cherry pick your clients!

In a day job, there may be times when you don’t always get along with every single supervisor, coworker or client that comes into the office.

One of the benefits of being a freelancer is that you get to pick & choose your clients. (Sure, sometimes money is tight and you don’t have the luxury to be incredibly picky).

You will be speaking to this person on a regular basis, so make sure you consult first with a face-to-face over coffee. Are they on the other side of the country? Enjoy a continental cup o’ joe over skype. The point is, get a feel for the client personally before moving on to any sort of proposal.

No paycheck will be worth it if you are stuck dealing with somebody you can’t stand.

Do they seem passionate about their business or product?

Do they have realistic goals in mind?

Are they communicative / accessible or do you go days / weeks without contact?

Are they somebody you would be proud to have on your resume / portfolio someday? Meaning…do they inspire you?

It’s easy to work for somebody who feels passionate and confident in themselves or their product. As a freelancer, you shouldn’t be settling for anything less than these types of clients – your hours are too valuable to waste getting frustrated on sub-par prospects. The worst thing you can do is take on a client that ends up making you regret the project or worse, burn any bridges!

In the spirit of the season, I thought I’d give a quick case study run-down on some of my most inspiring clients this year and what they are up to these days:

Recent case studies of inspiring clients:

• Everybody learns public speaking in schools, but what about how to listen?
  Congrats to Chris Fama, Cayuga Community College professor for his thesis for his second master’s degree “listening” being published!

  The book, called “A Listening Curriculum for the Lower-Division College Student,” helps professors create a course solely on listening – a skill Fama believes is not taught enough in schools. The book is now selling on Amazon.com. Published by the German company Lambert Academic Publishing, the book sells for $55. Chris has an inspiring work ethic, keen research skills and unique insights that truly will help shape the future of communication.

• We are in an age of a reading renaissance, where Young Adult (YA) novels like Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger Games spark infectious interest in books at an early age. A perhaps unexpected – but welcomed effect – of this generation is young aspiring writers. Allyson Richards started writing her first novel Enlightened when she was 15 years old. Currently 17, she is developing her supernatural fiction novels into a 4-part series that is sure to capture the hearts of readers, from early tweens to Twilight moms.Her year was full of national, regional & local TV, radio and internet features; book festivals; secured speaking opportunities for libraries, schools, clubs and book stores. Allyson Richards most recently emceed her local library’s teen reading week. She manages to juggle these engagements with the poise & professionalism of a true industry veteran. Look out for, publishing world! =)Some people go their whole lives without go after their dreams headfirst. Allyson’s accomplishments would be admirable for anyone; but for someone to achieve her dreams before high school? Her passion is contagious and she is a joy to work with.
• One of the most fabulous ladies of Orlando, Heather Unger of Heather the Realtor launched her new website and gained even more momentum establishing herself as THE realtor for first time buyers and families alike. What I loved about Heather is she is not afraid to be quirky, different and “own” it. She has an unparalleled sense of style (you can tell from her new site and the homes she sells) and such a wide array of life experiences. She was on the Bachelor, House Hunters and sold more than $50 million worth of real estate in Orlando?

What about you? Where do you find your favorite clients?

JK really knew what she was doing.

Don’t worry, I am not talking about turning my home office into Hogwarts or anything, but there are a few tricks up my freelance sleeve that I can attribute to my four-eyed friend.

Modesty is underrated. Think about it. When Harry was a small, insecure orphan and he found out his powers were indeed, magic, he did not go around lifting up his bangs, Bieber-style, pointing out his lighting scar. Everybody else talked him up, gushing about his legacy and foreshadowing his importance. Even when he first demonstrated telltale acts of bravery, he did not inflate his accomplishments. Only when he gets cocky for a chapter or two does it backfire on him. Moral: Let your actions speak for themselves. Don’t just tell a prospective client what you will do for them – do it. Give them an example of two of the types of ideas you can bring to the table.

It’s okay to acknowledge and say the name of your “evil enemy.”
Initially, everyone in the Wizarding World would gasp in horror if they heard the name “Voldemort” escape someone’s lips. Harry learned to defy this concept later on in the series, realizing that just saying the name wouldn’t bring destruction. It would, however, let your enemy know you are still a formidable opponent, and force their hand, putting the proverbial Quiddich ball in their court.

Of course, there are many cases when it’s looked down upon to mention your competitor in advertisements or articles. A start-up company needs to prove themselves first. But look at companies like Apple versus Google, or the most recent example of New Egg calling out Best Buy. Sometimes it only brings to light certain company weaknesses or perceptions that give you a chance to respond accurately and in some cases, spin the story the complete other way. In  this instance, either ignore a parody and either poke fun right back or comment intelligently. (Responding by going overboard with defensive corporate legalese is almost like Malfoy bullying Ron repeatedly just because Ron mutters a joke under his breath.)

If your mentor told you to trust somebody – and you trust your mentor – follow their footsteps and don’t over think it.
The friend of your friend is your friend. (I won’t go into too much detail here in case of spoiling the last movie for those who didn’t read all the books). But let’s just say an old mentor or professor constantly talks fondly about another professional contact, but you keep hearing rumors that the person is not the greatest person to associate with. If you trust your mentor, you should also trust their judgment and not burn any unnecessary bridges. You will need them later!

Don’t open a 50-year-old book without knowing the reason it was shut to begin with.
Remember when Ginny Weasley became possessed by Tom Riddle by confiscating the book and then getting sucked into its magical – yet evil – vortex of communication? Similar to the old adage “don’t take down a fence without knowing the reason it was put up,” this tip is especially important when it comes to the business world. Before making any huge process changes at work, make sure to research the history and purpose behind the current methods. Somebody before you just might have known what they were doing, so take some time before judging books by their covers.

Discover your inner Patronus
A Patronus Charm is an insubstantial animal protector created by the advanced Patronus Charm spell, and one way to defend against Dementors and certain other dark creatures.

Patronus shapes been said to reflect the personality or feelings of the witch or wizard. For example, Harry creates a stag, Hermoine creates an otter and Ron creates a Jack Russell terrier. When faced with risky decisions in the business world, do you avoid the situation, or face it head on with your own strategies and tactics? Many people reach a certain level of success, but very few can maintain on top for a long period of time. Providing great service, listening to client feedback and constantly improving without getting too comfortable are just a few ways to protect your business.

Awards are not the most important thing.
The Goblet of Fire was thought of to be the most honorable award bestowed upon a wizard. Contestants were forced to sweat blood and tears to participate in dangerous, exhausting tasks to receive…a Goblet. A Goblet that sucked you into another location where your enemy has you right where they want you. I am not saying that submitting to awards makes you more vulnerable – a little friendly competition is always healthy. And who doesn’t want a shiny trophy or two, telling the world of an accomplishment of glories past? The trick is to not let it consume you. Don’t let the idea of an award dangle in front of you, making you lose sleep when those are precious hours you could be using to dedicate to your client or office. If your clients are happy and feel you are their priority, then you all win in the end.

In the real world, nobody cares what your Ordinary Wizarding Level (OWL) score was, or about your Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test (NEWT) courses.
Sure, a diploma is impressive and shows dedication. But how often do you check a new hire’s GPA or their exam scores? It really doesn’t matter what how high your grades are as long as the internships, the connections, the leadership roles and the portfolio can show off what makes you unique and proves you can excel at the desired position you want when you graduate. I wish I could go back in time and tell my studious self to not let school define me. It’s how you apply that knowledge outside the classroom that matters most.

Sacrifice for the greater good of the company or client.
Don’t literally sacrifice yourself or stop eating or anything! But as we all know, valiant Harry and the Order of the Phoenix risked their lives to help save the world from evil (on several occasions). Be not a burden, but a blessing, to your business. Don’t get in your own way. Instead of wondering why somebody else in the office is getting promoted and you are not, stop feeling sorry for yourself and try harder. If you own your company, don’t get discouraged with small failures or feel defeated when you lose out on a project. It can become a vicious cycle of failure, insecurity and then defeat. Instead, remember why you are here in the first place and try to become more selfless. If you work for a company, try to see the end goal from your boss’s perspective and do your best to help the business grow. If you work for yourself, then remember that clients always come first. If you remain selfless in the workplace and keep pushing forward the battles that lie ahead, you just may come out victorious.

I can think of a million more, but I must be off now. My clients need me! =)

Cheers to the final Harry Potter movie!

At a risk of sounding like a straight-to-DVD Nancy Drew movie title, I often wonder what the deal is with the famous sub shop and its fickle apostrophe.

The teensy little punctuation mark is small in size, but immensely powerful in its ability to completely alter a word’s meaning. Rumor has it the yummy sandwich used to be officially called “Quizno’s,” so perhaps some of them still have old signs they have yet to replace.

Not sure about the rest of the country, but in Florida, I have seen large shop signs for “Quiznos Sub,” “Quizno’s Sub,” and even a “Quiznos Subs.”

Does the company offer franchises the freedom to choose, or do the owners just not get the memo passed down from corporate?

What do you think – is Quiznos an extremely flexible company, or negligent (perhaps apathetic) when it comes to brand consistency?

Delicious food, yummy ideas

You are what you eat. Or perhaps more accurately, you are where you eat.

Localized food review sites are getting dished out on the Web every day, and followers are eating them up, as seen by popular followings of Yelp.com and TasteBuds.net.

For those who need a bit of “quiet time” for work, you may find that sometimes the office just doesn’t cut it. It’s a little hard to crank out killer copy with outgoing co-workers or hovering bosses. Even if you work from home, it does your body good to get out of the house and serve yourself a little food for thought.

While you are waiting for a giant idea light bulb to land on your plate, I’ve compiled a short list of eats in Orlando that spark my creativity.

• Urban Think! THE place to meet and greet great authors and artists. “A calendar full of wonder and inspiration to nurture your intellect!,” this cozy, quaint bookstore is a perfect place to hole up for a few hours and kick out creative copy. Or, peruse the shelves for some creative inspiration. While books cost a buck or two more than normal, a portion of the proceeds to got Page 15, Orlando’s most alphanumeric literacy nonprofit.
• Drunken Monkey boasts top shelf coffee, gourmet soups and a variety of yummy, healthy treats (and a drive-thru window which come in handy during our random mid-day shower storms)! Drunken Monkey is a unique place to come with team or group members, since there a selection of old-school board games to help break the ice and provide creative “warm ups.”
• Dandelion Communitea – great vegetarian/organic food, comfy, random seats and décor, this adorable Thornton Park café is one of my top picks for creative eats. One of the co-founders, Julie hosts a weekly radio show focused on “all things local, progressive and rad.” For more info, check out Front Porch Radio.
• CityFish – while I am not a typical fan of seafood, this new trendy restaurant is absolutely charming. The outdoor patio area is a nice alternative to the same old places downtown, and the column art by Harmonious Universe is just plain cool (and almost makes me itch for a tattoo).

Beachside or lakeside locations are always my favorite brainstorm spots, but sometimes ideas need to be fine-tuned, hammered out and polished the same day. So what better time then during lunch break?

Bon Apetit Orlando!

Our attention is completely and utterly divided these days.

thanks ikea, for awesome pic

If you are married or in a relationship, face it.

Some days you spend more time with your laptop/phone/twitter whale/TV remote/ [insert other technological device] then you do with your significant other.

We read while we eat, we write while we listen to music, and we even talk while we drive (unfortunately). In fact, right at this very moment while I am writing this, I am also paying my bills online and chatting away online.

A.D.D.? Maybe. Isn’t there another word for it, though? Hmm…What was it…?

It actually used to be a “plus” on resumés and proudly announced in interviews along with its other buzz word pals, “team player” and “fast learner.” A glorious, responsible-sounding four-syllable word.

Ah yes, now I remember. Multitasker.

Now when I hear it, it reminds me of sharp, overly long nails pounding on a keyboard, or a silver spoon clanking against a cereal bowl. Not appealing at all.

Multitasking is absolutely necessary to keep up with the news and information that snowballs every day. From actual breaking news like the Hudson River incident to trivial virals that make people giggle like “Thumb Boy,” there is complete information overload –should you choose to accept it.

Multitasking is so completely engrained in our daily routines. With the unstable economy, employers have been asking employees to wear more hats than usual. Ten job descriptions now cram into a single position. Priorities shift and stuff slides, sometimes off the desk and into the trash can.

My point being: pretty much everyone should be able to call themselves a full-fledged, law abiding citizen of multitasking county. It’s a no-brainer; it’s a given. Some say part of a survival tactic few years ago in which you either swam or sunk into the hole with the other ten people who don’t know what Twitter is or how one can survive without a landline phone.

What employers should start asking, or start looking for is not the ability for prospective employees to multitask, but the ability for employees to actually Focus. On. One. Single. Task. At. Hand.

Can they get the job done, exceed expectations with a great attitude AND maybe complete the assignment before the initial project due date? Can they bring more pros/cons and insight to the table, leaving plenty of time for revisions and edits? Do they hit every possible story or design angle, uncover every stone or financial obstacle and communicate potential problems and prepare backup plans? Do they exhaust all resources to confirm the assignment is “the best they can do,” each and every single time? These wonderful qualities are all side effects of the person’s stellar ability to purely focus.

(P.S. It’s amazing how many times someone will hesitate, then go back to their desk to redo an assignment when you innocently ask, “so, this is the best you can do, right?” My old boss used to do it to me all the time – trained me well!)

So, as you can clearly see, I have come to think of multitasking as the nemesis of focus. Multitasking whispers evily in focus’s ear, “psst-have you checked facebook today? Maybe someone commented on your status.”

It can’t hurt to make a to-do list in the morning, whether you enjoy scratching through items on good old fashioned paper or prefer Google tasks and dashboard stickies. Turning your IM message to away, letting the office manager know you are busy and shutting your door also helps give the hint that you are busy and just may help reduce distractions.

Helpful sites:

http://www.davecheong.com/2006/08/14/18-ways-to-stay-focused-at-work/

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/09/how-to-focus-your-mind-on-project.html

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-tips-to-focus-your-mind-how-to.html

http://www.myprivatecoach.com/myPrivateCoach/articles/Tips_Focus_Coach_free.php

http://blogs.bnet.com/teamwork/?p=265

http://www.bizzia.com/slackermanager/5-practices-to-sharpen-your-focus-at-work/

No matter how many lists I throw at you, it may not help. Everyone has their own unique way of getting into their focus zone. Try out a few things and once you find what works, stick with it.

I have worked on it a lot and now I am almost too focused at work. Unfortunately, I get so into my work that I almost forget to eat or use the restroom! I am super competitive though, and like to get things done fast – see my previous post for more info on prepping your brain for quick thinking.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on the subject. How do you focus at work and resist the urge to do a million other things at the same time?