more often.

When It Isn’t the Right Fit

mindylong_web — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:46:05 +0000

Every so often, a potential project comes along that just isn’t the right fit. As a freelancer, it is always hard to turn down work. But I’ve found that it is even worse to take on a project that I can’t commit to 100 percent or that doesn’t tap into the expertise I can bring to the table.

For the past few weeks I’ve been talking with a company about some opportunities they have available. I’ve enjoyed the people I talked to and think they would be great to work for, yet the project isn’t right for me at this time. As hard as it was to say no, it was great to walk away from a negotiation knowing that I’ve been completely honest and feeling like the other party was completely honest as well. It was the perfect example of how negotiations should go and how one can turn down a project while still leaving the door open for future opportunities. You never know when they might have the project that will align perfectly with my skills.

For a Good Laugh

mindylong_web — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:10:58 +0000

Have you ever had one of those days when you just need a pick me up? The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotations can get me laughing every time. It is hilarious. The concept is simple…the author posts pictures and funny commentary of signs with misplaced quotation marks. Whenever I look at it I end up with tears in my eyes because I’m laughing so hard. My hubby laughs about how funny I think it is, but I can’t help it. I think you’ll like it, too.

Send Some Love to the Journalist in Your Life

mindylong_web — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:34:01 +0000

If you’re going to be sending a Valentine to a journalist this year, check out the great options at 10,000 Words–Part I from 2009 and Part II from this year.

Book Club: Pick a Picoult Novel

mindylong_web — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:23:30 +0000

In anticipation of Jodi Picoult’s next book, House Rules, that will hit book stores on March 2, I thought we could ‘Pick a Picoult Book’ for the next virtual book club.

There are 18 to choose from, so pick one that sounds good and let’s circle back and share our thoughts on March 9. Who knows, maybe I will have even finished the new one by then! You can read about all of the books at http://www.jodipicoult.com/.

Book Club: Half Broke Horses

mindylong_web — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:01:07 +0000

What can I say? I loved this book. I hadn’t read it before selecting it for book club, which can sometimes be a risky maneuver. Luckily, it worked out.

Walls calls the book a true-life novel that tells the story of her grandmother. It recounts Lily’s experiences growing up on a cattle ranch where she is tasked with breaking horses. Then it follows Lily as she goes away to boarding school, takes a teaching job and then moves to the big city of Chicago. She moves around a few more times before starting her family and each segment of her life is filled with adventure and challenges Lily overcomes.

I love reading about innovative women and Lily was one of a kind. She was a hard worker and pretty crafty. She bootlegged liquor to help keep the family’s garage afloat during rough times and she ran a taxi service while teaching school—where she also worked as the bus driver and janitor. One of my friends in my real-life reading group (i.e. a group that meets face-to-face and not via the internet) commented that reading about Lily made her feel lazy. I agree. Sometimes packing up my son for a trip to Target wears me out. Lily took two small kids on a multi-day expedition via horseback just to survey the property lines of the ranch she and her husband were managing. I can’t imagine how you pack for that.

The dust jacket of the book calls it Laura Ingalls Wilder for adults, which may explain why I liked it so much. It also made me think of my own grandmother who oversaw the family ranch (although, I don’t think my grandma ever broke any horses). She sure looked good on one though, didn’t she? Forgive the large picture–I’ve been trying to reduce the size, but it has taken up too much time and now I’ve decided I will just have to live with it.

I’m sure she had to learn how to manage her fair share of cowboys and ranch hands. Here she is whistling to try and keep someone in line, I’m sure.

I haven’t read Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle, but after reading this one, I definitely plan to pick it up. And, I want to know, if you’ve read Half Broke Horses, what were your favorite parts? Can you relate to Lily?