Teach yourself to pause and do a "value check" from time to time.
Part of what makes us tick as freelancers is our ability to remain focused, build momentum and get work done.
Without the ability to focus and drive forward with our work, we would be at a big disadvantage, and would earn much less.
However, there is also a danger that comes with driving forward at speed without pausing from time to time to see where we are and where we are going.
In short, if we don't sit up and pause from time to time, we can make some mistakes, both short-term and long-term.
As an example, a short-term mistake might be that we are working hard on a particular project...but it is proving to be a low-value use of our time.
We feel good, because we are working quickly and efficiently. We complete each day with the sense that we have accomplished a great deal. And that may well be the case.
But what if the project we are working on is not paying particularly well? What if we are working ourselves into the ground, but not really working our way forwards?
This is just one way in which we can make an error in the short-term use of our time.
Over the long term we might find we have spent years working in the wrong niche, in the wrong medium or for the wrong types of clients.
The point I'm making is that when we work at speed, we also tend to grow blinkers that keep us focused on a very narrow set of objectives. We see the trees, one by one, but we don't see the forest.
So here are three things I do, and I recommend you do the same:
1. I have a reminder set for first thing every Wednesday morning (middle of the week). The reminder just says, "Pause". This gets me to pause and make a quick mental review of what I'm doing. Am I working smart, or just working hard? Am I spending too much time on low-value tasks and clients?
2. Another reminder is set to pop up monthly. It simply says, "Value check". This reminds me to open a file I keep that lets me know how much I am earning with each of my clients. This tells me where the money is really coming from, and serves to nudge me when I'm spending too much time on low-value activities.
3. Once a year, between Christmas and the New Year, I do an annual review. I step way back and look at everything I'm doing. And I tend to make some big changes for the year to come.
This isn't only about money. Money is one measure of value. I also consider some low income activities as being a smart investment in the future of my business. (Like writing articles for prestigious publications.)
Doing work I enjoy is also of high value to me. I would rather leave money on the table than work on something I don't enjoy.
The whole point of this process is to help you pause from time to time and check on what you're doing.
Are you moving in the right direction? Are you making the best use of your time? Are you getting good value for the work you do?
Don't miss the next article, sign up for my newsletter...
Get a FREE copy of the Freelance Business Growth Checklist and SAVE 50% on a one-hour phone call with me when you sign up for my coaching newsletter.
Privacy: I'll never sell or share your email address. And you can unsubscribe at any time.
Learn more about the coaching and pricing options I offer...
