Freelance success depends on being able to color over the lines.
This is a much used analogy, but a good one.
As young children we are boundlessly creative. Anything is possible. We can fly to the moon, dine with royalty and hold conversations with the family dog.
Then we go to school.
Little by little we are taught to color between the lines. Just like everyone else. The boundaries of our creativity and potential gradually shrink. Finally, we get it, and color between the lines every time. It becomes a habit.
Trouble is, the lines we are taught to respect are drawn by other people. Our parents, our teachers and even our first boss carefully point out where the lines lie. “There they are, and don’t color over them.”
For many people, they can go through their entire career without ever having to color over those lines.
But if you are an entrepreneur, those lines won’t work very well for you. And as a freelancer, you are an entrepreneur.
The lines represent an outer boundary to what is known and acceptable. It’s safe inside. Society rewards us for remaining inside.
It may be safe inside those lines, but it isn’t creative. Nor is it extraordinary.
For as long as you stay within those lines you won’t be noticed, or talked about, because you’ll be just like everyone else.
The challenge for every adult who spends any time reflecting on his or her life is to color over those lines. Do it with abandon, just the way you used to drawn on the kitchen table, with fingers dipped in spaghetti sauce.
The day you break out and get your fingers sticky again is the day you will exponentially expand the scope and potential of your freelance business. And your life.
It is scary, because the last time you really and truly colored over the lines was probably when you were at kindergarten.
But if you can do it, you’ll be flying to the moon. Again.
If you would like help in coloring over the lines, find out more about my coaching service...
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