So, after 700+ posts in 2008, I’m publishing the 12 Most Read Posts at Slow Down FAST so we can all get a jump on the new year.

Thank you all for your support throughout the year.

Here they are:

1. The Causes and Cures of Procrastination
2. Mindhacks: 5 Ways to Increase Creativity, Productivity and Intelligence
3. How to Overcome the #1 Fear: Public Speaking
4. 8 Essential Ingredients to Master Your Time
5. Do Not Wage Psychological Warfare
6. Stuck in a Rut? Fire Up Your Creativity with These 7 Steps
7. What Are You Passionate About?
8. See How Easily You Can Handle Change
9. How to Maintain Professional Boundaries
10. 5 Simple Tricks To Make You Smarter
11. 5 Signs You’re a Pleaser and What to Do About It
12. From Greedy to Grateful – Appreciating What You Have

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Down Economy Got You Way Down? It doesn’t have to!

Join me for a FR.EE teleseminar THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 2008 – 7:00 PM Central.

We all see what’s going on in the world.  It sure isn’t pretty.

The markets and economy are in the tank. Foreclosures, hiring freezes, salary cuts, and layoffs are a given.

We’re hunkered down in our bunkers waiting for the storm to blow over.  Is that the right approach?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Think about this:  When businesses feel the heat of the bad economy and decreasing sales, do they hunker down?  No!  They get very proactive.  They look for ways to cut costs and increase efficiencies.

AS INDIVIDUALS, WE SHOULD DO THE SAME THING.

• Take this time to engage in some self-assessment instead of using all your energy for self-preservation.

• Build some self-confidence, self-equity, and a foundation for your future – so that you can handle good times and bad.

Now is the best time to engage in a concentrated period of personal evaluation.

1.   Figure out where you are and where you want to go.
2.   Add things to your life that are important to you.
3.   Get rid of the things that just aren’t working anymore.

You don’t have to take it on the chin and allow the bad economy to control every aspect of your life.

Come out of the basement.  Take control.  Empower yourself!

Join me for a FR.EE teleseminar THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 2008 at 7:00 PM Central.

WEBCAST REPLAY NOW AVAILABLE – Sign up below.

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Right now the greatest opportunities for freelancing are in marketing and information technology, although more and more freelance positions are being offered in a variety of fields. Employees report greater job satisfaction because they have greater control over their working environment, and it allows them the freedom to pursue those things they are passionate about.

Freelancing is not for everyone, though. It takes commitment and dedication to remain focused on the tasks at hand, and not get distracted by the kids, the telephone, or Dr. Phil. Those who have not completely thought it through can find the transition from employee to freelancer a difficult one. Since you are essentially running your own business when you freelance, you need to prepare yourself for picking up some of the benefits you may otherwise have had as an employee. With some preparation, though, working as a freelancer can offer a great deal of fulfillment.

1. Get Covered

If you are to begin working as an independent contractor, you will likely need to pick up your own medical coverage. Do not leave yourself or your family without coverage, because to do so could mean financial ruin in the event of an emergency.

Since medical coverage is not cheap, you must be sure to budget the costs into your operating expenses each month. There are several services available designed specifically to assist the self-employed find comprehensive medical coverage at an affordable price, so look into these before deciding upon a plan. Also, under COBRA you will have the option to continue your current medical coverage – at your own expense – for a limited amount of time. This gives you the time you need to seek out an appropriate plan for you and your family.

2. Get Disciplined

When you freelance, you must spend your working time doing just that – actually working. Treat it as though you have left the house and are at an office. In fact, some freelancers have been known to lease a small office near the home, just to provide them with the feeling of being “at work,” even though they work for themselves.
This is not necessary, though. A corner of the bedroom or living room can suffice as office space, as long as you free yourself of outside distractions.

If you have a spouse and children at home, they need to understand the importance of allowing you to work uninterrupted. The beauty of freelancing, though, is that you can choose to set your work aside for a couple of hours while you attend your child’s school play or afternoon ball game. Just don’t make a habit out of doing it too much. You need to put in your time working, or your freelance business will fail.

3. Look for Work in Your Field

Most managers look to hire freelancers who have a minimum of two to three years’ experience in their field, so when you are starting out, look for employers within your given area of expertise. This greatly enhances your chances of picking up work.

Be proactive in finding jobs, and make sure you have a professional, updated portfolio to present. You might even consider developing your own website, with examples of your work and letters of recommendation, to which you can direct potential employers. Keep in mind that many freelance opportunities will not come to you – you need to get out and look for them. Dedicate a certain amount of time each day, or each week, to efforts in marketing yourself and your services.

Freelancing can be a very rewarding experience, and provide you with just the right amount of work life balance you have been looking for. You can experience greater fulfillment in both your work and personal lives, but you must plan accordingly in order to experience success. Realize that work may come in spurts, where you are juggling multiple tasks for a while, then go through a period with no work at all. Plan ahead so you do not get caught in a bad position financially during the down times. When you are ready, jump over to running your own freelance business and see just how rewarding it can be.

Thanks to Bootstrapper for including this post in the Carnival of Business and Entrepreneurship, to Working at Home on the Internet for featuring this post in the Working at Home Blog Carnival, to Everything Finance for publishing this post in the Carnival of Everything Finance, and to VirtualGrant.com for inclusion in the Carnival of Everything Finance.

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It’s that time of year again when we make resolutions in our personal lives that help guide us into the New Year. Hopefully, for most of us, we’ll follow through and achieve all of our resolutions — even if we do fall off the wagon once or twice.As a small business owner, this is also the perfect time of year to make a list of resolutions of things you can do to help grow your business in the coming year. Think of it as reinforcing your business plan -– or in some cases, rewriting your business plan to take advantage of new opportunities.

Let’s take a look at five resolutions that you can make for 2008 to grow and solidify your business.

Read the rest of this post at Small Business Trends.

Please Share! All comments big and small are very welcomed!

Thanks to BootStrapper for including this post in the Carnival of Business and Entrepreneurship.

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Check out Gillian Hood-Gabrielson’s Fit for Business blog. Gillian features a Q & A with Sharon Williams, Chairperson of the Alliance for Virtual Businesses.

Ms. Williams supports what I’ve discussed with some of you when it comes to work-life balance:

“A benefit I haven’t covered is the ability to improve work/life balance. By hiring a VA, clients can systemize the business and automate its processes.When this is accomplished, s/he [the client] can schedule previously designated times to family, friends, hobbies, or to just to relax alone. It is important to allocate time to unwind from the daily grind of running a business, reducing stress, and enjoy life’s gifts and pleasures.”

Read more Virtual Assistants and Sharon Williams on Gillian Hood-Gabrielson’s blog here.

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