| How disciplined are you? | | | | most important projects, lays out what I need to do in |
| If you're like most freelancers, you love the "time | | | | half hour increments, shames me into doing my daily |
| freedom" of your lifestyle. No more punching a time | | | | exercise routine, and forces me to be accountable |
| clock or being chained to a desk. No more "hanging up | | | | throughout the day. If someone needs a favor of me, it |
| quickly" when the boss walks by. | | | | must go on the Daily Schedule where it "bumps" a |
| As a freelancer those days are gone forever...but one | | | | work item. |
| quickly learns that in order to make a great living as a | | | | Here is the Formula for |
| copywriter, you're now the "boss" to whom you must | | | | Creating Your Own "Task Master" |
| be accountable! | | | | Since it's so easy for us freelancers to procrastinate |
| It's ironic, to be sure. And as you strive for higher and | | | | when we're faced with a task we'd rather put off, I put |
| higher income and greater and greater success, you'll | | | | right at the top of my Daily Schedule the question, |
| realize that neither will come without strict time | | | | "How will I earn money today?" And then I must write |
| discipline on your part. | | | | it down in the top position for that day's work. |
| Setting Your "Policy" | | | | This forces me to put aside the fun but less important |
| Now that you work from home (as most freelance | | | | jobs, to focus on the most lucrative. |
| writers do), people will know that you're available for | | | | My Daily Schedule also has two columns: the left hand |
| rides to the airport and other favors. Since part of the | | | | column is for "Task"; the right hand column is for |
| pleasure of freelancing is its time flexibility, you might | | | | "Activity." The Task column shows what I should be |
| want to be able to say "yes" from time to time. | | | | doing at any appointed time. The Activity column |
| However there's a big danger lurking called "part time | | | | shows what I AM doing. |
| work," and if you spend too much time not working, | | | | Having to write down what I'm actually doing under |
| you wind up with "part time pay." If you have a family | | | | "Activity" exposes those moments when I'm doing |
| or small children, enormous amounts of time can also | | | | something I shouldn't be doing...those time-wasters that |
| be siphoned away through small but endless | | | | detract from my income. You can imagine how |
| interruptions. | | | | powerful it is to acknowledge - by physically writing it |
| The best way to deal with "time thieves" is to institute | | | | down - that you're not doing what you're supposed to |
| a "policy," as most businesses do. When you say "I'm | | | | be doing! |
| sorry, my policy is to devote two hours per week to | | | | If you adopt this system for keeping you on the |
| doing favors and this week I've already used them up," | | | | straight-and-narrow, be sure to create your plan for |
| you'll probably find little resistance. That's because | | | | the day the night before. That way you can gather the |
| policies are like printed signs: people rarely argue with | | | | tools, papers, research and other items you need so |
| them. | | | | you can truly stay on schedule throughout the day. |
| A Simple But Powerful Daily Schedule Document | | | | By working from such a schedule you can identify |
| As a freelancer, you'll need to create your own work | | | | your personal work weaknesses, increase your billable |
| system and your own documents. Over the years I've | | | | time and effectiveness, and conquer your |
| refined my own system and documents to near | | | | procrastination. |
| perfection (I'm always changing and improving as ideas | | | | Try this system for yourself and see if you don't get |
| come to me). | | | | more done, earn more, and feel more successful - |
| One of my most powerful documents is my "Daily | | | | because you are! |
| Timesheet and Schedule." It helps me prioritize my | | | | |