Focus Focus Focus!!!

So I am sitting here supposed to be working but I can't focus. I hate my job (doesn't everybody)! I used to love it until I started getting treated like an overseas worker (no offense). Now I need something to help me focus. All I want to do is read "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" by James Patterson. Unfortunately my phone keeps blaring and I have responsibilities. Only 40 more year till retirement!

Freelance Blues

So again it has been a while! I have been experiencing a case of the "freelance blues". Given the current economic strain, it is difficult for me to maintain "worthy clients". Not that I don't appreciate all the work headed my way, it is just that some clients do not want to pay me what I am worth. I have noticed I am having my throat cut by other providers who are willing to work for $3 per hour.

In fact I lost my steady job as a customer service representative who gets paid $3.33 per hour. How am I supposed to compete with that? While I enjoy working from home, I am greatly wishing I could find a steady 9-5 job to make me feel secure. I know, taboo right? I am pretty sure plenty of freelancers are going through the same drama I am, but I really wish the opportunities would expand a little bit.

If anyone has an idea as to where I can find some good leads I would be eternally grateful and would return the favor as soon as I had the chance. Happy hunting to all my fellow freelancers!!!!

Phantom Computer

So last night at about midnight my Skype turned on by itself and I freaked out. I get up to check what the issue was. I noticed my mouse was moving across the screen in little patterns and loopty loops. my natural reaction of course is to freak out some more.

I own a Dell Studio One 19 which is a touch screen computer that I purchased for ease when designing. However, my pen tablet is more useful as the screen is too sensitive. I decide to get up and see what the heck is wrong with my mouse, I figured the batteries were dying or my cell phone was too close as it makes the mouse move sometimes.

Low and behold there is some flying bug (no bigger than those big black ants) walking across my screen. I don't shut my computer off so it was attracted to the light of the screen. HAHA! I was laughing so hard I almost fell over. A tiny little bug had turned on my Skype and deleted some stuff off my word document (thank god for undo) and was just trailing along clicking things. Crazy!

What Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong

Good evening everyone!! Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems like murphey's law. A majority of my clients are out of town so I had a relatively easy day. I thought "well I will just use this time to focus on building my business". This involves searching for an effective CRM and building my site. All goes well until BAM!!! My Internet goes out!!! I usually get about 2 days a month where I have enough free time to get my stuff together.

So, naturally I am without connection to the Internet except from my iPhone where I am actually writing this now. Right now my office is ran out of my bedroom closet on a pc and MacBook. It's stuffy as it is and my first goal is to buy a bigger house with an extra room for an office.

Of course without the opportunity to focus on getting my business together, it's a pipe dream. Like my dad says "if hopes and dreams were nickles and dimes, I'd be rich!" I guess I tend to get on a roll and then I get out of the groove if some obstacle hits. My goal for the month is to spend 3 hours a week on my business idea regardless of the obstacles.

We Are Not On Call!

Ok today was seriously rediculous. Why do people feel that freelancers are like doctors; on call 24/7. It is amazing how clients feel that you should do whatever they need at the exact moment they need it. However, when it comes to your requests to meet to go over the project, they are never around and then blame you for not being productive.

I usually set a specific block of time per client each day in an attempt to be efficient and organized. However, set backs like this cause shifts and delays. My suggestion to all other freelancers is to create an agreement each time you take on a new project or client that requires them to adhere to rules you set.

The first one should explain that you are allotted a certian amount of time to perform the task. Another key point should explain that if they do not respond to your requests within 24-36 hours you obtain the right to terminate the working relationship without issuing a refund.

Time Management For Work At Home Moms

I know all too well that being a work at home mom is an extraordinary feat. Your family seems to think that if you work from a computer all day that you are just sitting around. On the contrary! I work from home and am a student so my time is minimal. To add to my stress, my spouse is laid off and I am the sole bread winner.

This means I work 60 hour weeks and bring home just enough to skim by and have just enough time to get average grades. Unfortunately, before I realized how to manage my time, I missed out on a large chunk of my children's milestones. The most important thing to do when working from home is to achieve balance.

Here are 3 tips for getting the most out of your time:

1.) Don't Accept Underpayment
I know how it can be to be desperate and take any job that is thrown your way. i realized just how fast a person can burn out this way. NEVER accept less than you are worth. My work on ODesk has proven to be tough because I am competing with overseas workers who charge a substantial amount less than I can afford. Someone once told me "act your wage" and once I did I was able to make more and work a little less.

2.) Utilize Break Time
It is always important to take breaks from your work so you can refresh. Even if it is a 10 minute break take that time to read your children a story or pick up the kitchen. 10 minutes seems like a lifetime to kids and you will be able to cherish your time with them.

3.) Remember You Are Human
My first downfall was pretending to be Superwoman and assign myself so many tasks that I was falling behind and losing more clients than I should have. Keep track of how much you are able to accomplish when you apply no more than 10 hours a day to work. You will be able to create a realistic schedule without burning yourself out.

Software such as Microsoft Outlook or Central Desktop are great tools for organizing your time and gaining more balance in your life!

It's Been A While!!

Ok so it's been a while is an understatement!! Two years is definitely a long while! So a lot has happened since my last post (obviously). Odesk turned out to be a bigger success than I imagined. My initial tagline was geared towards following me on my journey to find work.

Well I found work and am in a different area in my life, so now it is geared towards following me in my journey of building my success from the ground up! I am a few steps closer but not where I want to be fully. I have an Associate's in Business and a Bachelor's in Design, and am now enrolled for a Master's in IT Project Management.

I still live in a dinky town with my family and we make it by in the economy, but I want more for my family and that is on the To-Do list!

I am organizing my time, what with three kids and my work, so I will be posting more soon.

My First Job/Project!!!!!

i landed my first project on odesk as an industry researcher. I will be calling companies to verify that thier contact information and so on is correct. BTW i landed it through odesk.com like i said it is a good site.

i have also decided to start my own virtual assistant business so keep in touch to see how that goes!!!!!!!!!!