Finding More Time For Yourself
We’re all aware that finding time for ourselves is important. We need to learn the right balance between work and personal life, the balance in ourselves, and the balance between work and work.
We have to keep an eye on all the balls in our juggling act, lest we miss catching one. Each ball we juggle carries the same importance as the next, and if we drop any, the whole act crashes down around us.
Let me toss one more ball into the juggling act: Finding the balance between operating your business and growing it.
Nose to the Grindstone
One of the reasons people start a freelancing business is to make money. That’s probably why you began working for yourself – to earn a decent living doing what you love. You most likely began your business the same way as many other freelancers did – with almost nothing but a whole bunch of hopes.
Hopes don’t put money in the bank, so you set your nose to the grindstone to work hard, putting all your energy and efforts into finding work, clients and cash. You worked hard, too, to build up a stream of income and customers.
While you’re working, though, are you growing your business?
Go Passive
Passive income is key for freelancers and small businesses. Whether you earn passive income through affiliate commissions or by selling your own revenue-generating assets doesn’t really matter.
What does matter is making money that you don’t have to work hard to receive. Passive income supplies money while you’re off doing other things – working on client projects, building new income streams, or taking some well-deserved rest.
Work to create a product or income stream once, market it properly, and get it out there for people to see. Then let that passive income opportunity go to work for you.
Well, that’s the concept, anyways. It’s easy to know what you have to do. It’s tougher to find ways to get it done, especially when you have your nose to the grindstone earning money you need.
Caught in the Loop
Most freelancers don’t have a lot of spare time. It’s easy to get overloaded with work and all the little things you need to do. It’s also easy to get caught in working on big, ambitious plans that are going to take a long time to read.
Client work generally comes first, too. There are deadlines to meet. Those personal projects? Well, they’ll have to wait. It becomes habit to postpone production of your personal projects and money-earners in favor of the immediate cash clients provide.
Before you know it, you’ve postponed yourself right out of an opportunity to work less and make money. It’s a vicious cycle – you work hard for others to make money, and you put off working hard for yourself to make money.
Derail the train wreck. Break the cycle. Put your personal projects on top priority and get them done. Here are a few tips to get you started in the right direction:
- Schedule your project as if it were a client project. Give it a realistic deadline and go through the same process you would as if the work were for a paying customer. After all, your projects are just as important as anyone else’s.
- Leverage opportunities to outsource. There’s nothing wrong with creating an outline for an ebook or writing down specs for a custom design and hiring someone else to work on it for you while you work on client gigs. Alternatively, collaborate with another writer or designer in a joint venture and create a win-win situation for everyone involved.
- Don’t shove your project aside for new clients. Remember, you scheduled your own project in and made yourself your own customer. Say yes to new clients, but schedule them in the remaining space you have on your calendar. Book for the future, too. Schedule client work for the coming weeks instead of saying you’ll do it immediately. You’ll feel better knowing you’re booked ahead and will have money coming in.
Don’t Go Passive; Grow Instead
Passive income isn’t the only thing that helps your business grow, improve and expand. A major part a healthy, thriving business involves staying on top of technology, learning new skills, updating the ones you have, reading instructional books and taking classes or attending seminars.
Use the same techniques listed above to accomplish the goals you want and need to reach. Proper planning and scheduling is almost all it takes to free some time to better your situation and your business.
The most important client you will ever have is you. Make yourself as much of a priority as you would anyone else.
If you liked these tips, then you’ll definitely love “The Unlimited Freelancer, a brand new book coming to you this January. Learn savvy tricks and fast tips on how to work less, earn more money, and rock the hell out of your freelance business.
“Get on the mailing list today and be one of the first to know when this book goes on sale.
30 Responses to “Finding More Time For Yourself”
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Very good points, which reminds me of a personal project that I’ve been pushing to the side which has potential to make me some extra money. Oops! Way to light the fire, Harry.
Also, how exactly do we get put on this mailing list?
Allison Day´s last blog post…A Hug Rolled up with Salmon and Seaweed
Great article, Harry. There’s no income like passive income.
When you think about it, if we’re talking about passive income, all of a sudden it’s not so hard hitting a million dollars.
If you could create some kind of membership site and if you could manage to get 5000 people to pay you $17/mo., you would make a million dollars in one year.
Not bad.
Also, you’re right. Your best asset is you – so make sure to invest in you.
John Hoff´s last blog post…Understanding The Psychology Of Your Website Visitors
Sorry about that; it looks like the links didn’t take in that bottom section.
To get on the mailing list, click on the Ultimate Freelancer banner in the right-hand sidebar. It’s that easy
Great postmy friend. Don’t forget to change your copyrigth year to 2009.
Luis´s last blog post…Twitter is not perfect but they try.
Harry,
Aargh, I can relate—making time for growth plagues all of us at one time or another. You nailed me with this:
Funny, when it happens to clients, I howl. When it happens to us? Well, who’s looking?
Nice kick in the tush. Thanks.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly´s last blog post…Building Your Business With a Map
@ Luis – I always forget that – thanks!
Thank you for this post Harry. I know when I’m reading a piece from first-hand experience and this was one of them. Very well written, succinct, and easy to read. I know about getting caught up in the minutia and the delegating/outsourcing aspect of work from first hand experience. I’ve learned my lessons as we all have in the school of hard knocks.
One of the common threads through a lot of my posts is the reminder about life balance. There are a lot of ways to look at life balance and the balance within the work that we do is as important as anything else we do. I realized a few weeks ago that I was ignoring my personal writing and reading. Now, it’s hard to complain about being busy – the folks over at VISA think it’s great. But I had been ignoring my own preaching.
I got busy and developed a strict schedule to get me back on track with specific time periods allowed for the tasks I need to accomplish each day. And while I’ve found it difficult to follow the schedule EXACTLY, It does serve as a reminder to me, as I printed it up and taped it to the wall next to my monitor.
Cheers, and welcome back!
George
Tumblemoose´s last blog post…The inspired writer
Excellent post, Harry. It’s just what i needed today, too.
My weakest area? This one:
Don’t shove your project aside for new clients
As my business has grown over the years, I’ve shoved plenty of good products aside in favor of new business. I’m always inclined to go with the “bird in the hand” as opposed to the two in the bush.
For me, that’s meant some missed opportunities and slower growth than what could have been. It’s hard to say I regret those decisions fully; growth is growth, whether it’s slow or fast. I feel like taking the new client over my project is still better than, say, shoving aside a new client in favor of A-Team reruns.
Still, I love what you’re saying about making yourself your most important client. That’s my plan for 2009, and I’m excited to see how it’ll pay off.
Bob Younce at the Writing Journey´s last blog post…When the Writer Trumps the Salesperson
Very inspiring. My goal is to set up passive income streams. Having consistent cash flow is definitely good. I don’t want to become a victim of the rat race. So many people look mentally and physically drained from their jobs. I’m blessed I can work on my projects and do temp work. Living an extraordinary life where I dictate my schedule is my goal. I do it now, but I want to have the money so I can spend more time with family and travel.
Harry, this post is so right on target! I hope that people read it, read it again and apply it. Every word is true. Those new to freelancing should take heed so that they avoid the traps and mistakes that are so common in this business. A great way to gain time is to outsource. It’s so much better to pay others to do what you don’t have to do, you end up with more time and money. Great, great post! What an awesome way to begin the year.
Karen Swim´s last blog post…7 Limiting Beliefs Fatal to New Business Owners
Hey James! Beautiful post as always.
One of the things I love right now about being a new business is working on those passive projects, implementing them one-by-one, and not feeling too much stress from “Am I working on my business or in my business?” When an opportunity comes rolling my way, what it all comes down to for me is asking one simple question: “Does this match who I am and what I say I’m committed to right now?”
If I miss something amazing—well, hindsight is 20-20 right?
Lisa Gates´s last blog post…How Living in Balance Changes the World: Small Steps, Bigger Commitments
I prefer passive aggressive income. That way you are making a lot of money on the side, not just a little…
Seriously though, finding the time is always the struggle. Like you say Harry, scheduling your project is the easiest way around this. John Grisham used to write a half-hour (or an hour?) every morning before trundling off to his law practice. He managed to write “A Time to Kill” and (I believe) “The Firm” using that method.
Similarly, Mike Stelzner explains how he booked an hour of his own time everyday to write his white paper writing book.
There will always be a client project on the go (with any luck). If you don’t schedule your own stuff, it will literally never get done…
~Graham
Graham Strong´s last blog post…Where Web Designers (and Designees) Can Go For Inspiration
@Allison: you betcha!
@John H: Looks easy on paper, doesn’t it?
@Luis: Thanks! Date changed.
@Kelly: *whistles innocently* I’m not lookin’! I’m glad this fired some people up, myself included.
@Mark W: Write from experience! It’s the only way to go
@Tumblemoose: It’s okay if you don’t follow that schedule to the letter. Having it as a reminder is good enough and as long as you find the time and do a little bit each day it’ll get done. Keep moving!
@Bob: My wit must be sludge this morning, I know there ‘s a snappy comeback about the A Team rattling around in there somewhere and I can’t pin it down so…
Seriously though, it looks like your doing an incredible job with your business, keep up the good work!
@Omar: With the economy the way it is and all my friends losing jobs right and left, every day, even the tough ones, are good and I’m happy to have a steady flow of income whether it’s from clients or other projects.
@Karen: Outsourcing helps everyone and when done right, it’s a win-win situation for sure.
@Lisa: Wow, that must’ve been a good post, it looked like one of James’!
@Graham: That’s the 10 Minute method extended for sure. Like I mentioned to Tumblemoose, keep moving and do a little bit each day and the rest will take care of itself. It might take a longer, but it will get done.
Harry, ha ha ha. All you pens look alike :-0 Uh, oh. Now I’m going to get in more trouble…
Lisa Gates´s last blog post…How Living in Balance Changes the World: Small Steps, Bigger Commitments
@ Lisa – I *think* what you were trying to say is that my amazing charm and blinding brilliance dazzled your eyes and you couldn’t tell which of us was which.
I should be the one with the halo. Pay no attention to the tin wings.
I just laughed out loud–so loud my neighbor next door heard me through my open window and laughed too…
Lisa Gates´s last blog post…How Living in Balance Changes the World: Small Steps, Bigger Commitments
When James isn’t whipping me into working harder, or scolding me because I’ve been working too hard, I find a nice middle ground.
That middle ground, for me, is having a LOT of work to do for others, and then a bit to do for myself. But Harry is right on the money. A LOT of work for others is always going to be a LOT of work for others. That’s not the most sustainable of lifestyles.
I think there’s always gonna be a crunch time though, because personal projects usually don’t pull in any dough at the beginning. Client work has to continue out of necessity, but you can let your dreams die either. So….the big “secret” is just to work hard and keep it all alive.
Indeed.
The rule of thumb is you don’t have time, you make time … and you have to make time for what matters.
Time and again, it comes down to boundaries. A friend of mine always had the rule, dinner’s on the table at 5:30. It meant he had to kick arse in our competitive environment with a finite set of hours each day. I made the mistake of throwing hours at the problem each day. I survived because of passion, but I didn’t thrive because I didn’t invest in my other buckets of life the way I should have. Actually, I didn’t really have a good frame.
For the last few years, I’ve invested across my life frame. It’s simply a set of hot spots in life – mind, body, career, emotions, financial, relationships, and fun. I treat it like a portfolio. It has ups and downs, but at least I don’t completely rob Peter to pay Paul. Because I have a frame, I can set boundaries. For example, a minimum of 3 hours on my body, a max of 40 hours at work, each week.
Having a portfolio of results also gives me a thoughtful frame for investing my time and energy. For example, what new things can I learn for fun? Is there a way to work the right things for my career and grow my mind at the same time? … etc.
The other key with the frame is the categories play off each other. If I don’t invest in my body, I don’t do my best on the job. If I don’t have fun, work sucks … etc.
It’s like a game of hot potato with the hot spots in life.
J.D. Meier´s last blog post…Growth Mindset Over Fixed Mindset
Is there any way I could sit at home, and just collect lots of passive income? And not, like, have to invest any effort into it?
‘Cause if I could, that would be AWESOME!
Friar´s last blog post…Grampa Friar Remembers Telephones
One of the passive income techniques I’ve used for more than 25 years now is yearly service retainers. I put the link that explains the details in my Website link for this comment – I strongly recommend that service based business consider using these for passive income, for avoiding nickel and dime billing and for automatic discounts to larger customers.
Funny thing is, a lot of people who should do this resist the idea, thinking that their customers won’t like it. If you pitch it right, they LOVE it, and after a few years, it becomes dependable, regular income that lets you coast through the inevitable dry periods.
Tony Lawrence´s last blog post…Seeking Political Asylum – need ride
I think an e-book is one of the best ways to earn passive income. A good e-book will take time to write, but the returns will be well worth it.
As soon as I find myself in an opportunity to write an e-book about something that has true value for customers, I will do it.
Bamboo Forest – PunIntended´s last blog post…Our Identities Finally Revealed
@Harry
Re: It looks easier on paper
Yes . . . it most certainly does, doesn’t it. The best way I’ve found to go about it (so far) is to build slowly.
John Hoff´s last blog post…Understanding The Psychology Of Your Website Visitors
@ John/Harry – Actually, it’s not that hard at all. I think we tend to talk ourselves out of doing things very quickly. If we had the spark to get into business to take care of ourselves in the first place, I think that spark to have a better life is always there.
@ Bamboo – An ebook is 1) Fast and 2) Easy if you know how to write and do proper design. It’s a great way to go if you have an idea that stands out!
@ Tony – You have my curiosity piqued. I’m going to have to check that out, because I think it might blend in nicely with a small ace I have up my sleeve…
@ Friar – Um… Awesome, yes. Feasible? No.
But work once, sell many is a good idea to get to that lazy chair you have goin’ on!
@ Everyone – Go read JD’s comment, because that just about sums it up right there. That’s exactly why we all do what we do – because we feel good about it later. Don’t feel good? Don’t do it. Focus on what matters.
@ Charlie – Obviously if you have time to come comment, you’re slacking off somewhere else. And you didn’t pick up your towels off the floor, dude.
@ Lisa – You know what? I read your comment, laughed out loud and thought…
The world is a better place when people laugh. You go, girlfriend.
“Work once , sell many”.. Like chop wood, carry water, great advice.
Knowing why you are doing what you do, why it is important to you in life, and who has a stake in it, can be an eye opener too. Shifts the time focus a bit.
Love this post Harry.
Janice Cartier´s last blog post…January Pink Sale
One of my favorite gurus says of himself and his most successful proteges, that they all spend as much time working on themselves as they do working on their bidniz.
This means working on what produces the work. Your mindset.
Weakened belief systems can reduce you to the idea that you should place others needs ahead of our own. When you do this you become a slave to what you think will please other people and put your own dreams and desires on the hold. Maybe forever.
People who desperately seek the approval of others will always manipulate their schedule to fit into someone they see as having higher value than themselves.
If you never work on your belief systems that lead to this cycle of doomed behaviour, you’ll never be fulfilled.
I don’t know where to tell you to look for it but if you can find a program called “Creating Change That Lasts” by Tony Robbins, this is a 12 cd course that goes deep into what stops you from doing what you want to do and how to disrupt this pattern so you can move onto a level of thinking that supports your ideal life.
After you get this find Dan Kennedy’s “Renegade Millionaire Time Management” program. It’s awesome. This man writes maybe more than any person on this site and still makes time for consulting, live seminars, and horse racing.
The big idea I pulled from this program was too script your day every night before you go to bed. Then take your commitments to spend your time as you wish as seriously as you would an appointment with President Obama.
Check these resources out. I’m sure you’ll love em’.
Note Taking Nerd #2´s last blog post…Are You Coming Across as Too Much of a Smarty Pants To Your Prospects And Customers?
Balancing those things in your life that you have to do with new, dare I say it, more exciting projects, is always a difficult thing. I’m a fiction writer that makes a living as a full-time copywriter. Don’t get me wrong, I like my day job, but it would be fantastic if I could spend more time on my creative scribbling. But I can’t. So I have to do the kinds of things you suggest!
Great post!
Iain Broome´s last blog post…10 things to write on in an emergency!
Learning to treat myself like a client has certainly helped… then I realized you two took actual time off! Didn’t blog or anything!
I’ve got a lot to learn. Thanks for the example (thinking about a vacation…)
Harry
What types of business related things have you outsourced? Yeah, since teaming up with other bloggers- I’ve benefited not only from their friendship but also from their experience, resources, opportunities and contacts. A joint venture or working with a team has its pros and cons.
Thanks for sharing!
-Mig
Miguel | Simply Blog´s last blog post…In the Beginning, Blog!
@ Miguel – I’m not Harry, but I’ll answer on his behalf
We outsource when we know it doesn’t need US to get the job done. For example, much of the administration of the Sticky Business contest was outsourced.
Actually, I don’t really like the word outsourcing, simply because it has really stupid negative associations. Delegation is a much better word.
@ Anne – Best two weeks we ever had
@ Iain – I can’t? Oh man. Don’t say that. No no. Yes you can. Just not in the amounts you’d like!
@ Note 2 – Taking care of yourself is crucial. Absolutely, definitely. If you don’t take care of yourself and your projects, who will?
(and since you’re a regular now, can I get a name? I feel weird calling you Note)
@ Janice – Mmmhm. You said it all right there.