I got the idea for this post while “meditating” so it might sound a tad overzealous. But it came out of a recent laborious task of finding work in Hawaii. Every corner like an inkling of opportunity seemed to land not at an open door, but another wall.
How do you keep your cool in a desert of opportunities?
Here’s what you don’t do:
Don’t show your cards.
Don’t react from a place of emptiness. The desperation has a tendency to attract more desperation and less opportunities.
Don’t confide in the cynics and the pessimists. They’ll give you more reason to give up.
Here’s what you should do: Every time you hit a wall, take a break for brainstorming. Not just a mini break where you pretend to not look at your computer, cell or iPad. I’m talking get out of the house, meditate, go window shopping. Give your mind breathing space so it can help you figure out a solution to what seems like an unsolvable problem. If you keep digging in there, you’re going to get burnt out. And then it’s going to be that much harder to keep you motivated. It’s a long road, my friends, so make sure you packed enough sustenance for the journey.
When you’re well-rested spontaneous breakthroughs are likely to occur. After I hit ad agencies and magazine pubs and got a handful of bites from those contacts, I then went to book publishers and contacted them. Then health care corps and advertorial pubs. Now I’m thinking about hitting greeting card companies. Whenever I hit a block, I remember that everyone needs a writer. I just have to make the way easy for them to find me. Same for you.
On Facebook, I posted the best advice I could offer you. It’s simply to ask. Ask your friends and family if they know anyone hiring a writer. Ask your yoga teacher. Ask your local vendors at the farmer’s market. Contact the publishers of publications you receive in the mail. Of all the things I’ve done since I’ve moved home, the one that got me the most work is to ask. I’ve received about 90% responses of which about 70% were job opportunities. Not bad stats IMHO. Make your next efforts shock worthy by not giving up. By expressing your enthusiasm to help, your willingness to do what needs to get done, you will eventually find that open door on your way to freelance writing success.
Great post, Brandi. Such good advice. Based on my own experience as a freelancer, I think your list of things not to do are spot on. I also love your advice to “give your mind breathing space so it can help you figure out a solution to what seems like an unsolvable problem.” Keep up the good work!
Thanks Jessica! Surprisingly, it’s something I was forced to learn in the lean land of freelancing opportunities here in Hawaii. But I’m grateful for it. I’ll never again feel like there is no way. There’s always a way even if it means carving it out yourself.