2013 September

Freelancing veterans remembered here are the people who have sown the seeds for this area of work to develop to what it is now. Many years ago when freelancing was not very popular, few people would have had an idea of starting a new trend. They must have struggled to get themselves interviews and audience with employers who are likely to offer them work.

This is the time when we need to remember them and thank them for the effort they put in to legalize freelancing. Today, they have enabled employers to lead to a large workforce working at different places and different time zones adding value to work done in office spaces and elsewhere.

It is good to know a few veterans, if you are into freelancing. They are sources of much experience and exposure and can guide you well in your work. All this while we were speaking of talent and skills that will make a good freelancer stand out. But, somewhere we have forgotten to mention the experience that a veteran would have to offer. All the training that you may attend may not match up to the experience a veteran can share, to help you learn a few ropes in the freelancing arena.

Most of them must have worked their way up from a very young age. Talk to them about the challenges they have faced at the beginning. They would have valuable lessons to share. Many willingly share their stumbling blocks and learning, so that it sort of guides the new comers.

There is quite a bit to learn on how these veterans would have done their marketing for themselves. Many would have used methods which are outdated now. Careful thinking can revive some of those techniques to adapt to the new world and new generation of freelancers.

What else can veterans offer from their experience? Veterans can offer insights on different styles of work. Some of the older methods may not be prevalent now, but one can revive a few of their styles of work in an innovative way to suit today’s need.

Many of the veterans would have a winning streak in them, which is the reason for their success in work. It is important to learn how they have coped with the demands of their job. The humane element which is missing these days was present during their times. Suggest that the younger generation learn these traits from the veterans. They will give you enough stuff to remember for a life time!

Veterans will have lessons to share on self assessment and evaluation of oneself. They will share with you details on how to keep records of your work. They will also tell you how to plan and construct your career path.

Another area where veterans can provide insight is on pricing. They will share valuable lessons on how you may quote for your work. The present generation is not aware that a good reputation far outweighs the financial status of a person. Hence, try to learn these age old values, which these veterans practiced. Not that they did work for free, but some of them actually was not materialistic or even greedy.

What else can a veteran share about freelancing? He will share lessons on how to balance life and work. He will tell you lessons about how he enjoyed his time with family and friends. He will have stories and funny events that happened in his life during his younger days. Memories of moments that the younger generations miss out due to their involvement in the rat race of life! The competition that is prevalent among younger people to show off and to become winners all the time. Talking of this, yes, the veterans will teach you to take your failures in your stride. After all, life is about winning and losing. It is all in the game.

While you go through the glossary of their life, you will realize that there is no good or bad work. Any work that a person does is honorable. One has to be sincere towards the work he does. That is what veterans in freelancing or any other industry will teach you. That is what the great Indian leader and freedom fighter, Gandhi, says. This is the message that resounds all over the world, even as centuries pass by. The ultimate truth that the next generations will watch and learn from their ancestors and from their experience!

So here, I am saluting those veterans once again. You have shown us the path and we are grateful for it.

K Saravana Kumar

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Exchange of ideas among freelancers

Idea exchange is a vast topic where freelancers can make use of an idea at a higher level to bring about great output at work. These ideas help differentiate your work and product from others’. The success of an individual freelancer depends on the unique ideas he brings forth in his work. Once these ideas get acceptance he can continue to innovate at his work. I am sure more people would want to hire such a person for his uniqueness. Such uniqueness eventually ensures profit in business.

How so ideas strike a person? The answer lies in effort put towards adding value to ones work. If a freelancer can constantly think of bringing about value addition in work, then he may end up thinking of new ideas which are workable and innovative.

How does one add value to work? The answer lies in the critical thinking of the person. Once you analyze the requirements and critically try to meet each task, then the task of adding value is complete. Now, the next step is to think about how to work, away from the conservative frame work.

There are quite a few inspirations that one will come across during idea exchange workshops. Brain storming sessions will help unlock the imagination of the freelancer. Collaborative ideation will enable global changes and improvement.

Mentors who have relevant experience can moderate the ideas generated. This offers great help since mentors know for sure, as to what will work and what will not. Thus, the vetted ideas can further develop into healthy output, which is new and more effective.

Ideation enthusiasts always have a “big question” in front of them. This question will eventually lead them to explore and learn about new things. And the ideas they generate helps them to overcome the challenges they face. Collecting samples and sharing experiences are the best way to gain insights about the work at hand. Ideation workshops are a platform from which you can collect such relevant samples and experiences.

Small businesses also may do the ideas exchange program. These ideas have the power to encourage people to go on with their dreams. They also enable people to realize their dreams.

How do freelancers exchange ideas? There are many methods to do this. Some of them get a mention above. Through workshops and other collaborative efforts, one can gather new ideas. Creating blogs is a less expensive way to get ideas and discuss about them, keeping in line with the new trends. Blogs can help generate discussion topics and also get people to share their opinions about a certain topic. Opinions aired by groups and individuals can create a new thought process and this can generate new ideas as well.

Reviewing the actual workability of the idea is a good way to assess the functionality of the ideas shared. This needs vetting and testing, by knowledgeable people. Surveys can also bring about the truth behind the workability of a new thinking process. The more approvals gained the better the idea and the workability of it. Groups which focus on generating and taking up ideas, to develop and implement them, can help in such activities. This way, idea sharing will base itself on the target it is supposed to achieve.

Collaboration with critics also will provide ideas as to how to bring about more changes to the product in hand. There are critics who will point out the right issues at the right time. Such feedbacks can stimulate more ideas to enable extraordinary ways of implementation success

Implementation plans can further enable us to develop the idea that already exists. Resources required needs identification during the initial stages of idea exchange. The correct amount of resources will lead to accurate implementation and success of the idea. Idea exchange can increase the morale of the people involved. It also helps increase the knowledge of the people involved.

It is always a good idea to share “ideas” when you have a large group to support and hear to what you have to say. Forums, in any form, thus are to gain importance for a freelancer to effectively gather and build is ideation techniques.

Let us start a new movement from today. Let us be part of this team, who ideates and also shares their experiences for others to learn and improve!