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The end of the fourth quarter is near. For many of us, it is a time to reflect upon the previous year’s accomplishments and failures. As we celebrate the ups and learn from the downs, we cannot get too comfortable because 2019 is a month away. The question is: Are you ready? One of the ways that you can prepare for the new year is sitting down (or standing up) and mapping out your budget for 2019. If you prefer to chunk the year out in quarters instead of plotting the entire year, go for it! Regardless of the methodology, be sure to plan ahead. Planning ahead involves projecting, or anticipating, your expenses and your revenue. It also involves guess work, analytics, and maybe, some optimism, yet it is doable and I highly recommend forecasting your budget, especially for new freelancers. Here’s how: Focus on what you do knowThe first time I projected a budget, I was overly optimistic, to the point of being unrealistic. I included revenue that was based upon wishful thinking and not facts. Instead of honing in on what I did know about my job patterns, I focused on what I wanted them to be. The prior year, I had 12 clients and I was projecting that I would uptick to 200 clients for the next fiscal year. Was this possible? Sure, but it was highly improbable. The budget I forecasted was futile, which defeated the purpose of creating a budget in the first place. Thankfully, I had a mentor who reviewed it and simply asked: “Where are all of these extra clients coming from?” I did not have a satisfactory answer. I wanted the extra clients, but I did not have a plan. So, I revamped my budget and focused on the variables that I could most accurately predict. I made it more realistic based upon my market, my previous year’s earnings, my marketing strategy, and the number of leads and potential clients that I had in the pipeline. And it worked! The forecasted budget was just slightly off from my actual budget for that year. The takeaway: Your prior knowledge and experience are invaluable tools for creating a budget. The good news is that you don’t have to figure everything out by yourself. There are numerous resources, tools, and apps that can serve as templates to help you manage your finances and plan your budget for 2019. Trust the professionalsNow, DIY and apps are not for everyone. Honestly, numbers are not my thing; I even regret not paying more attention during my high school and collegiate math courses. Thankfully, there are trained professionals who are well-versed and experienced with working with budgets, especially the more complicated ones. As your business expands, I highly recommend that you seek out a CPA or a bookkeeper who can either walk you through the process or even do it for you. The advantage of using a hired professional is that he/she will have a deeper understanding of state and federal tax laws, how to earmark expenses, how to plan your payroll, how to identify tax deductions, and what constitutes charitable giving—all of which can factor into your 2019 budget. Additionally, if you are able to contract with a freelance CPA, there is a greater likelihood that he/she will truly understand what you do and some of the nuances that go into a freelancer’s budget. Saving moneyHow does all of this lead to saving money? By focusing on what you do know, you will be able to create a 2019 budget that actually works. Every year thereafter, use a strategy that helps you stay within your allocated budget and not overspend. Impulsive spending, purchasing unnecessary supplies, and even over-hiring are often antithetical to profitability and growth. In this sense, projecting your budget can help you save money now and in years to come. It can also help you anticipate reasonable growth. More than anything, creating a budget forces you to be realistic about what you can spend, when you can spend it and how you spend it. The more that you are able to project and operate within your specified parameters, the more likely you are to save. In other words, the more you budget, the more you eventually profit. Here is to 2019 being one of your best years to date! via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/11/30/why-projecting-your-2019-budget-now-can-help-you-save-money/
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It’s my 42nd Birthday today. KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!!! I’d like to sit here and say I have something cool planned today – like watching a Jason Bourne marathon, or, I don’t know, going to Sears – but, honestly, it’s just a normal Friday for me today. Writing programs, writing this blog, training, and then maybe a celebratory pizza…;o) Tomorrow, however, is the real show. My wife and I have a date at Del Frisco’s and then we’re going to go see Widows. Holla. Nonetheless, lets get to this week’s stuff to read (and don’t be afraid to send me a Happy B-day note). BUT FIRST…CHECK THIS STUFF OUT1. Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint 1.0 on SaleDean Somerset and I have placed our flagship resource – Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint 1.0 – on sale all this week at 60% off the regular price. As if learning anything and everything about shoulders and hips wasn’t enough, I’m going to donate $5 of every sale (from my links) to a local animal shelter here in Boston called Kitty Connection. This was the shelter my wife and I adopted out cat, Dagny, from when we first moved in together and I like to donate to their cause each year. The sale only last though this Sunday (12/2), so act quickly. Help save a kitty (or dog) – HERE. SOCIAL MEDIA SHENANIGANS
STUFF TO READ WHILE YOU’RE PRETENDING TO WORKNever Have “Bad Luck” Again – Nia Shanks
^^^Applies to dieting and training. Read more of what Nia has to say. The Truth About Stand Up Desks – Dr. Michael StareWell, that was interesting. Total Youth Soccer Fitness – Erica SuterKids aren’t professional athletes. Erica is a stud coach and she’s developed a stellar program geared towards youth athletes that every coach, parent, and player needs to read. It’s on sale for another two days (ending on 12/1) and you can save $30 off the regular price. Check it out HERE. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2018/11/stuff-read-youre-pretending-work-11-30-18/
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This is a post from a member of the Freelancers Union community. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise, your story, or some advice you think will help a fellow freelancer out, feel free to send your blog post to us here. Applying for a freelance job position can be a daunting process no matter how much experience you carry under your belt. It doesn’t matter how educated and confident you are, there are always applicants that are all that and more. This can become even more frustrating if you’re a novice in the field and don’t have much experience and confidence to back you up. On the one hand, the job search can be tough for newbies. But on the other, we all have heard of the person who just went online without a second’s thought and secured a steady income overnight. It seems as though there are either people who are extremely lucky or that there is a magical corner of the internet where it seems to be raining jobs that everyone’s been hiding from you. It might come as a surprise, but none of that is true. The secret to getting a freelance job is actually not that different to getting a traditional job. The process is really simple when you think about it: you’re an expert in a sea of experts. The only way to be noticed is to stand out. In a regular job interview you can do this in hundreds of ways, from telling a relevant story to careful usage of body language. But if you have an online platform that represents who you are, the best way to get noticed is to fill in your profile in the way that showcases the most outstanding parts of both, your work, and your personality. If you’re a newbie with trouble getting gigs, read on for some tips on how to create a freelance profile that stands out from the crowd, and become one of those people who magically have jobs fall into their laps. How to write about your careerKnowing how to create a freelance profile that stands out from the crowd is easier on some platforms than on others. But it doesn’t really matter which platform you use–a freelance profile that stands out looks about the same everywhere! The way these websites work is by filling out your profile with a nice profile overview or summary. Make your overview concise and to the point. Only mention relevant work experience, and when you do, dedicate at least one paragraph to lessons you’ve learned while gaining it. If you still don’t have any experience in the field, write about some important things you learned at school or volunteering. Mention everything seemingly unimportant, and elaborate on how the lessons you’ve learned actually hold relevance to your profession. Another crucial lesson in learning how to create a freelance profile that shoots for the moon is to talk about your field in an innovative way. It’s not uncommon to go through some soul-searching while switching jobs, so you might as well do it when creating your freelance profile. Ask yourself why you have chosen this career and this particular field. Where does your love for it come from? Since you were a child? How did it grow? And, if you do love your profession, how do you want to build on it? What do you bring to the table? For example, if you’re graphic designer, talk about why you love design, what made you choose it as a career path, what infuriates you about the way graphic design is done today, and how would you make it better. What are some innovative techniques and fresh outlooks you want to apply to your process? If you want to come across as someone who is passionate about what they do, you better show your potential clients you thought about it more often than absolutely necessary. You might have been bored and uninspired at your last jobs editing ready-made templates, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t passionate about design! Dive deep and think about what you want to do with your skills and what role you want to play in the world with them. This is a surefire way to create a freelance profile that stands out from the rest of the crowd. How to talk about yourselfTalking about ourselves is the most overlooked part in learning how to create a freelance profile that stands out from the crowd. That’s because people think that achievements alone pave the way through all the competition. But when there are a lot of educated and prolific professionals with their eyes on the same job as you, that’s not going to be of much help. Learning how to write about yourself on professional platforms is the pivotal part of making your freelance profile stand out. People are often confused whenever they need to write a sentence about themselves that isn’t strictly professionally-driven. Things like: communicative, driven, organized–they all look wrong and sound trite. But on the other hand, not writing these pointless words feels like falling a few steps behind your competitor who, surely, used those words. But you can’t help it: writing these things just sounds like lying. It sounds like you are writing them for the hell of it. But the thing is, if your potential employers asked those questions, it’s probably because they need that information. As excruciating as it is, your bio is the most important part of your profile, whichever platform you choose to use. It’s the bit that actually sets you apart, because it shows you as a person, not only as a list of skills identical to that one of your competitor. The reason many people hate writing about themselves is because it all sounds fake and you can’t actually believe the employer is going to buy it. And if that’s your line of thinking–it’s pretty on point. The secret is not to write about yourself in an exclusively and exaggeratedly positive manner. The trick is to write honestly: list all your strengths, list all your weaknesses (ok, maybe not all of them), the lessons you had to learn to become conscious of them, and what you did to work on them, and how, in the end, it made you a better person. Surely far better, stronger, and more honest than the person that is simply communicative, positive and driven. Now you know how to create a freelance profile that stands out from the crowd. There are really two basic parts to any freelance job search: Talking about yourself, and talking about your job. Once you learn how to present these two important narratives, you’ll have your hands full of work in no time. Just remember to be honest, humble, and confident when talking about yourself, and passionate when talking about your career. I will show you tips, strategies and share valuable information that will allow you to achieve your income goals. You can find me online at www.theincomespot.com. You will learn about freelancing–work from home, side gigs, online freelancing resources. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/11/29/how-to-create-a-freelance-profile-that-stands-out-from-the-crowd/
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Sometimes I think my brain sucks. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t consider myself an innovator in the fitness industry. My talents lie in taking other people’s information, letting things ruminate for a bit, figuring out how it may apply to my clients, then adding my own spin or take, in addition to a few Star Wars or Jason Bourne references (maybe an f-bomb or two…or three), and then disseminating it to my tribe. I.e., you. Much like many of you I peruse Twitter, Instagram, and LOLcats for a little inspiration and to see what other people in the industry are doing to make their clients/athletes better. And, much like many of you, I read an article or watch a video that piques my interest and think to myself…
Today’s edition of Exercises You Should Be Doing is a clear example of this. I’ve always had an infatuation with the landmine. The piece of exercise equipment, not the nefarious tool of war. It’s one of the more versatile tools in the weight room and I’ve used it to perform everything from deadlifts and squats, to hollow presses and rows, to single leg work and a plethora of core exercises. I thought I had seen it all. Between stalking Ben Bruno, Joel Seedman, and Meghan Callways’s YouTube pages, I thought I had seen every application of the landmine possible. I then I saw this. Hip Flexed Landmine RDL to Reach[embedded content] Who Did I Steal It From? – Virginia Beach based strength & conditioning coach, Vernon Griffith. What Does It Do? – I know, I know. Some of you may be watching the video and are like “da fuck?” But hear me out. Well, hear Vernon out:
The addition of the landmine is brilliant because it provides a base of “irradiation” (body tension) which helps prevent unwanted movement – namely in the lumbo-pelvic area – and locks the trainee in so (s)he can challenge the hip(s) and core. Key Coaching Cues – Start in a half-kneeling position (inside leg UP) and be sure to use your top hand to push into the barbell for added stability. – Lift foot off ground, pushing into barbell to maintain TENSION, and begin to hinge on the flexed side. – GO SLOW. The whole point of this exercise is to “own” your position(s). Hinge back until the inside leg is fully extended and then squeeze glute for 2-3s count (again, owning the position). – Reverse the action and return back to starting position, but this time when you’re back to the half-kneeling position, add a reach by pressing the barbell overhead and then contract the opposite (flexed side) glute. Pause for another 2-3s count. – Repeat for 3-5 reps/side. – You don’t need to load this exercise very aggressively. I’m only using a 10 lb plate in the video and that was more than enough. An empty bar will work too. This drill can be used as part of a general warm-up for the hips prior to squatting or deadlifting. Or, even better, as an additional exercise as part of a mobility or GPP day. Give it a try. It’s harder than it looks. And it feels awesome. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2018/11/exercises-hip-flexed-landmine-hinge-press/
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This is a post from a member of the Freelancers Union community. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise, your story, or some advice you think will help a fellow freelancer out, feel free to send your blog post to us here. As freelancers we need to manage our work, our time, our money, the direction we’d like our business to go. Learning to say no is a key step to grow your business exactly the way you want to. And a way to become a trusted professional. But saying no to what? NO to bad payersIs it worth keeping a client who always seems to forget to pay you by your terms, or altogether? Is it worth having to work hard with the worry all that time will go to waste? You know the answer. Yes, it is scary to say farewell to a client, let’s not lie to ourselves. But then you’ll find it is liberating, too. It is, trust me. You will find other clients and you’ll be able to work with the peace of mind of knowing your time, efforts and knowledge will be rightly rewarded. And with people as reliable as you. Trust and reliability must be there on both sides: you do your work at the best of your powers, on time, under the agreed terms, and the other side pays you the agreed sum on time, on your terms. This is the business you want. NO to working during the weekend or at nightI work in the translation business, and some agencies have the bad habit of taking for granted freelance translators who can (or want to) work over the weekend, sending you work on Friday late afternoon for delivery at the start of business on Monday. Of course this is a personal choice, and every one of us has had to work weekends or holidays once in a while, due to work overload (there are times when clients seem to call out to one another and come knocking at our door all at the same time, aren’t there?). But it should not become a habit. Once you have worked for the whole weekend, how do you think you’ll feel on Monday? Fresh with new energies? Don’t think so. It is also a matter of professional dignity and of avoiding going from being a freelancer to being chained to your desk. Finding a balance between work and life is difficult for everyone, but it can be even more difficult for freelancers. In the back of our minds there’s always a tiny (sometimes not-so-tiny) nagging voice asking you, “What if I refuse this and no other project comes along?” In time, we all learn work isn’t (usually) steady and not to be too scared of dry spells (remember that in those times when you can’t even come up for air). NO to work beyond your abilities or capacitiesSaying no can help us become better professionals as well. Like refusing more work where we are already overloaded, knowing we couldn't give the additional work all of our usual attention, time and focus. Equally important is learning to saying no to work that is beyond our expertise. Being jack-of-all trades is not a smart choice in today’s business world, where the holy grail is, on the opposite, specialization. Saying yes may be easy. Most of the times, saying no is not. It is scary, it generates doubts, sometimes regrets. But it is a stepping stone in becoming a better professional. And in leveraging the free side of our work approach to get a better quality of life. I am an Italian specialist in marketing, creative and legal translation and editing. I put my many years of experience to the advantage of my clients by creating texts resonating with the Italian-speaking audience and making brands locally relevant. Connect with me on Twitter or visit my website. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/11/28/the-power-of-saying-no/
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I’ve got a guest post from Baltimore based strength & conditioning coach, Erica Suter today. She’s someone I respect a lot not only for her writing prowess (she gives me a run for my money with Lord of the Rings references), but also for her steadfastness in sticking to her guns. She could easily train professional athletes given her own athletic background, but more to the point because she’s a gifted coach. However, her preference is to work with youth athletes And she crushes. I am always impressed with Erica’s content and commitment to serving our younger generation of athletes. She’s recently released her first product – Total Youth Soccer Fitness – and it’s fantastic. It’s really a manual for all young athletes and not just soccer, and I think it does a superb job at bringing the pendulum back to the middle. It provides a detailed strength & conditioning component, of course, but emphasizes something sorely lacking in today’s culture… ….fun! It’s on sale for $67 for the next three days and then jumps to it’s full price of $97. Coaches, parents, Nazguls, act quickly. You won’t be disappointed. Get it HERE. The Problems With Youth Fitness (With Solutions)Besides J.R.R. Tolkien book themes, snowboarding trips, and triple shots of espresso, nothing lights me up more than youth fitness. After seven years of coaching kids, I guess I have a lot to say on the topic. As a self-proclaimed introvert, my extrovert side certainly shines through any time strength and conditioning for youth athletes comes up. Here’s a common conversation I’ve had countless times: Parent: “Can you do conditioning for my 10-year-old?” (hangs up phone abruptly) Okay, okay, maybe it’s not this dramatic, but you get my point. Look. I love working with kids. There’s something magical about teaching a beginner the ropes of training and seeing them all the way through their athletic development to college and beyond. But what I love more is teaching everyone involved in youth fitness that there are safe, fun, and effective ways to get kids better at their sport. Still, some of these kids are in the wrong training hands. With overuse injuries, sports drop-out rates, lack of passion for sport, and sedentary lifestyles on the rise, I fear the future of the youth athlete. More often than not, kids are trained wrong. Whether a coach is misinformed, parents are Googling Messi workouts for their 10-year-old too much, or a new trainer wants to grow his social media following, kids are doing some ridiculous things (most that are unsafe) in the gym and on the field. With that said, besides sitting at the DMV, there’s nothing worse than perusing Instagram and seeing these things: – an 8-year-old sprinting up a hill carrying a medicine ball. Of course, I could make a laundry list here, but instead of complaining, I want to shed light on some of the biggest problems in youth fitness as well as provide actionable solutions. Let’s do this: 1. People Aren’t Keeping Youth Fitness Simple.
When it comes to training kids, I like to be guided by this mantra: keep it simple, stupid. A training session with kids should focus on 1-2 skills or performance components you want them to improve, then progress from there. There’s no need to be all over the place and complicate things. If you’re a coach who is trying to teach speed and jumps right into the speed resistance bands, harnesses, sleds, and unicorns to look flashy, who the hell are you? Worse yet, the kid’s reps are terrible, form is weak, and coordination is non-existent. So. I have an idea: tell kids to skip or march and see the whacky coordination show. If they can’t do these simple tasks, what makes you think their linear and multi-directional mechanics will be clean? Besides asking yourself what skill you want to teach that day, I’d also argue you should ask yourself: “am I developing athletes or social media stars?” before you jump to posting flashy videos on your Instagram. *drops mic* 2. Youth Athletes Don’t Learn the Basic Motor Skills Enough.Speaking of keeping it simple, always start with the basics. Here are some staples to my youth fitness programs: – Balance What’s funny is, these basics set youth athletes up for the “cool” things they get to do later on in their development, like power cleans, deadlifts, pull-ups, lunge variations, and more. Behind every healthy, athletic youth athlete is someone who masters the basics. Relentlessly. Vertical Jump Tutorial[embedded content] Because this much I know: motor skill learning is REAL. Like anything else in life, such as learning math, an instrument, or a soccer skill, this stuff takes a long time frame to master. Like as long as it took Frodo to trek across Middle Earth time frame. Reflexive Strength[embedded content] Being able to be coordinated (contralateral) is critical for not only developing optimal speed mechanics, but also for blending the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Kids who can connect across their bodies through movements like Bird Dogs, Crawls, and Marches can tap into their logical and creative sides. A great book to check out on the benefits of coordination for brain development in youth is Smart Moves. Here is a fun drill that touches on coordination, balance, and core stability to try: [embedded content] 3. Youth Athletes Aren’t Strength Training Enough.
Let’s get this out of the way: youth strength training does not mean throwing a kid under a barbell right off the bat. Here are several things that could mean “strength training” for kids: – Bodyweight Now that you see you don’t have to sign your kid up for CrossFit to become the next Lebron, how should we gingerly go about strength training? Taking the conversation back to the basics, always start with bodyweight first to ensure the kid can move well and execute good form. Split Squat[embedded content] Then, once bodyweight looks as pretty as a Starbuck’s peppermint mocha, you can progress to more crazy shenanigans like this: Bulgarian Split Squat[embedded content] Here’s a rough template I like to use as far as when to strength train: – Girls 11-years-old and up How do we know a kid is mentally ready to enter a gym setting with clanking barbells? – Ask them why they want to go in the gym. 4. Youth Athletes Aren’t Having Fun.
While structured training and coaching should done in a controlled environment, sometimes we need to set the seriousness aside and have some fun. After all, don’t we want kids to fall in love with fitness? Not just to get better for their sport, but to be inspired to move for a lifetime. In the midst of today’s Fortnite culture, it’s pretty freaking scary how little kids move nowadays. Think about it: most sports teams practice a few times a week, amounting to a total of 2-4 hours a week of activity. This is meager compared to what we did back in my day. By “my day” I mean the 90s. Shout out to those of you who played Dodgeball, Capture the Flag, Four Square, and Tether Ball. Alas, I digress. We don’t see this anymore. So to inspire kids to move, let’s lean into our creativity as coaches and make fitness fun. Here are several examples of games I’ve come up with over the years: Example #1[embedded content] Example #2[embedded content] Example #3[embedded content] Of course, these are just glossing over the tip of the iceberg. The good news for coaches is that yes, keep things simple, but sprinkle in creativity as you go to keep kids passionate and engaged. Teaching must be done to some degree so kids learn, but we have to be cognizant of peppering in the fun. To that end, let kids be kids. Total Youth Soccer FitnessIf you’re a coach of young athletes this is for you. If you’re a parent of young athletes this is for you. Kids aren’t professional athletes and they should NOT be treated as such. Erica has provided a stellar resource that will help guide you step by step on how to build a well-rounded athlete, but remain cognizant that kids are kids. Take advantage of $30 off the regular price HERE. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2018/11/problems-youth-fitness-solutions/
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Freelancers Hub is now open in Brooklyn and has already turned into a thriving community for freelancers working in media and entertainment. In addition to the fantastic classes, workshops, and panels, Freelancers Hub is a popular space for coworking. Why are people loving it?
What more could you ask for? To secure your spot, be sure and RSVP here. You can cowork for free up to four times per month. And be sure and sign up for Freelancers Hub to stay up-to-date on our free events! Here are some photos of the space: via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/11/27/join-us-for-free-coworking-at-freelancers-hub/
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Since the enactment of the Freelance Isn’t Free law in 2017, NYC freelancers have much stronger legal protections supporting their work. We now have the right to a contract and to be paid within 30 days. However, few of us have the funds to hire a lawyers when things go wrong. Freelancers Hub is here to help. We’re partnering with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts to offer free legal clinics to NYC freelancers in media and entertainment in order to help them protect their work and deal with legal challenges. Submit your application by December 3 to be considered for our first clinic on December 19! Who should apply?Clinics are open to freelancers working in media and entertainment who have a pressing legal issue related to their freelance work. The clinics will be designed to assist freelancers dealing with issues including client nonpayment, intellectual property, harassment and discrimination, contract review, and more. Interested freelancers will need to specify one discrete issue that can be reviewed by clinic attorneys during the consultation. How does it work?Each clinic will provide an opportunity for up to twenty freelancers to receive advice on one legal issue related to arts, media, and entertainment. Freelancers will be matched with a volunteer attorney who specializes in their issue for a free, confidential, one-on-one 30-minute consultation. Clinic attorneys will review freelancer materials provided in advance and offer legal advice on the specific approved legal matter. Lawyers will not advise on business, accounting, or other non-legal issues. Freelancers who seek direct representation or services beyond their clinic consultation may have the option to apply separately for legal services with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. How do I apply?Freelancers Hub will host three legal clinics in December, January, and May. Freelancers interested in the December clinic (hosted on 12/19) must submit their application by December 3. We will review applications and match freelancers with a clinic attorney based on eligibility and clinic capacity. Applications submitted after December 3 will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Freelancers interested in more general legal resources, such as contract tips, may be referred to legal workshops. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/11/27/struggling-with-a-legal-issue-freelancers-hub-has-your-back/
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This is a post from a member of the Freelancers Union community. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise, your story, or some advice you think will help a fellow freelancer out, feel free to send your blog post to us here. Do you play golf? I don’t. Its appeal is lost on me. I could probably learn to like it but, like cigar smoking, I see no reason at this point in my life to cultivate a new, expensive habit that might only serve to annoy my wife (I’ve got enough old habits that do the job just fine). But last week, my friend Shawn was in town visiting for a few days. Matt, Rick, and I wanted to do some kind of “boys' activity” with the four of us, and so we settled on a trip to the driving range prior to dinner at a local bar. The range is off to the right side of the main course, safely separated from everything else by an immense net, a hundred yards long and (I don’t know) a couple of hundred feet high. The parking lot runs the length of the net. After entering the lot, we drove all the way to the back, looking for a place to park. (Can you sense that something bad is about to happen?) Suddenly (you were right), a golf ball slammed into the passenger side window, just inches from my head. It didn’t break the window, but wow, it sure was loud! But how did it get to us? The net is very high and we were directly behind it. On further examination (and once we verified that I had not inadvertently soiled Rick’s upholstery), we discovered a break in the net. Not huge–just a few feet across–but a break nonetheless. That ball (hereafter known as “The Magic Golf Ball”) had travelled 150 yards, passed through a two-foot diameter hole, and struck a moving vehicle. I’m no Jimmy the Greek, but I’m willing to bet that the best golfer on Earth couldn’t have made that shot on purpose even once in a hundred tries. But what if we changed the circumstances a little bit? What if we had a thousand golfers, and a thousand moving cars, and a thousand holes in the net? Under those conditions, I doubt it would take more than a couple of minutes for somebody to hit a car in the parking lot. Same situation (more or less), just way more chances. Relationship marketingAt its best, this is how relationship marketing works. In other words, it’s not about trying to thread the needle by closing the perfect client, with the perfect offer, on the perfect day. That’s fine if you can do it (I can’t). Instead, relationship marketing is like having 1,000 golfers working on your behalf. It’s a numbers game, and the more numbers working in your favor, the more likely it is that somebody, somewhere, is going to send a prospect your way. What matters, therefore, is keeping in touch with enough people–regularly and repeatedly–and in a way that helps them understand the work you do. How to build your networksThat means…
The bottom lineHere’s the bottom line. You can build your business sequentially and all by yourself, targeting people and companies that seem like likely prospects and going after them in whatever way you can. Or, you can focus on maintaining and expanding your relationships. Do that well enough and regularly enough and before you know it, all kinds of people will start hitting your ball through the net. Michael Katz is Founder and Chief Penguin of Blue Penguin Development. He specializes helping professional service providers position themselves as Likeable Experts. Sign up for his free newsletter, The Likeable Expert Gazette, here. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/11/27/how-relationship-marketing-is-like-golf/
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A few weeks ago, while in LA presenting, I was asked a simple question by one of the attendees:
A simple inquiry to be sure. However, required a bit of heft to answer. I mean it’s not like they asked my thoughts on Linear Periodization, kipping pull-ups, or, I don’t know, the atomic mass of Manganese,all of which can be answered with witty footnotes. My response was likely a bit of a curveball. While I could have easily gone into the nuances of assessment, program design, and the importance of positional breathing and what philosophical pivots I’ve made on each in recent years – or waxed poetic on why “textbook technique” doesn’t exist – I didn’t. Instead, I brought up the words we use as coaches, and how they can have a profound influence on our clients and athletes. Words MatterLets start with an inane example. A word. A word we use all the time in the fitness industry and one that serves as a cornerstone for what we do as a profession: AssessmentFor us (coaches, personal trainers, physical therapists, athletic trainers) the word induces or implies a start. We use an amalgamation of our expertise in anatomy, program design, bodily movement, and exercise technique/prescription (amongst other thing) and apply all of it to best fit the needs, goals, and ability level of the person sitting in front of us. In other words: We attempt to find the most efficient, safe, and straightest line possible between Point B (where the client wants to go/goals) and Point A (where they are presently). Alternatively, for them (clients/athletes/pirates), the word “assessment” can mean a plethora of things:
Above all, though, I think most people feel an assessment is nothing more than 45-60 minutes of a complete stranger judging the shit out of them:
In short: It’s a window of time where some douchy trainer takes every opportunity possible to showcase how much of a walking ball of fail someone is. I’ve personally taken steps to try to omit the word “assessment” from my vocabulary. I just feel the connotation breeds a negative tone out of the gate and is something I’d rather avoid. I ain’t got time for that. Instead I’ve opted to steal a page from my colleagues Ryan Ketchum and Doug Spurling who, in an effort to make things more palatable, have resorted to using the term SUCCESS SESSION in lieu of assessment. It just feels less judgy, doesn’t it? The Power of ‘Of Coursing’I have many friends in the fitness industry and it’s not uncommon for us to commiserate with one another about asinine things we read on the internet or maybe share a frustrating story regarding a client. Here’s a recent back and forth I had with a friend:
Admittedly, after reading his description of events, I too had to resist the urge to jump in front of a bus. Why are people so adamant on repeating the same thing(s) over and over and over again to the tune of the same inconsistent results? Five years ago Tony would have handled things the same way my friend did. Present day Tony had this to say:
This is a tactic I stole from my wife, Dr. Lisa Lewis, and it works like a charm. Instead of berating or guilting a client who’s trying to lose fat for eating a bowl of Golden Grahams before bed – “you’re weak,” or “I guess you don’t want it bad enough,” or “I’m not mad, just disappointed” – I’ll opt to “of course” him or her to death.
Or what about the client who misses a few workouts?
Or what about the client who wants to give keto a try?
Kidding of course. But do you see the general theme here? By leaning in and recognizing why someone would choose to do what they do – and not being an uppity curmudgeon about it (in addition to offering a solution) – you open up the doors for change to actually happen. Try it. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2018/11/words-use-matter/ |
AuthorI have 5+ years experience working as a medical transcriptionist. When I am not working, I enjoy sports like playing basketball or judo. I love making friends and connections. Archives
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