| Jul. 15 2006 at 1:46 PM |
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I would have one more suggestion to add to the great advice in regards to this particular topic: Give serious consideration to using the terms "freelance" or "freelancing."
I never use the word "freelance" to now describe what I have a done for the last 30+ years. "Freelance" is a nasty little word to many. It seems to imply an individual doesn’t have a "real" job, can’t get a job, isn’t truly professional in their field or is willing to work for "free."
In all my years as a designer, the term "freelance" has come across to many others as a negative - rather than a positive. Many years ago I literally had people say "Oh..." and walk away uninterested when I told them "I'm a freelance designer." For over two decades I have told people I work independently or that I own my own business/firm. The response is usually, "Oh, tell me more about what you do" and individuals seem to take me a bit more seriously as a business person.
To many referring to themselves as "freelance writers" the negative connotation does not seem to be as strong. There's almost a history of glamour to the thought of sitting on a beach and writing to one's heart's content without a boss looking over the shoulders. Still, although I do a lot of such writing, I will tell people I'm a writer or an author and eliminate the "freelance" identification.
I've banished the word "freelance" from my verbal vocabulary.
- J.
Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!
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| Jul. 16 2006 at 12:53 AM |
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I too have been sturck by the stigma of "freelance" and have suffered dearly for it. You would think that if you looked the work up in a thesarus that another meaning of the word would be cheap and unprofessional."If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a
nation
gone under". ~Ronald Reagan
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| Aug. 19 2006 at 1:27 AM |
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Jeff!!
totally off topic but I just picked up your book on Amazon....
The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success: Ideas and Tactics for a Killer Career.
my hats of to you sir... Good Stuff! OADesign
Your Graphic Solutions Provider.
"Anything you can imagine..."
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| Aug. 19 2006 at 10:29 AM |
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OADesign wrote: Jeff!!
totally off topic but I just picked up your book on Amazon....
The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success: Ideas and Tactics for a Killer Career.
my hats of to you sir... Good Stuff!
Thanks so much!
- J.
Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!
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| Aug. 21 2006 at 8:46 AM |
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Thanks Jeff, I've been given the same advice before. A business associate
told me to always refer to myself as a design business. To her the word
freelance means:
1. You probably have a day job and do design work in your spare time.
Meaning you're not really professional.
2. You don't keep regular business hours. Regular business hours means
the client can reach you when needed.
Another piece of advice she gave was regarding a self promotion piece I
use. I have a picture of myself on the front. She suggested I include other
pictures, showing other people with me in a business setting. This would
strengthen the idea that this was a business and I am a professional. That
idea is on my to-do list. :)
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