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Here’s the thing about being self-employed: a boatload of administrative tasks come with the territory that have absolutely nothing to do with your actual craft. And among those tasks, it’s safe to say that managing your finances is the most daunting — and annoying, and time-consuming. But keeping detailed books is also among the most important. Why? It’s two-fold: Obviously, it’s important to understand how much money is coming in versus how much you’re spending — a crucial part of doing business. But more importantly, tracking your expenses well can actually help you bring home more money at the end
When was your last vacation? When was your last weekday off? And did you actually allow yourself to enjoy that time away from your desk? If you’re self-employed, chances are you’ve struggled with letting yourself take time off. It’s understandable! Time is money, after all, and when your income depends on having clients, it’s hard not to feel like there’s always something to do: if you’re not working on an assignment, you should be hustling for more work. Even when you’re operating at full bandwidth (maybe even above full bandwidth; more on that below), the pressure to “keep up” with
Every freelancer has had to tackle the ever-dreaded “professional summary.” Now, we’re not talking about the “About Me” page on your website, nor are we referring to your LinkedIn bio. The professional summary is a beast of its own—and an increasingly popular one at that, especially on the many new platforms aimed at matching freelancers with work opportunities. It’s what you’ll get asked for countless times by mentors, former bosses, and other professional contacts when they offer to forward on your resume or portfolio. “A professional summary is your ten-second elevator pitch,” explains Dana Leavy-Detrick, director and founder of Brooklyn
On its surface, working from home is the dream. You can’t beat the commute, and can (in theory) save countless hours otherwise wasted on small talk, pointless meetings, or any of the million other distractions that pervade office life. The reality is more complicated. Getting out of bed each morning to face a to-do list alone, without the inherent structure of a work day, colleagues, and a dedicated office and desk can be as disheartening as it is exhilarating. For nearly every upside – of which there are many, including no traffic or subway delays – there is a corresponding
We’ve all heard how we must practice being more human to avoid turning into robots. But how about practicing humanity to make sure we don’t become monsters? Whether it’s the emotional cues spinning by in a meeting headed for disarray, curiosity that could turn a business-as-usual day into an internal spark reminding you why you got into this darn job in the first place, or the art of making space for conflict resolution that’s going to save us all, here are ten ways to salvage our better selves and keep us from mutating into workplace monsters. Empathy Mindset Empathy gives
The Branded Solopreneur
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From Ray Manley dot com
- Case Study: Waging a successful local publicity campaignIt’s not always possible to quickly measure success in business, so when it happens, it’s worth dissecting the elements that contributed to the success. That’s why I want to look at a recent community toy drive spearheaded by Ripped City Gardens, an artisan cannabis grower based in Portland, Oregon. The post Case Study: Waging a […]
- Casual communication: The silent killerBusiness casual. We love it, but when it comes to business communications, it can be a killer...or at least an "injurer." The post Casual communication: The silent killer appeared first on Ray Manley.
- Best of the Web: December Productivity EditionI find that there’s an insatiable appetite for anything that might increase our productivity: tips, hacks, apps, ideas, approaches, philosophies, potted plants, odors, better chairs – anything. That’s why I collect the best articles from around the internet that give us ways to boost our productivity. The post Best of the Web: December Productivity Edition […]
- Still a slave to keywords? Set yourself free!See what you think of this book title: What happens when a strong-willed woman and man try to make a relationship work during a time of social upheaval? The post Still a slave to keywords? Set yourself free! appeared first on Ray Manley.
- Best of the Web: 22 shades of great adviceThere’s more content than usual in this installment of the best of the web. I’ve been doing a lot of traveling the last few weeks and neglected my curation duties, so I had some catching up to do. Sit back, relax, scan the 22 articles below and find the nuggets of wisdom that you can […]
- 3 lessons every business can learn from the Hallmark Christmas MoviesI realized that we have another tell-tale sign that Christmas and the holiday season are bearing down on us like a brakeless semi-truck the other day when one of my Facebook friends boasted that she was dressed up and ready for the Hallmark movies. I may be a little late to the party, but I […]