The difference between a freelancing career and being a temporary worker

NAFLP member Stacy Lilly passed on the following article from the Wall Street Journal - "How to Succeed in the Age of Going Solo" regarding the dramatic increase in self-employed workers over the past decade and how to distinguish yourself from other consultants.

The entire article, by Richard Greenwald, is a good read, especially as you are reevaluating your business plans and goals for the year. Here are a few highlights -

"The consultants and freelancers who are most successful offer a technical skill or expertise that is too expensive or infrequently used for companies to keep in-house. . . . "[F]inding the next assignment cannot be done at the expense of retaining and enhancing these skills. Cutting-edge expertise is vital to long-term professional health."

He also recommends joining a network, having your own space for conducting work, and thinking like an entrepreneur. Read the whole article here.

Why you should be your own CEO

It seems that corporate America continues to be run by people who are just as sexist and out-of-touch as those who argued that women should not be allowed to vote, who seem to think that women cannot both raise children and be successful in business.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, in a June 28th speech at the Society for Human Resource Management’s annual conference, former General Electric Co. Chief Executive Jack Welch asserted that women had to choose between taking time off to raise children and reaching the corner office. . . .

[go to the new NAFLP site for the full article]

Recent TeleClass - "Building Your Freelance Business During a Recession" - March 26, 2009 9am Pacific/12noon Eastern

On March 10, 2009, NAFLP hosted its first monthly Telecoffee where the topic of discussion was "Building your Freelance Business During a Recession." Based on the high level of interest and lively discussion it became clear that a formal Teleclass would be beneficial to our members and guests.

"Building Your Freelance Business During A Recession"

The current economic downturns can provide fertile ground for building a successful freelance legal practice. In this teleclass, NAFLP founders Amanda L. Mineer and Melody Kramer will discuss:

• The importance of adjusting your perspective about how you earn a living
• Analyzing the needs of your potential clients and creating a way to meet them
• Differentiating yourself from the competition
• and much more!

PURCHASE A RECORDING OF THIS CALL