The Freelance Rant

Murphy’s Laws of Freelancing

Johnny — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:02:37 +0000

Murphy's Laws apply to all aspects of life and work. When you think about though, weren't they made especially for freelancing? For example...

If anything can go wrong in freelancing, it will. You'll survive though. Maybe.

Work always comes at you when you are busiest. When you are not busy at all, lots of luck to you. [...]

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Freelancing Links You Can Shake a Stick At

Johnny — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:04:58 +0000

Cutting the first day of class to bring you the week in freelancing links worth the minute checking out. [...]

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Top Ten Reasons a Freelancer Would Rather Be Back In Grade School

Johnny — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:28:43 +0000

It's that time of year again, as if those million ads you see all over the place haven't reminded you already. Yes, back to school for the kiddies but freelancers often reminisce of those days of old. In fact, here are the top reasons we wouldn't mind stopping by class with Mrs. Daily again.

10. Bullying kids is a little more profitable these days.

9. Could really impress other students with your Twitter follower count. [...]

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How To Royally Screw Yourself In Freelancing

Johnny — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:28:51 +0000

We're not talking about the actual work you do either. If you are good at what you do, this will never be an issue. No, the details I'm referring to are in the planning stages before starting the actual work.

I'll admit that I tend to get a sudden onset of attention deficit disorder when it comes to contracts and specs to carry out before starting on projects. This is especially true due to my belief that time not working on projects is money lost.

Guess what though? Sooner or later you'll run into a client who pays more attention to detail to specs than you do. If you're caught off guard, that means he can leverage more work out of you. You left to either bite your tongue and do it or put up a fight which can get ugly and put a dent in your reputation should the client protest as well. [...]

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The Week In Freelance: August 13th

Johnny — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:15:42 +0000

OK, a bit cranky from quitting my nicotine consumption but don't mind me and have a read at the week in freelancing newsy stuff for August 13th or sometime around then. [...]

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10 Random Thoughts On Why My Freelancing Career Is As Weird As Yours

Johnny — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:10:25 +0000

I've been freelancing for just over 8 years now. While I never dreamed or planned on being a freelancer, there is certainly no way I'll ever go back to traditional employment. Looking back on those eight years, though, makes me think what a long strange trip it's been through ten random thoughts:

* I graduated with a degree in Psychology, but started freelancing doing web programming with no experience. I even write what you see here after many past failures in writing. Uhm, what just happened?

* My most valued possesions are now whittled down to just a computer, Wifi, PayPal account, passport, and discipline. Sunlight, too, but I don't really own that. [...]

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Productive Use of Twitter: Are You Stalking or Are You Talking?

Johnny — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:02:35 +0000

I tend to have an on-again, off-again relationship with Twitter. Some weeks are just so busy with work that Twitter plays second fiddle to it. I still don't get paid to use it so, sorry there little avatars with personalities, you'll have to wait until next week (or after a night out later tonight).

Maybe it's time to rethink that again for a second.

Now I'm not one to buy into using Twitter for the whole celebrity "reaching out to your fans" experience. I can just see it now if I did my daily Twitter stalking and finally received that coveted response. [...]

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Top Ten Freelancing Rules To Break, Just So Things Don’t Get Boring

Johnny — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:33:39 +0000

Some wise man once said that all rules were made to be broken (I know, cliche). It's true though. Who ever got by as a freelancer by happily obeying the rules of the working world? Yet despite this career choice, there still always seems to be more rules to have to follow. Well, I give you permission to break these ten so you can get on with your career already.

10. Set and meet deadlines. If it doesn't involve kidnappings, legislation or nuclear standoffs, then it really isn't important in the grand scheme of things, is it?

9. Be attentive to your clients. Your clients are mature adults fully capable of handling themselves. So be repectful and treat them as so. [...]

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The Week In Freelance: July 23rd

Johnny — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:01:38 +0000

Geez it's hard typing all this on your phone! Anyway here is the week in freelancing news for July 23rd. [...]

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Winning The War on Computer Disasters

Johnny — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:24:37 +0000

Well, it happened sooner than I thought it would. Not too long ago, I gave the automated online backup a try so I could relieve myself of the pesky task of having to remember to do it myself. Turned out it was like buying life insurance before a vacation to Afghanistan. The beloved tower of power, a workhorse to countless projects and surviving deadly viruses, had passed away.

He was 4.

Despite a quick mourning, the sudden death didn't really phase me. His understudy, the Vista laptop, quickly took over the reins and was left a nice fortune from the completed and up-to-date backup sitting online. [...]

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The Week in Freelance: July 16th

Johnny — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:39:44 +0000

It's about time for that happy hour special. Not before you get the week in freelancing news for July 16th though. [...]

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Freelancer Rage, Another Extension of Your Driving

Johnny — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:18:31 +0000

I'm not ashamed to admit that some of my biggest mistakes (and biggest lessons) as a freelancer came as a result of letting my emotions get too far out of control and take over my decision making.

Such as the time long ago when I sent Mr. Henderson an email to the effect of, "YOU HAVEN'T PAID YET. PLEASE PAY NOW!" just three days removed from handing him a $50 invoice.

Then there was the other time when I dropped some f-bombs on beloved colleagues who have been providing me plenty of work the last three years [...]

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WebDev Corner: Are You Making This Mistake In Your MySQL Queries?

Johnny — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:04:02 +0000

I have a lot of respect for the designers who get their hands dirty and learn a little PHP and MySQL to code those websites themselves. I can sympathize with you that it doesn’t seem different from learning Chinese. Maybe not that hard but you get the picture. Unfortunately, I see a common mistake made, [...] [...]

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The Week In Freelance: July 9th

Johnny — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:15:13 +0000

Sitting with a fan on high, cold beverage and ice cream in hand to bring you the week in freelancing news for July 9th. [...]

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Top Ten Freelancing Survival Tips For Summer

Johnny — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:29:47 +0000

Nothing like the heat of summer. Trips, barbecue, pool time and just general fun to be had. Hell, what are you even doing here reading this? Shouldn't you be outside enjoying yourself? I guess since you're here, might as well read a few tips to help make it the best one to be had.

10. A real vacation is a trip to that new Starbucks all the way across town. Go ahead, spring for the Caramel Macchiato and crumb cake. Yeah, you know you deserve it.

9. Harvesting that layer of dust on your desk makes excellent tinder for campfires. [...]

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