Life on Avenue Z

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Multitasking and hourly work don't mix

As a freelance copywriter, I prefer to work on a project-by-project basis, giving one price for a series of eNewsletters, a brochure, etc. Recently I've been working on an hourly basis for several clients, and I'm struggling.

A couple of hourly issues:

1. Multitasking doesn't work when you're working hourly. Last week I kept trying to get into a really big hourly project, but the phone rang, or the teleconference time came up, or exciting emails came in.
2. Covering off small tasks for an hourly project doesn't work. For example, someone writes in and says, "Hey, Beth. Add this to that other document, pretty please." So I stop what I'm doing (3-5 minutes), absorb what has to be done (3-5 minutes), actually perform the task (10-15 minutes), write back to the client to let him know it's done (2 minutes), go record the time in my time-tracking software (2 minutes), then figure out where I was in the other project and get back into it (3-5 minutes).
   
   So perhaps I spent 15 minutes actually working on this. It actually took me 30 or so to get into it and out of it. What do I record?

I've moved my major hourly work to nights and weekends so I can work uninterrupted for longer periods of time. Yesterday I spent 6 very successful hours on a big project and pushed all the way to the end.

Ahh... the hectic holiday season

A few weeks ago I wrote about my daily schedule and how I was exchanging actual work time for marketing and follow-up time because I didn't have as much work to do as I had marketing to do.

In the past week, I've landed some really big projects for Avenue Z Writing Solutions. All of a sudden, I have almost no time to work on marketing during the day. I'm actually working on project after project. In fact, I've had to reschedule a meeting with a potential partner, cancel a class I was going to teach and cut back a little on working out. It's been pretty amazing.

Copywriting Guru Peter Bowerman warns in his books that December is frequently very busy with everyone wanting to get projects started/completed before the end of the year. I figured that wouldn't be the case this year since I'm just starting off. I was wrong. He also warns that January is very slow. But if you don't advertise in December for January work, how do you make a living in January?

My problem is keeping up with the marketing while all this working is happening. In sales we learned very quickly that one can never just sit around and finish what's on one's plate. One always has to be on the hunt for tomorrow's dinner.

I'm worried about hunting, but right now I'm trying to juggle all these deadlines.

This is good, right?

First Do No Laundry

I've got to admit that I do a pretty good job of keeping focused on my work as a professional writer while I'm here in my home office. When I'm at my desk, it's just like being in an office at work, and I pretty much ignore that I'm actually sitting in my living room at a $35 Ikea desk I picked up at a thrift store.

But sometimes I really have to stop myself from living the life of someone who stays home all the time. A former colleague gave me the first rule of working from home: never do your laundry during the day. Here are a few rules I try to live by to keep my work day professional.

1. Like my friend said, first do no laundry. I have three loads running right now, but I couldn't help it. I don't have many outfits for the gym, and I go five days a week. I have to therefore keep up with my laundry much more than I did when I just sat around in yesterday's sweats all the time.
2. The fridge is not your friend. Just because I'm ten feet from my kitchen doesn't mean that I can pop up for Pop Tarts when I need a break. Of course, if I worked in a real office, I'd have to avoid the conference room donuts as well.
3. Forget working on your complexion or your unwanted facial hair during the day. Sometimes on a quick trip to the restroom, I catch a look at myself in the mirror. "Hmmm... I could use a quick mud mask," I think. But I really try to resist.
4. Do not pick up a dust rag. This is actually my worst habit while I'm talking on the phone. I pace around the house, and I start dusting, or mopping, or wrapping up the garbage. And then the client says, "Write this down," and I have to rush back to my desk.
5. Watch out for friends and coffee. I'm forever getting sucked into coffee with friends during the work day. I ADORE coffee with friends, and it's hard for me to resist. But sometimes I really need to limit my coffee time or just not go. (Ok, I always go, but sometimes I make myself leave early.)
6. Be careful of personal email. I've talked about this before. Personal email checking, internet surfing, mail sorting, personal calls from friends. All these things distract me from actual work. And if I don't do the actual work, the business does not keep going.
7. When the cat's away, you can get work done. My cat's name is Mickey Mouse, and she frequently becomes insistent that NOW is the time to cuddle. RIGHT NOW. No, really. It's best when I keep her high on catnip or when I keep the house a little chilly so she curls on my bed in the down comforter.

For more ways I waste time, view My whole category on Procrastination....

A guest post by a helpful resource

Dear readers,

I invited a health insurance agent to write a guest post for Life on Avenue Z. I found talking to him very helpful in light of my challenges in finding a good health insurance policy for my small business as a professional writer.

From David Lindsey...

Finding quality Health Insurance is hard these days...Part of the common stereotype of the past Insurance Salesman has caused thousands to flee exposure to a bad experience in there own home, to trying to sort it all out online. That leaves the shopper working blind.

Just like you would not go to court on your own, or operate on yourself, you need a professional, but not a pushy salesman. Today, I am an educator. In Insurance, the internet should be used to gather information, but it is invaluable to find an expert you can trust who can help you in 3 important areas.

1. You need to understand the market, what the landscape looks like.
   
2. You need to have options/choices of carriers and plans.
   
3. You need to have the subtle differences between the plans/carriers explained in detail.

The most commonly overlooked but most vital is the Annual Maximum Out of Pocket exposure. This is your deductible plus your co-insurance, should something bad happen. Many California plans have Max Out of Pocket exposure of $7500 per year. An overnight stay at the Hospital for observation, or a Outpatient Surgery could run you $7500 making you wonder where is the insurance.

Humbly, I am one of those Insurance Agents, but I am different. I want you to fully understand all of the above, before you make a decision. SO, to avoid being sales-y here, check out my website www.davidlindseyinsurance.com , see what they are saying about me and if you have a need in California, let's talk.

I was invited personally by Beth to attempt to address some of these concerns. We met recently at a Constant Contact seminar, spoke of her needs and here I am. If I can help you improve your situation, I will tell you. If I cannot, I will also tell you. One more thing...you pay the same premium if you go direct or if you go through an agent. The commission is there, so find a professional to earn his fees by helping educate you and help you find the right coverage for you.

No reason to always take my blog so seriously

I was just tagged by Ms. Moonbeam McQueen for a meme. As requested, I will write seven things about myself and post the following rules:

1) Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here goes...

1. I love toe rings and anklets more than any other jewelry. My favorite anklets have tiny bells.
2. I spend many nights a week -- especially Friday and Saturday -- in the gym so that the long hours that a personal life frequently fills don't make me sad. I wear my marathon gear to the gym to make it look like I'm a serious athlete, not a dateless loner. How my hot pink cap with "Marathon Girl" spelled in cheap rhinestones makes me look like a serious athlete is really none of my concern. It goes well with my San Diego Rock -n- Roll Marathon ankle socks.
3. I have salt-and-pepper nose hairs. What bothers me the most is that I'm aware I have salt-and-pepper nose hairs.
4. My current favorite meal is a can of albacore tuna, heated with about a teaspoon of butter and tossed with angel hair pasta, capers and Chinese hot pepper sauce. I eat it about three times a week.
5. The people I love most in the world live more than a thousand miles away.
6. My math scores were much higher than my verbal scores on both the SAT and the GRE. And now I'm a writer.
7. In my head I wrote and rewrote and rewrote this meme list at least 46 times since I was tagged yesterday.

Ok... now for the tagging....

Ingrid the Great
Sarah from BROOD
Happy Katie
Gluten-Free Tiffany (Gluten-Free Steve was just tagged)
David Castle Art
Joleeann
Elizabeth from A Green Footprint

The search for the perfect holiday card

I really had high hopes for sending out Christmas gifts to my clients this year, but it looks like I'm going to have to settle for sending cards instead of gifts. I'm having a tough time trying to figure out which cards to send as well.

I want a card that stands out and is fun, but it has to be environmentally sensitive. I'm in love with these cards from Bloomin' Flower Cards. Each holiday card has a snowflake or dove or snowman or tree that is a removable ornament which can also be planted.

But I've gotten plant-able cards before, and I've never planted them. So I doubt my clients will either.

Cards Direct has recycled cards as well, but I don't necessarily like the fact that they offer a line but aren't really an environmentally sensitive company. And besides, many of their offerings have cowboy boots and Western themes. Not my style.

These aren't my style either.

I love these from this Swedish manufacturer, but you have to order 200.

I like these, but I don't want to be too preachy.

My new favorites are here -- a talented artist using recycled paper. Hmmm.... We may have a winner.

Essential tools for the freelance writer

Today is Black Friday when everything's on sale. Here's my shopping list of things you might want to buy to equip your office.

Becoming a professional writer doesn't take very much equipment. You can really get started with the very basics of tools...

1. A laptop computer with a ton of memory and a fast chip. I have a Sony Vaio.
2. Amazingly fast internet access. I have cable.
3. An all-in-one office machine with a printer, scanner, fax machine and copier. Mine's an HP Officejet.
4. A phone with speaker phone (mine doesn't have it, darn it), call waiting, a robust long-distance plan, call forwarding and voice mail. You should also have a cell phone to forward calls to.
5. Microsoft Office (I choose office because it's the most common -- all your clients probably use it).
6. Stapler, tape, pens and pencils, paper clips, etc. These are very cheap at back-to-school sales.

Once you have the basics, you can add a few extras as you see fit. Here are the items on my second tier of needs...

1. Steno pads for notes.
2. A nice portfolio for face-to-face visits with clients.
3. Other note pads for daily to do lists.
4. A highlighter (I have only one -- I love them and need more).
5. Labels for direct mail efforts. I like the Avery Easy Peel Clear Mailing Labels.
6. Thank you notes for clients.
7. Accounting software -- I use a free program called Microsoft Accounting. Works just fine.
8. Organizational tools like color-coded folders and color tabs for the steno pads.
9. A big-screen monitor and separate keyboard and mouse for the laptop.
10. A shredder.
11. Recycled paper (I use both sides).
12. A backup system for files. I use Mozy.com and love it.
13. A time-tracking system. I use Pelotonics, which is also a project management system.

More of my favorite freebies
More about what's on a copywriter's desk

A recipe for the holidays

Since it's just me in San Diego this year, Thanksgiving is going to be pretty quiet. I'm not cooking anything, so I thought I'd share my family's most treasured holiday dish. I promise it's always the biggest crowd pleaser.

Note: No one has written this recipe down. Ever. And each year we have to struggle to remember the ratios for the sauce. So each year we guess how it's supposed to bake and make the sauce to taste.

Family Ziesenis Green Beans with Mustard Sauce

2 lbs fresh green beans
1 lb bacon
1 stick butter
1 tablespoon vinegar
3 tablespoons yellow mustard

Pinch the ends off the green beans and keep them long. Cut the bacon strips in half, and wrap small bundles of the beans with bacon, using toothpicks to secure. Place green bean bundles on a cookie sheet lined with foil and bake in the oven. My mother says she'd try 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. You want to cook the bacon thoroughly without destroying the green beans.

To make the sauce, melt the butter slowly in a saucepan. Add the mustard first and the vinegar last, stirring constantly. We usually make the sauce after the green beans have baked because it doesn't take long, and the sauce will separate if it gets cold. Mom says to make sure you don't boil the sauce so it doesn't curdle. My sister says to start with two tablespoons of mustard and add more to taste.

Serve the green beans and sauce separately, since some people (my sister, for example) aren't fond of mustard.

Another lesson learned disguised as a post about my hair

I treated myself to an expensive haircut today, thanks to my generous mother's birthday check. I walked in and told the stylist that I really had no idea what I wanted.

"Fix it," I said. And boy did he.

I have thick hair, and now it's thin, thin. I had split ends that needed to go, and he took them off and ADDED split ends, calling it "shattering" the ends for volume. My hair is a thousand different lengths and will never look good in a ponytail at the gym. And the ends are dry as sticks and look dead.

My immediate thought: THIS GUY SUCKS! But then I thought for a minute about how he came to the conclusions he did about what would work.

Here are two places this relationship went bad...

One, as the customer, I didn't know what I wanted. I came in with a problem and said I'd like a solution. And he gave me the solution he thought was best.

Two, when I didn't know what I wanted, he didn't ask any questions that would perhaps help him to help me figure out what I wanted. "Are you looking for something more professional?" he could have asked. "Are there any people who come to mind with hair you like?" But he didn't ask any questions. He just went forward as an expert and assumed he was doing what I wanted.

This is what happens with professional service providers if we don't ask enough questions. "I have a problem" a client will say. As a professional writer, I need to help the client to define the problem, to identify what solutions would solve that problem, to recognize concepts that would solve the problem in a way that fits into their business. But sometimes I'm guilty of saying, "Right. You've got a problem. I'll give you my solution." And this doesn't work, which is why I was summarily dismissed by a recent client.

So, for now I'm going to wear a hat, and I'm going to use the lesson I learned to make my business thrive so I can afford to find a better stylist.

It's not about the number

As of today, I'm 39 years old. I was talking to a friend last night, and she said, "I don't worry about the number -- I just think about where I am and what I've accomplished to see if I'm on track."

We then proceeded to attend a small dinner party that included indulgent food and too much wine, and I certainly didn't feel I was acting any age I've been in the last decade. But that's beside the point.

Her comment really has me thinking. When my mother turned 39, she had a very tough time. We other family members quietly left her presents in the bathroom for her to discover. Celebrating was out of the question. I'm not feeling threatened or unhappy about my new number, but I'm not sure it's because I'm comfortable with what I've accomplished. When I turned 30, I cried for days, mainly because I hadn't accomplished a goal I had set to be published by 30.

But today, now, these days, for the past several years.... I don't really feel a ticking clock beside me. In fact, making the move to be a professional writer has instead made me more comfortable with the clock. I always imagined I'd use writing as a retirement plan, and now that I'm working for myself, I don't have to worry about ageism or sexism or a lot of -isms, real or imagined, that may have affected how confident I felt in a more conventional job.

I'm good at what I do. I'm glad I'm doing it. And my age at this point is just a number.