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Why do workshifters “dare to be different”? And what implications might this have for innovation across the business landscape? For today’s food for thought, read my inaugural post for Workshifting.com.
And thanks to Justin Levy for inviting me to become a regulator contributor. I’m excited to be joining A.J. Leon, Melissa Leon, and the rest of the stellar Workshifting crew.
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I was a little surprised last week by all the attention surrounding Chris Brogan’s day rate. A little of it reminded me of when I started my business and a few (former) friends decided I was really sitting around eating bonbons and cashing trust fund checks. Mostly it reminded me that too many people don’t know how to value their work.
My day rate may not be $22,000, but I do not allow organizations to pick my brain by the hour. My hourly strategy rate is primarily used to establish a retainer or a project fee–both of which build in start-up, research, concepting, and so forth. Not to mention intelligence, know-how, and expertise.
Why would anyone walk into a room and discount that?
Photo by Esparta (Flickr).
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One of the toughest challenges of consulting is the “feast or famine” syndrome. If you’ve been doing this work for any length of time, then you have probably experienced both those times when you’re working really crazy hours and the weeks when you’re climbing the walls waiting for that next project to start. So how do you effectively juggle multiple client projects and professional commitments?
My three keys are prioritizing, productivity, and perseverance:
While juggling projects can be a challenge, I often find the bigger challenge for many small businesses and independent consultants is reluctance to take on more work because of fear of overload.
Has this happened to you? And what strategies do you use to juggle effectively?
Photo by Helico (Flickr).
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Should you be on LinkedIn? Plaxo? BizSugar or Open Forum? While it’s easy to be online, the vast array of options can leave even the social-media-savviest business person overwhelmed. At last check, my AddThis button linked to over 230 separate platforms/sites.
Because time is a finite resource and we can’t be everywhere, I recommend applying a simple three-pronged business test for social presence:
I explore these questions in some detail in a new IABC CW Bulletin article, Bringing Social Media to Your Business. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Photo by jenny downing (Flickr).
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I was listening to the UStream feed from Hawaii on Saturday. While I was generally impressed with the state’s emergency preparedness planning, there was one piece of advice that I think needs revisiting. When asked where people should turn for evacuation details, officials advised checking the routes printed in the phone book.
With more people ditching their landlines and even more of us relying on the Internet and smartphones for information, just assuming people have a phone book seems out of touch.
Do you have a phone book? And where would you turn first for advice in an emergency?
Photo by Ed Kohler (Flickr).
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