Being bilingual – developing a soft skill for a growth mindset (Flying Solo)

Imagine you’re at the top of your craft (of course you are, you wouldn’t be a soloist if you weren’t!) You’ve poured thousands of hours into honing your expertise and making a name for yourself as one of the best practitioners of that skill in the country – perhaps the world.

Then, you decide to start from scratch, like a five-year-old entering school for the first time. You fall from the very top of the tree to somewhere among the roots.

That’s what it’s like learning a new language.

Yet it opens – quite literally – a whole entire world of opportunity.

Read the rest at Flying Solo.

Creatives: The obstacle is the way… (Flying Solo)

If you’re a graphic designer, copywriter, or creative type (as non-creatives like to call us) I’ll bet good money you had a conversation this year that went like this: “Have you seen ChatGPT/Midjourney/Generative AI platform? It does what you do in like, five seconds!”

Gritting our teeth and smiling politely, we nod and reply, “I have! That’s so interesting.” The curses reserved for them; you hide beneath your tongue.

Couple that with inflation running rampant and businesses boarding up the house to weather economic storms, we creatives are often left out in the cold.

Read the article at Flying Solo.

Can you have your Google cake and EEAT it too? (Flying Solo)

Content is king, right? I mean, I am a loyal subject to it as a copywriter, supplicating before its wordy throne, feeding it fine morsels of verbiage and sentences crafted to perfection to satisfy its ever-growing hunger, I write at Flying Solo.

Freelancers, do you feel guilty asking for overdue payments? (Flying Solo)

One of the bestselling self-help books of all time is When I Say No, I Feel Guilty by Manuel J. Smith. It helps soothe anxieties around “people pleasing” and encourages healthy boundary setting.

Above all, it teaches people who feel bad saying “no” to people in fear of being disliked.

However, as freelancers, we hear “no” a lot. We pitch clients, call up leads, and all but get ready to pounce on new work until we hear a “thanks but no thanks”, a “not right now”, or the good ol’ “we’ll keep you in mind for future projects.”

How do we feel when we ask for what we’re entitled to, though?

I’m talking of course, about that all-too-persistent dread: overdue invoices.

I know many of us – me included – feel a gut punch of nervousness insisting that delinquent clients make me whole. I am definitely not alone.

Read the rest at Flying Solo.

Taking care of business: Insider tips for musicians (Flying Solo)

Australia has no shortage of solo musical talent: Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, Peter Andre (hey, he still counts!) … However, as we groove along and tap our feet to their sublime sounds, we also have to realise that these are musos living off their craft; in the same way an accountant, copywriter or graphic designer lives off theirs.

Read the rest at Flying Solo.

Beware corporate cringe: Is that ‘quirky’ job title really as cool as you think? (Flying Solo)

Remember job hunting? I sure try not to. But, when we used to, we may have come across a puzzling ad for a job that seemed bizarre and whimsical.

If you’ve ever worked in a white-collar professional setting, you have likely come across strange job callouts for ‘word wizards’, ‘marketing ninjas’ or ‘accounting rockstars’. You may understand the words, but they make almost zero sense together.

If so, you’ve encountered something called ‘corporate cringe’ – an attempt for corporates, usually startups staffed by a younger demographic, to appear ‘hip’ and ‘with it’ (disclaimer: I am none of these things.)

Even as a (gasp!) millennial myself, I can’t help but wince when I chance upon these – doubly so as a copywriter who prides himself on being clear in his communication. As the great theorist Ernst von Glasersfeld once said, “you can’t not communicate” – so what are these companies trying to say, and what kind of talent are they aiming to attract? If you’re a small business or startup doing the same … why?

Read the rest at Flying Solo.

Volunteering your expertise: Good for the soul, great for business (Flying Solo)

If you’ve been around the soloist traps long enough to forget the dark times of working for (shudder) an employer!!! – it’s even odds you’ve heard the phrase “givers gain”. That is, doing right by your customers, going the extra mile, and giving away your time to good causes means you gain something far greater in return.

I don’t have to tell you we’re soloists because we know our worth and we’re good – damn good – at what we do. That self-belief and determination to strike out on our own leads to better and brighter things. It’s also the same reason why some of us, when witnessing an injustice, something broken, or someone who needs a lift up, do something about it.

Though we may have heard about the big corporate charities and organisations such as Oxfam, World Vision, or Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), smaller charities and not-for-profits that labour on part-time and run on the ‘smell of an oily rag’ don’t just need money to survive – they need skilled people to help.

That’s where soloists can shine.

Read the article at Flying Solo.

The fairytale email hack to cut down on phone calls (Flying Solo)

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Solonia, a frazzled artisan threw his hands up into the air. “Every ten seconds I’m interrupted by calls from the Palace,” he said, pacing around his office. “Surely my written missives are sufficient. But no!” he says, thrusting a finger into the air, “They call and call and call.”

He had proclamations from the King and Queen on the wall, reminding him of his good and faithful service, and the treasured sketch of his appointment to the royal court, framed in the finest oak. He sat down with head in hands, about to write another missive – this time to end his association with the court.

As he dipped his quill in ink, the Royal Poet Laureate appeared at the door in white flowing robes. She saw the artisan and inquired to his frustrated state.

“My child, what troubles you?” she said.

Read the rest at Flying Solo.

Is there a mental health crisis in social media work? (Flying Solo)

Going days without eating. Constant stress and rumination about work. The tightness in one’s chest as your phone buzzes over and over in the wee morning hours; a welling up of guilt as you let it go to voicemail. So much for a job that so many think adds up to ‘scrolling through Facebook all day’. Such is the life of a social media manager or strategist in the modern world.

Read my latest column for Flying Solo here.

Afraid to Fly Solo? There's more support than you think

My latest guest post for Flying Solo:

As soloists, we’ve all heard it before. We’re sitting around at a social event and the topic turns to work. “I couldn’t do what you do.” Or, “How do you cope without the steady pay cheque?” Maybe, “I wish I could wear pyjamas to work!” Sigh. 

Then our other friend who’s been gritting their teeth pipes up. The “closet solo.” The one who starts describing their own business idea after only a whisper of prodding. They set their drink on a nearby table (coaster be damned) and they’re off. They’re off mapping out the intricacies of what they’d do, how they’d do it, and how it would help people. Their arms fly like a mad conductor as their vision materialises in their mind’s eye. They might even take to their feet, possessed of the spirit of Steve Jobs introducing the iPhone. Then reality sets in. Sinking into their chair and grabbing their drink, they mutter, “I doubt I’d ever get it off the ground.”

According to a report by the Australian Banking Association, nine million Australians have the same desire. 

60% of those cited “access to money” as the reason they don’t take their first giant leap into business-kind. That’s five point four million people. Again, with an M.

This breaks down into 55% of men and 65% of women. Two-thirds of those who pine for the soloist life are in the 18-34 age bracket; which is prime “solo time” to shine.

This perception is pervasive, but the fact is, there’s more support out there than you think. Despite a 33% drop in applications for loans, business loan approvals hover around 94%. 

So why the reluctance? What’s really stopping us?

Read the entire post at Flying Solo.

Default - The two bitterest words in the English language

Last year, I was pitted against a client turned enemy - someone I’d trusted until one day…he simply refused to pay.

Until a business owner is faced with a bad debtor, it’s hard figuring out what to do. Thanks to some help from friends, family, and the good people over at Flying Solo, I tried my hardest to recover what was owed to me.

Enter Client X

Client X, as I’ll describe him, was something of an entrepreneur himself. He had a few fingers in more than a few pies. He dabbled in marketing, lead generation, and sales of parts in the construction industry. He hired me to bolster his personal brand. This was in August of last year.

I wrote some blogs based on his opinions, which he supplied to me. He also asked me to come up with some “inspirational quotes” for his Instagram. The type successful people never post on Instagram, because they’re too busy chasing the next opportunity. I digress.

As usual, I sent my invoices out with 14 day terms.

As the 14th day arrived, I sent out a reminder. Then an overdue reminder. And another. Then another.

After about a week or two, Client X confessed he was having trouble with his own debtors. I sympathised, and suggested we work out a payment plan. He paid about 20% of the invoice and promised to pay the rest off over the next four weeks.

The payments never came.

What to do? My only real recourse was to send him a Letter of Demand. This came back “return to sender” and “no such address.” Something I didn’t expect, since I gained the details from an ASIC extract.

So I had to go down the legal route. I told Client X by way of my assistant I’d take the case before VCAT.

I did.

I won (plus the VCAT fee.)

It wasn’t enough.

He came back with a laundry list of excuses as to why he wouldn’t pay. He said the company had no assets, and all he’d be willing to give me was another 20% of what I was owed.

I told him that was unacceptable.

Enter CreditorWatch

The drama dragged on into December. I was at a wits’s end. I turned to the Flying Solo forums. Many offered a bit of camraderie, but similar head scratching. Until Tracy Fowler replied:

There are a couple of things you can do. You can list a default against him with a credit reporting agency... this will affect his credit rating for a period of 5 years whenever he goes for finance, as he is a director, it will affect his personal rating as well. You must give adequate notice of your intent to list a default... I usually send 3 emails or letters giving 7 days to respond, with the fourth contact 3 days later, and the fifth and final notice on the day I intend on listing the default. For the default, I would recommend using Creditorwatch, there is a $20 or $30 monthly fee for joining, but it gives you up to 5 credit reports, (which everyone should use prior to giving credit terms) and listing defaults are free. Creditorwatch are only for B2B transactions and the debt has to be over $150.00…
I have had debtors come back 2 years after a default and pay the debt and costs to have the default amended to paid, so that they can obtain finance. There are no guarantees, but at least it is a warning to others.
The other thing you can do is take yourself off to the local magistrates court and use the VCAT order to obtain judgement. This also stays on their credit file for 5 years, and affects their ability to obtain finance in the future.

I knew about filing defaults against individuals from my finance copywriting, but not about companies - this was golden advice.

Once I wielded the word default aloft like Excalibur, the fur started to fly.

“I’ll Sue for Deformation”

Client X was dogged in his determination to hold on to his money. When I said I’d lodge a default against his company through CreditorWatch, he was furious.

He ranted and raved that he’d sue me for “deformation” (I think he meant defamation) even though I’d dotted every “i” when it came to getting what I was owed. He said he’d get my default “removed within a day”. I retorted (perhaps cheekily) that if he had enough money to pay for a lawyer, he had enough money to pay me the full amount.

December rolled into January 2019, and I did indeed register a default against his company. This company is now in voluntary administration. Will I ever see the money? I doubt I have a Cuba Gooding, Jr. like confidence to shout it at anyone in particular.

The Lesson

Some friends asked why I just didn’t take the money and settle it. At one point, I tried. He wasn’t acting in good faith, and I rescinded the offer. He was trying to get this monkey off his back by any way possible.

What Client X owed me wasn’t a massive amount (less than $500), but it was significant. Either way, it was the principle of the thing. If I allow myself to get fleeced, have my boundaries violated, then who else might take advantage? As a solo business owner, I value my time, which is why I dare make a living off it.

I think as a professional communicator, the meta-communication in this says “If you value my product, you must also value my time - and I trade my time for money.” I hope other soloists and small business owners can learn from my experience. As frustrating as they were.

Paul from the FS forums summed it up best: “Order work, then pay for it.”

Special thanks to Tracy at BDM Credit Management for all her help and advice!

Why being someone’s “my” is the ultimate business referral

Imagine this scenario. You’re at the gym with your good friend, and you wince as you get up from a particularly gnarly stretch. Grabbing your back, your friend tells you, “You should see my chiropractor. She’s great.”

Of course, your friend hasn’t captured this hapless medical professional and stored her in the attic, just in case. But the language around who we trust with our business is that of ownership.

Owning our opinions, choices, and mistakes is an integral part of maturity. It is one reason “I” statements demonstrate that willingness to “own our shit.” 

Owning whom we place our sacred trust in is vital to our business experience.

Read more at Flying Solo.

Why every soloist should journal

Dear Diary, I feel a bit nervous telling everyone about writing in you. What if they laugh at me? What if they think I’m being precious? Worst of all, what if they ignore me?!

Well, at least I got it out there. I tried my best. That’s all that matters.

Journalling is a time-honoured tradition. So many people that shaped the world jotted down their thoughts for the day, every day (or close enough to it.): Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Alexis de Toqueville, George S. Patton, Charles Darwin, Thomas Edison, George Lucas, Alfred Deakin, Teddy Roosevelt. That’s some great company, there. Research even tells us that outstanding leadership requires insight, and writing a journal can help achieve that.

That’s not to say journalling will spur you to instant success, of course. But it does give you pause to reflect, analyse, and process where you are and where you’d like to go.

Read the entire post on Flying Solo.