I recently won an award of merit for one of my newsletters, and I must say, it is gonna feel really nice adding that award to my resume.

I nominated the newsletter because I was encouraged to do so by others who believed in my work, but I really don’t know that I would have nominated the publication on my own had I not had that support.

And that is just silly.

If you want to be an award-winning _____, you are going to have to start winning stuff!

This week: dig around, find the groups in your town that honor your craft, and submit your work.

I’m telling ya – coming in second place has never felt so fine

John Holleman and Company presents a masked performance of Odd Man Out – a comedy of the unexpected, May 18 – 27 at 7:30 p.m., at Nashville’s Darkhorse Theater. Tickets: $10.

Come check out these FlackRabbiters!

This week I am learning that persistence is not necessarily nagging.

Some clients need you to stay on top of their deadlines for them. They need you to call and hold them accountable for their role in the client/provider relationship.

Your clients are busy folks. They know they need a website, brochure copy, rehearsal schedule, etc. Their problem is finding the time to sit down and provide you with what you need to produce the product.

This might be the first time your client has ever been asked to write or think about such things.

Patience is good, but what your clients really need is motivation.

It may not be what you signed up for, but you are your client’s cheerleader.

Sure, door-to-door “sales” conjures up images of Avon ladies and girl scouts, but don’t let that taint you.

After all, if getting a gig is a matter of who you know, then you had better get out there and get to know people.

Eat your Wheaties, grab a handful of business cards and your portfolio and hit the road. Introduce yourself, make an appointment to come back again, and be sure to ASK for their business.

If you don’t ask them and keep reminding them to call you, use you, think of you, keep you in mind, etc. Then they won’t.

So shave your face, iron your khakis and get out there!  

It came as a shock to me today, but it is true: People are reading our blog!

As a result, they are opening ING accounts and attempting to write more thank you notes.

We are so proud of you and appreciate your support

Bottom line: if you perform a requested service for which you would charge a stranger $75 an hour, there is no excuse for you to perform said service free of charge for ANYONE. No matter how sweet, kind, or familiar they are.

The road to successful freelancing, business owning and cash earning is paved with invoices.

Come on! A discount is one thing – but FREE?! Heck no! Don’t feel bad about charging folks for your services. I assure you they won’t feel bad about paying you for a job well done. So don’t screw it up