Freelance Folder recently posted an open thread asking the question “How Do You Stay Sharp?” The post has some great discussion in the comments section, where many people said that it’s through web sites and blogs that they are able to keep up to date on developments in their particular fields.

Web Design / Development Blogs You Should Be Reading

I myself have a set of design and development related blogs that I read… whether for the latest xhtml/css and WordPress tricks, for design inspiration, etc.

I asked my designer friends on Twitter which sites they thought were the best design blogs to read. You know, the old question “if you were stuck on a desert island and could only have one…” LOL

Without a doubt, the number one answer was Smashing Magazine – for good reason! But there were many others, as well. So for all of the web designers and developers out there, below are 17 essential design blogs you should be reading!

A few months ago, Jon Phillips of Freelance Folder posted a review of Uprinting.com’s printing services. I was impressed with what I saw and left a positive comment on the post.

Not long after, I was approached by a representative of Uprinting.com asking if I’d be willing to accept a similar offer – free printing of 1,000 business cards in exchange for a sponsored review.

How could anyone say no to an offer like that?

As I was in the process of changing my business address, I knew that I would be needing new cards fairly soon – so I immediately said Yes!

When getting ready to design and develop any web site – whether for a client or for myself – there are a few sets of resources that I find myself going back to EVERY single time.

Of course I save all the great resources I come across on Delicious, however only a select handful get an “essential” tag for quick reference.

I’m here to share with you a few of the sites that I consider to be “must have’s” in any web developer’s toolbox – and find out which resources you find absolutely necessary, as well!

I love WordPress… ok scratch that… I ADORE WordPress! I have used it for several of my own personal blogs, as well as to develop blogs and web sites for clients.

However the more I use it – especially for my own projects where I have full creative reign – I am constantly amazed by just how much it is capable of.

A bit overdue, but I’ve been wanting to write a post about social networking for a while now. Casual Friday is as good a day as any to kick back with a little bit of socializing – so I hope you’ll join me!

More Than Just An Online Water Cooler

Let’s face it… participating in social media can be fun. But, if utilized correctly, it can also be a fantastic networking tool that can help grow your blog and bring in new business. Of course, if you aren’t careful to use it productively, it can be a ginormous time-suck, as well – so you also  so you also need to learn when to disconnect.

Wendy Piersall of SparkPlugging (formerly eMoms at Home) recently interviewed me about my recent journey towards self-employment. That interview was just published in the Internet Entrepreneur Channel of the blog!

• How to Leave Your Job & Take the Freelance Plunge in 6 Months

I hope you’ll head on over to SparkPlugging to read the interview!

Asking the Right Questions

Wendy asked me some very thought provoking questions about the preparation and process that I went through in reaching my new full-time freelance status. I hope my answers are helpful to anyone else out there who is considering taking the “freelance plunge” too!

Thank you so much for the interview, Wendy!

Author’s Note: I wrote this post on Saturday, May 31, 2008. Something I couldn’t publish right then, but had to get down “on paper” to be sure I remembered my thought process. I hope it will help some of you reading, who might be going through a similar dilemma – wondering if or when it’s time to take the freelance / solo plunge. As of the time of publishing this post, everything is official – I am FREE!

Times They Are A-Changing

Big, big changes have been in the works! I am almost completely FREE!

I just finished drafting my resignation letter for my full time job of over 9 years. Yes, that’s right, I’m going to be taking the “freelance plunge” – 2 more weeks before I officially go solo and can call myself a self-employed entrepreneur.

This is something I’ve been looking forward to for such a long time now! Anyone who knows me knows of the insane hours I’ve been keeping – working 60-70 hours a week, with not more than 4-5 hours of sleep a night. All to juggle working a full time job, running my own web design business part time, and not to mention that thing called having a life – which in my case is heavily centered around an almost 3 year old.

What Made Me Decide It Was Time?

Let me tell you… this didn’t come without a LOT of preparation and thought. My poor husband has had to deal with the worst of it, LOL. My friends and family, and even general acquaintances have been so incredibly supportive. You know who you are, if you’re reading this!

My AH-HA Moment

I had my “AH-HA” moment last weekend – the Sunday before Memorial Day. I was playing outside with my daughter in the sandbox, while sitting in a lawn chair right beside her. Watching and hearing her play… looking up at the clouds floating and birds flying by in the sky… hearing the relaxing sound of wind rustling through the palm trees… watching the squirrels playing (and napping) in the trees…

A combination of things in that single moment, made me realize THIS is what it’s all about.

My husband and I moved here a few years ago – we had this house built on the lot that we picked (much more bang for your buck than where we were previously renting an apartment). It finally hit me that we moved to be in this beautiful place – to enjoy each other and our house and our lives – now with a beautiful baby girl… ok, toddler – she’s NOT a baby anymore!

In The Blink Of An Eye

I realize these last few years living here – especially since my daughter was born – have literally flown past me in the blink of an eye. This year in particular has gone by so quickly! And what was I doing? Instead of enjoying the back yard on a regular basis, I was couped up inside this office. Missing out on her growing up – missing out on LIFE!

Now, I must say that I do work from home, and it’s something I am so incredibly grateful for! I have been able to witness so many of my daughter’s “first’s” – her first smile, first bath, first time rolling over, first time crawling, first time walking… heck, even the first time she tried to get something from her Daddy (chocolate covered raisins), and then came to ask me when he said no! Where did she learn to do THAT so quickly! LOL

It’s a lot of the little things, too. Working so much now, I am constantly tired and stressed – thinking of work. So even when I’m with them now, my mind is still at least half on work, if not completely checked-out and wishing I were asleep.

But WHEN?

I had been flip flopping for the longest time, as to if or when I should take the plunge. My initial plan was to wait until the end of the year to make the big move.

I worked my butt off this year, though, and much to my surprise and joy, I realized I had reached a point where I could take the solo plunge much sooner, rather than later. Amazing! I’ve been astonished, to tell you the truth.

But is it safe? How do you know it’s time to leave a steady paycheck for something more? Well, you don’t…

I recently read an interview by Akemi with Naomi of Itty Biz. I’ve hired Naomi twice already, with some more stuff in the works! Anyway, a few weeks ago, I read an amazing interview titled “I Can’t Not Do This” – All I could say is WOW! It’s like she was talking right to me!

You’re Never 100% Ready

To quote my favorite part of the interview…

Any advice for people who dream to have
their own business and yet find it hard
to make the leap?

Make the leap before you’re totally ready. I read in a magazine once that you should never be 100% ready to have kids. If you think you’re 100% ready, you’re missing something. I think the same thing applies to business. If you wait until you’re 100% ready, you’ll be dead before you launch. Be 80% ready. Do the best you can and just go for it…

Jump and the net will appear.

Something about this quote really struck a nerve with me. I literally have the quote up on my bulletin board as inspiration!

When my husband and I were deciding when to have kids, I had said to myself that I was not 100% ready… I don’t think you truly can be! You just have to decide when you are “ready enough” and trust that the rest (knowledge of parenting at that point… running a successful business now…) will come naturally!

Well, this is a similarly life changing event, just in terms of career rather than family – although in actuality, they do all connect as part of the circle of life…

First Things First

So, here I am, on a Saturday night. Planning on a big conversation that’s about to take place at work. Not one I’m particularly looking forward to, I admit. But the outcome of which, is something that I’ve been dreaming about for such a long time now!

It’s time to put me and my family first. I deserve this! I’ve worked hard, and I deserve to be successful.

I’m so ready for this move, and can’t wait to start this new phase of my life.

I hope you’ll join me for the ride!

Author’s Note: I can’t end this post without linking to the great article that Naomi just published yesterday with some amazing advice on starting a home business. THANK YOU, Naomi! You made my day with your post, and to be honest I even welled up reading it. Thank you for Everything!

Back in January, I started reading Get Clients Now! A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals, Consultants, and Coaches by C.J. Hayden.

This book walks you through creating a 28 Day Marketing Program to help promote your business. It’s particularly aimed at service based businesses, but I’m sure the techniques could be adapted to those selling products as well.

With a title like that, the book instantly caught my attention. That and the rave reviews I saw on Amazon. (Yes, that’s an affiliate link above… if you plan to buy the book anyway, I hope you’ll help a girl out by clicking the link, LOL)

From the first few pages, I was very excited to get started with the 28 day program. I believe I share a lot in common with many small business owners -we love what we do, but we are designers or writers or [insert job title here]… not necessarily marketing specialists!

As a small business owner, though, you end up wearing many different hats – including that of a sales man (or woman).

The Universal Marketing Cycle: A Brief Overview…

Get Clients Now! focuses on the four stages of the Universal Marketing Cycle:

• Filling the Pipeline
• Following Up
• Getting Presentations
• Closing Sales

C.J. Hayden explains the strategies and ingredients necessary for improving your performance on the stages above. As part of the 28 day cycle, you are able to put together your own program, selecting the specific ingredients, techniques and daily actions that appeal to you.

The Importance of Self-Promotion

I’ve found this to be a very motivational book, and I can honestly say that I have accomplished a LOT because of it. I’ve completed several success ingredients, and have been networking through this blog and other social media. I’ve met a lot of great people, and formed relationships that I never would have if not for this book.

Some of the contacts I’ve made through the networking suggestions in the book have turned into qualified leads, too (and that is the point of the book, after all…)

Now, I love the concept of the 28 Day program… BUT – and there’s always a “but” – I’ve started 3 programs so far, and I have yet to actually complete one!

Although I always hit the ground running, I end up slacking off before reaching the final week (or two). I hope that doesn’t reflect poorly on the book itself, it’s just the side of me who ends up putting clients first, before my own business.

Avoid the Feast or Famine Cycle

Unfortunately, this throws me right into the vicious cycle of feast vs famine.

In other words, when business is slow, I market like crazy, which is great! But when things pick up and I’m juggling several clients at once, I feel I “don’t have time” for marketing.

This is most certainly NOT the smartest approach to take – because although you will not notice it during the busy times, you will most definitely feel the consequences “next month” when the work you were doing is finished, and there are no new clients on the horizon.

It’s important to keep planting those seeds, so you have a steady stream of work sprouting up.

Enter a NEW Month… and a NEW 28 Day Program!

So, this post is all about creating some accountability for myself. This time will be different, as I’ll be posting weekly updates right here.

Nothing like putting it all out in the open to help make you accountable!

Care to Join Me?

I’m planning on starting a new program very soon – a little over a week from now, on Saturday, May 17th.

The book suggests starting the program on a Saturday, but otherwise you have weekends “off” while you do the majority of your program tasks during the work-week. Of course, if your schedule is different, you can easily re-arrange the dates to better suit you. Point is… it’s 28 days of marketing and self-promotion.

You can’t go wrong there!

A Book Club, of Sorts…

I’d love to open this up to anyone else who has the book; have been planning on getting the book; have never heard of the book, but your interest is now peaked… well, you get the idea, right?

I’ll be posting weekly updates as I go through the program. It might not all make sense to you if you don’t have Get Clients Now! but you can get a general idea of what to expect if you do eventually want to try it for yourself.

Are You In?

So, if you want to participate, please make a comment below or post on your blog, etc. It would be great to have a group of people to help hold each other accountable. What’s there to loose – your business could (and likely will) benefit from it!

For those of you joining in on the fun, you can download the FREE marketing plan worksheets from the Get Clients Now web site.

Have You Already Completed A (Several) Program(s)?

I’d love to hear your thoughts… Has it worked for you?

Do you have any suggestions?

BTW, like Naomi’s recent small business game post…

…this is NOT a meme! LOL

Read More Posts In This Series

• View All Posts Tagged with “Get Clients Now!”

Last week, Naomi over at Itty Biz posed a thoughtful question to her readers: Let’s Play a Game – What’s Your Home Business?

Some might call this a meme, but she doesen’t specifically call anyone out to answer, so it’s NOT a meme, LOL.

Not as Obvious as You Think…

Naomi received a question from one of her regular readers, asking what she actually does for a living.

“So what do you actually do for a living?”

This can be somewhat shocking to hear that a regular reader doesn’t quite understand what you do… If a regular reader doesn’t get it – how are new visitors you your site or blog supposed to know?

Enter the What’s Your Home Business Game! Naomi posted several questions that will help clarify exactly what it is that you do for a living. Sounds like a fun and completely useful game. It’s my turn now, so here goes…

A good friend of mine recently decided to start-up her own business, and asked me if there were any web sites or blogs that I recommend she read.

I’m currently subscribed to approximately 40 blogs relating to small business, blogging, marketing, etc. Although I love them all, some are more highly regarded as great resources on these topics.

The cream of the crop so to speak…

Now, this isn’t a definitive list, as it’s all subject to personal opinion, if you know what I mean. There are obviously a LOT more blogs than the ones listed below, and many of these actually cross-over between different categories – although I did attempt to place them in the most applicable spot…

Anyway, these are the blogs that I personally refer to the most. Whether it is to read the latest post, or search through the archives for something specific, you can often find me on these sites. They are the “must reads” on my feed reader.