Sunday, February 1, 2009

Advice for the Freshly Self-Employed

If you want a piece of work well and thoroughly done, pick a busy man. The man of leisure postpones and procrastinates, and is ever making preparations and "getting things in shape;" but the ability to focus on a thing and do it is the talent of the man seeming o'erwhelmed with work.

Elbert Hubbard, from The Philosophy of Elbert Hubbard, page 42; published 1930

This quote exposes a very powerful truth - the busy person gets the work.

If you find yourself "freshly self-employed" one of the best things you can do for your state of mind (and your future) is to stay as busy and productive as possible.

What to do? Do what you love and love to do. If you have a particular favorite aspect of your life (music, art, programming, flower arrangement, it could be anything) dive into it. If it requires capital, dive into the communities that focus on these activities (they used to be called user groups - probably Facebook groups these days). If you can't find a community around your special interest, form one.

Remember, you now have 40 hours returned to you for your use each week, keep them productive. If you are visibly productive, it will be noticed - and there is always someone that needs something done. If they are wise and follow the quote above, you may be the busy person called on to perform.