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@Karen: I think I’m still in a transitional phase between “job” and “business”. James is a little more advanced because he’s had more time to go through this with the writing side of things. Since only Charlie and I do graphics, I still have to be down in the boiler room. On the one hand my head is telling me to think business wide, but on the other I still have jobs to do.

1. Didn’t Ray Kroc once say, “We’re not in the burger business, we’re in the real estate business?” Take away: What you are in business for may be different than what you are offering your target market. Stop and think about the larger picture of your business.

2. “Work ON your business not IN your business” has become a meaningless cliche to many business owners. What the heck does it mean. Here’s an actionable version of that old chestnut: Operate your business to sell it. What I mean is that, even if you don’t ever plan on selling your company, set it up so that it can be sold. This will guide your thinking and decisions every step of the way–accounting systems, delivery systems, marketing, selling–AND the necessity of having people besides you in the business. Plus, why not plan to sell it? After all, you will put in enormous amounts of time and energy into building a successful enterprise–why not have it be part of your equity portfolio or a significant part of your retirement plan? Build to sell….it works.

3. Outsourcing is without question the way to go. I started my marketing company (4rmarketing.com) in 2004 and hit the ceiling of my own limitations very quickly. My ability to break the 6 figure revenue line before the end of 2006 had a lot to do with outsourcing parts of the business. BUT BUT BUT…DO NOT outsource pieces of the business without knowing something about them first. If you “dump” something in the business on someone else because you simply want to avoid it, you are asking for trouble. You might need to keep your own books for a while, or write your own autoresponders–that way, you will have a better understanding of a) the skills sets you need for outsourcing assignments, b) how to articulate your needs and expectations, and c) how to manage the outsourcer on an ongoing basis.

4. Caveat Entrepreneur: It’s easy for those of us who have built successfull freelancing, free agent, or solo pro businesses to warn against getting bogged down in operations, working long hours, etc. But if you reread Harry’s post, you will notice that he said, “James and I went through being the technicians in our business. We worked like dogs at every job and task that came across our plates, and we did so on our own…” I did the same for the first year of 4R’s existence–and I had owned my own company before! I knew what to expect! I believe that it is natural for a new business owner of any business to go through an intense “apprenticeship” period–if you are in the midst of such a period right now, don’t beat yourself up. It’s okay. But follow Harry’s counsel, and know that you need to limit your apprenticeship period. Do, plan, whatever is needed to make sure that you move on to true mastery of your business as soon as possible.

Whew! Harry, you sparked my brain!!!

Trish Lambert
Success in Sweatpants
(Helping freelancers and free agents get more money and time than they ever thought possible!)

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Gary Fletcher – Write Scribes last blog post..One Way to Rescue Lost Writing

Indeed.

Some folks get so excited about not having to work for the “Man” anymore and being their own boss, but then they end up working more hours than ever before as they lose control of their enterprise and find that their customers are their new boss.

Clarity of focus is essential here.

Jesse Hiness last blog post..Reasons Your Business Should Hire a Professional Writer

If they did, they’d want it to be the best it could be.

Unfortunately, they associate their work as themselves. They don’t see, “Change this word.” They see someone saying they aren’t good enough. The only defense is to refuse to change and say they’re perfect. So… not love. Fear.

(Cripes, I’m getting way too philosophical.)

Ray Croc: Disagree still. He wasn’t looking for the best way to sell. He was looking fort he best, most efficient method of taking a great product and making money off it long-term in the most effective way possible.

As for freelancers, there are a whack of them out there that don’t have an ounce of entrepreneur penchant. And if they truly only want to create art, nothing but… well, that’s not business, then, is it?

Back when I used to read Writer’s Digest, I heard over and over about what to do if an editor requested changes to the story/novel/whatever. Some writers got offended by the notion. “Take it or leave it! I ain’t changin’ a word… It’s my vision, my passion, my baby!” they’d scream. Of course the editors would leave it.

I think this is a great example of falling in love with your product and not getting it sold. If you can make yourself objective while still believing in it, you are more likely to take crucial advice to heart, and see the path to selling it.

As for Ray Kroc, yes, he likely loved his burgers in a certain way. But if he had seen the potential in a hot dog stand while selling his shake mixers, he would have loved his hot dogs instead. As you say, he wasn’t out to build the best burger. I think instead he was out to build the best burger joint (and he certainly succeeded based on number of stores worldwide). In other words, he was out to find the best way to sell burgers, not necessarily make them.

Maybe that’s the difference: whether your first love is selling it or making it.

Gets back to the whole arteeste argument we’ve had here before, doesn’t it? Freelance writer — just a more specific way to say “entrepreneurial artist”.

~Graham

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