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Let us be the seventy-thousandth to ask: have you seen the Fyre Festival doc(s) yet? If you still haven’t feasted on Hulu and Netflix’s duelling takedowns of the festival that sold dreams and delivered nightmares, your immunity to FOMO is admirable. But beyond the crash course in schadenfreude, freelancers should watch one or both docs for the lessons they impart in how to tell a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from a too-good-to-be-true one. A largely independent cast of tech developers, publicists, project managers, events producers, construction workers, and some guy who flew a plane (when he really shouldn’t have), gave this seeming golden ticket their all — and got only sunburn and regret in return. Here’s what might have saved them. Do your researchMeteoric business rises are possible, of course, but one of the advantages of the times we live in is the ability to find out a lot about a client’s background from a cursory Google search. So pretend that this client actually wants to date your friend, and go to town. (It’s not stalking, it’s business!) If you’re on the fence about their credibility, put out feelers within your professional network. Someone must know someone who’s willing to either divulge the dirt, or put your mind at rest. Believe your eyes and ears“Should have known” sucks. Red flags like legal troubles, dodgy investors, or brief, baffling overhype of a previous venture (say, a “game-changing” startup built on gluing an average credit card to a piece of a metal) are not, in fact, signs of a genius ready to make their mark. These are signs of a smooth-tongued client with Business ADD, who in all likelihood hasn’t thought this project through either. If alarm bells ring at any point, go with that. There are other gigs in the sea/not on a Bahamian parking lot. Contracts matterWhile there’s nothing wrong with being a part of something “special,” or “groundbreaking,” landlords have yet to accept excitement or originality as rent. In other words, get all your terms in writing. The Fyre Festival management (cough) team viewed such trivialities as paying bills, sticking to timelines, the law, and the whole concept of truth as counter to creativity — and it was a cover story. Sure, projects evolve. But negotiate as much as you reasonably can up front, stipulate regular payment intervals, and add a termination clause in case things should go south. And if the client loves the why, but finds the how a buzzkill, run. Your time is money, and they probably don’t have any. Beware lack of transparencyCrucial missing info as things progress is a flashing neon sign that a client isn’t telling the whole truth. Case in point: the Fyre Festival guests and influencers who expected luxury flights and accommodations, and got school buses to FEMA tents. Never accept assurances when documentation and proof should be easily accessible. If a client isn’t forthcoming with the goods, assume that they don’t exist and rethink your involvement. Hold on to your standardsBeing a team player is admirable, and often necessary. But if your client is so exploitative that you find yourself freshly mouthwashed in the car, wondering what life decisions brought you to such a dark place (see the Netflix doc)? Things have gone very badly wrong and are unlikely to get better. Upholding basic standards of business, decency, and legality is the client’s burden — not yours. And from jaw-droppingly criminal asks to more mundane erosions of basic right and wrong, remember that the client doesn’t own moral reality. You do (also, the FBI). Don’t go out of pocketSomething to note about entrepreneurs with more hubris than cash is that smoking a cigar with one hand and raising an imaginary roof with the other keeps their hands out of their pockets. Interesting. One of the truly sad stories, repeated over and over, from Fyre Festival concerned independent workers who were left holding the bag at the end. And in some cases, these people paid an extra hefty price because they chose to do right by their own contractors. The bottom line: if a client isn’t paying their bills, do not assume them as your own. Don’t soldier onWhen disaster is inevitable, don’t let pride or camaraderie lead you further into the abyss. You don’t owe bad clients your services, and you certainly don’t owe dishonest clients loyalty until the bitter end. Remember, you went independent so that you wouldn’t be bound to the poor decisions and internal politics of traditional employers. There will be other gigs, and some of them might even be festivals, but hopefully none of them will warrant two documentaries. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/01/24/7-lessons-freelancers-can-learn-from-the-fyre-festival/
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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. Have you sent a ton of pitches to editors recently and been twiddling your thumbs waiting for them to responnd? While it feels nerve-wracking, even a 15-minute time slot in your calendar can boost your freelance business, so use it! Time is a commodity that’s precious to all of us, but freelancers in particular feel the “time is money” concerns daily. But, what I’ve come to learn is that setting aside time to market yourself and build relationships — particularly with editors and brands — and sharing on social media is essential. I challenge you to try any of these tips at least once a day for a week. It’ll help sustain your freelance business when you’ve turned in all of your assignments, and don’t have additional work on the horizon. Here’s how: Time management
Networking
Boost your brand
Research
Housekeeping
What do you do to keep you business momentum going and growing, even when you’re super busy? Diana Kelly Levey is a freelance writer and editor. Check out her website and follow her on Twitter. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/01/23/how-freelancers-can-grow-their-business-in-15-minute-bursts/
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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. Being a freelancer has many perks, from the ability to work anywhere to building your business as you choose. But there's a problem, and it's even more dire than deadlines or late-paying clients: it's that for many freelancers, there is no escaping sitting and staring at the computer for hours, day in and day out. This single act is repeated every work day (and often on the weekends), and according to studies, it can contribute to premature death. Scary right!? While our bodies were not designed to sit for prolonged periods of time, there's often no escaping it. And the good news is that even just a few ergonomic adjustments will make your work environment safer. Stretch and move every hourMaintaining the same position and using the same muscles over and over again is bad for your back and neck. Ergonomists recommend taking frequent and brief rest breaks — at least onc per hour — to perform stretches such as: ● The elbow pump: Start by touching the opposite shoulder blade. Next, grab your elbow and gently pull in the opposite direction. ● The knee jerk: Lift one leg and hold the knee. Pull this leg up to your chest (or as close as you can) and hold for at least 10 seconds. Change legs and repeat. ● The ballerina: Raise your arm above your head and extend it as far as you can to the opposite side. Be sure to keep your back upright as you perform this move. Stretching and moving frequently maintains proper blood and nutrient supply to your muscles, thus preventing fatigue and discomfort. If you don’t have time to stretch, find a good reason to get up from your desk. Grab a cup of coffee or take a lap around the room. Alternate between sitting and standingJack Callaghan, a professor from the University of Waterloo conducted a study to find the ideal sit-stand ratio. Using advanced ergonomic and health risk models, he concluded that the golden ratio between sitting and standing lies between 1:1 to 1:3. This means that for every hour, stand for 30 (minimum) to 45 (maximum) minutes. Adopt the 20-20-20 ruleRegardless of what position you hold or how many digits are in your paycheck, using laptops and smartphones is the new norm. Unfortunately, our eyes haven't evolved to handle the blue light that screens emit. As a result, staring at screens for too long can damage the eye cells. Your eye doctor has probably recommended the 20-20-20 rule. It means that for every 20 minutes that you spend gazing at a screen, you should look away at an object that is 20 feet, or reasonably far, away for a minimum of 20 seconds. Why 20 seconds? This is because your eyes take about 20 seconds to relax. Optimize your workstation placementOne of the most important ergonomic practices entails finding the right positions for all your computer accessories. Here are a few guidelines: Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse For people with carpal tunnel syndrome, a vertical mouse has many benefits, such as reducing pronation of the forearms to minimize CTS and other RSI injuries. Mind your postureEven if you’ve invested in a ton of ergonomic upgrades, you might still wind up in pain if you don’t maintain good posture. For starters, you should remove your wallet, keys and phone from your back pocket before sitting down. These items tend to put extra pressure on your glutes. In addition: Environmental settingOne of the most overlooked aspects of ergonomics is workplace setting. The lighting,temperature, and humidity are equally important factors to consider. As freelancers, we must take responsibility ourselves to ensure our work isn’t slowly killing us. And all the fancy ergonomic desks and tools in the world won't help if we don't. On that note: sit up straight! *Jon Muller is the founder of Ergonomic Trends, where he writes about ergonomics, office productivity, and the best ergonomic products. * via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/01/22/key-ergonomic-habits-to-adopt-right-now/
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This is going to be neat. My friend and colleague (and author of the brand spankin new book, Day By Day: The Personal Trainer’s Blueprint to Achieving Ultimate Success), Kevin Mullins, reached out to me recently and asked, “Tony, Kevin understands people don’t have 40 hours per week to train and he’s found a sweet spot with his clients that improves function, hacks away at pain and immobility, and delivers results. And, he wants to share that shit with the world (<– my words, not his). Today’s post sets the tone on the over-inundation of corrective exercise (something I wrote about recently HERE), and each week (or two) after that, he’ll discuss a part of the body – shoulders, mid & low-back, and ankles, knees, & hips – and smack everyone in the face™ with how to improve function in that area. Cool? Cool. The State of Corrective Fitness: 2019Every year seems to bring a new set of ideals into the world of fitness. On one hand it is exciting to see that there are constantly new ideas, concepts, and tactics being brought into play. Much like living in a city with a lot of construction going on – it’s a good sign when the economy can support growth. The fitness industry, like a budding metropolitan area, is on the upswing. Demand couldn’t be higher for products in the health and wellness field – as the modern world continues to gain weight and lose function. Millions of people around the world are ready to spend their hard-earned money on anything that will be a solution. It doesn’t matter if the goal is to lose weight, build strength, improve athleticism, get out of pain, or simply recreate the dance battle from the end of Step Up 2 – there is a product out there for them. Having “money-on-the-table” is key in commercial real estate; a contractor must be confident that someone can afford the building project that is being proposed. When a company, such as a wealthy investment firm, wants to build a high rise and can prove they have the capital, the flood gates open and the contractors start fighting each other for a seat at the table. In fitness, the “money” is on the table and the eager fitness professionals out there know it. Personal websites and social media profiles have made “internet-fame” possible for anyone with a camera, microphone, and a desire to make money and be heard. This sort of opportunity has brought forth a litany of incredible fitness professionals that we might not know of otherwise. Just as the music industry found Justin Bieber on YouTube, many great coaches have been found in blogs and videos. (I know this because I’m one of them). Yet, with all things that are good in this world there exists the potential for them to turn bad. In this instance the unflinching availability of fitness advice makes it easy for bad information to get out, poor ideas to propagate, and for biased, and unfortunately dense, coaches to steal the spotlight. In 2018 that spotlight was on all things corrective exercise. It seems like everyday brought a new way to mobilize this joint, stabilize that segment, and improve breathing capacity by .00002ml. Coaches from the furthest reaches of physical therapy school began talking about the need to invest hours on mobility, stability, and corrective work each week. Products began flowing into the industry like candy out of torn bag of skittles. Before long everyone was tasting the proverbial rainbow with their favorite flavors in hand: foam rollers, lacrosse balls, Theraguns, foot straps, mini-bands, mobility towels, and specialized assessments derived from the ancient wisdom that powers the Iron Fist. Note From Tony: ^^^ This show is not as good as Punisher, DareDevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, or watching a dog take a shit in a yard for that matter. It’s open season on corrective exercise in the fitness industry – a modern day gold rush of fitness equipment designed to drain your wallet and decorate your home with odd instruments of pain and pleasure. What a glorious time it is… Let’s Be Clear Though:Developing one’s mobility – especially in troublesome joints such as the shoulders, thoracic spine, hips, and ankles is never a bad thing. Most people spend twelve hours a day sitting at desks, in cars, and on couches, all in poor posture that stresses their spine, weakens their bodies, and causes long-term health risks to take hold. Every person reading these words can benefit from working on their mobility, except for Kelly Starrett (if he’s reading this) since the guy is a Supple Leopard. [embedded content] Improving your segmental stability is also important. Many people struggle with maintaining tension in their core, their mid-back, and their hips and legs. This lack of tension correlates to weaknesses that cause posture to degrade over time. Lifting heavy gets harder too. Weak muscles and poor neural connections make force production elusive. Specific corrective exercises have their place too. We are all a little messed up. Some people have whacky shoulders, while others experience low back pain. Runners often have achy knees and tightened fascia in their shins and ankles. Other folks are pretty jacked up head to toe. For any and all of these people there are certainly movements and therapies that can be done to improve their condition and inch them closer to optimal performance capacity. But:A personal trainer’s job is to accomplish these things while also moving the ball forward in terms of their client’s fitness level. Far too many coaches obsess over the missing ten degrees of mobility in someone’s scapular downward rotation and depression while ignoring the additional forty pounds hanging out in their midsection. Other coaches refuse to load a client even a little until their form in a movement is beyond perfect. Even then they’ll question whether the client can repeat the performance in future sessions and insist on three more workouts with just an unloaded barbell to make sure. Meanwhile, no sweat has been released and no forceful stimuli are placed against the body. The client might end up with the best looking back squat form in the world (with a forty-five-pound bar), but that is about it. [embedded content] This sort of absolutism and obsession is not good for a client and not good for the fitness industry either. If a client’s issues are so severe that any sort of intensity causes a series of negative events in their kinetic chain, pain, or lingering discomfort, then they must be referred out to physical therapist, or whatever medical specialist could heal their ailing. Again, on one hand it is awesome to see so many coaches taking their client’s joint health, core strength, breathing quality, and fascial integrity so seriously. It is much better than an undereducated jack-wagon haphazardly throwing intensity at people in hopes that it gets them in shape and they keep paying. Nothing is more disturbing than a coach who lets their client put themselves at risk of serious injury repetition-after-repetition and session-after-session. Yet, the coach who spends forty minutes of a sixty-minute session on a variety of implements meant to “improve” a person’s health is still quite the foul. People are paying for the results they want while also experiencing the growth that they don’t know they need, and our job is to give it to them. Our job is not to force our obsessions upon them while completely ignoring their goals and needs. A great fitness professional is someone who understands that self-myofascial release and zero-intensity correctives are just tiny pieces of a much larger puzzle that they must solve. This series of blogs aims to bridge the very gap that has formed in the industry over the last few years. Over the next three installments you’ll find very specific methods of integrating new and better corrective strategies in each of the important joint segments of the body. Those segments are:
Each one will work to answer the following question:
Our job as fitness professionals is to deliver the results our clients want while also giving them what they don’t know they need. As stated earlier, this sort of juggling act is hard to accomplish in a world where some trainers are exchanging thrash for cash and others are acting as extensions of physical therapy (when they aren’t qualified to do so). The fact that you are already here on Tony’s site demonstrates that you aren’t like a lot of the “noise” of the industry. You realize that heavy things need moving, that the body needs a little oil and grease every now and again, and that hard work is the only pathway to really cool results. The fact that you clicked on this article demonstrates that you are looking to improve your methods, clean up your practices, and deliver better results for your clients. Some of you might be shaking your head and clenching your fist right now. You are thinking, “who is this Kevin Mullins guy and why in the hell does he think he can tell me that corrective exercises are a waste of time.” If that is you, then I want to say that I’m sorry if that is how you are reading this – it certainly isn’t my intention. My goal is to help, in whatever way I can, move the ball forward so that we can continue to deliver better results to our clients in a variety of ways. In my opinion, absolutism is never good practice. It doesn’t work in politics and it doesn’t work in fitness. We must be willing to accept that there is always a better way to do something or else innovation will cease to exist. Others of you might be wondering where I’m going with this piece. Heck, you might even be a little irritated that you’ve read this much and didn’t access the secrets to hacking the body and winning the lottery every day. I apologize to you too. I just wanted to set the table for the first of three mega articles that are going to dive into the anatomy, physiology, and practical exercise and program design. And so, I conclude our teaser with this important quote that I’ve taught every client, and fellow trainer, since I concocted it a few years back:
See you next time for a deep dive into the scapulothoracic region, the glenohumeral joint, and the core. About the AuthorKevin Mullins, CSCS, is a personal trainer and group exercise instructor at Equinox Sports Club in Washington D.C. Kevin utilizes a listen first, coach second strategy to ensure his clients, and programs, are exceptional…and not his ego. When he isn’t training clients or writing content Kevin can be found deadlifting, Bicep curling, or finding new, corny ways to emphasize squeezing the glutes. Kevin maintains his own personal site 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/2019/01/state-corrective-fitness-2019/
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Despite the government shutdown, the IRS is offering reprieves to some taxpayers on penalties for late payment of estimated taxes. The IRS recently announced that it is waiving the estimated tax penalty for 2018 in many cases where taxpayers did not meet the threshold for the usual “safe harbor” waiver of penalty payments. How estimated tax penalties work.The IRS expects self-employed individuals to pay the bulk of their taxes throughout the year by estimating the amount of tax they owe, based on their net income for each quarter, and making quarterly estimated tax payments. For freelancers who are also employed by another individual or company and receive a W-2 wage statement, the tax for this portion of their income should be withheld from each paycheck. The IRS applies a penalty to tax filings if a taxpayer has not paid enough tax during the year, unless they meet the safe harbor limitation — which requires that:
How the tax waiver may benefit freelancersDue to the fact that the IRS released tax withholding tables early in 2018 — which did not reflect some adjustments in the new tax laws — the agency is now waiving the penalty for any taxpayer who prepaid at least 85 percent of their total tax liability for 2018. However, if you did not prepay 85 percent of your total tax liability or more, you will not be eligible for the waiver. The IRS will calculate the estimated tax penalty using a higher 90 percent threshold for this tax year instead. The bottom lineIf you did not adjust your estimated tax payments or your tax withholding in 2018, this waiver may give you a little relief, especially if you have a payment due when you complete your tax return. Regardless of whether you qualify for this waiver or not, it is a good idea to check any tax withholding your income is subject to. Also check the rate at which you are paying estimated taxes for 2019 to ensure that you are, at a minimum, meeting the safe harbor threshold. Making sure you are withholding sufficient tax will help you avoid an unexpected tax bill when you file your return next year. This is especially important if you:
Talking to a tax professional can help you ensure that your tax withholding and/or estimated tax payments are correct given your specific situation. Despite the shutdown, the IRS has also updated its online withholding calculator at irs.gov and will accept tax returns as of January 28. Jonathan Medows is a New York City-based CPA who specializes in taxes and business issues for freelancers and self-employed individuals across the country. He offers a free consultation to members of Freelancer’s Union and a monthly email newsletter covering tax, accounting and business issues to freelancers on his website, www.cpaforfreelancers.com — which also features a new blog, how-to articles, and a comprehensive freelance tax guide. Jonathan is happy to provide an initial consultation to freelancers. To qualify for a free consultation you must be a member of the Freelancers Union and mention this article upon contacting him. Please note that this offer is not available March 1 through April 18 and covers a general conversation about tax responsibilities of a freelancer and potential deductions. These meetings do not include review of self-prepared documents, review of self-prepared tax returns, or the review of the work of other preparers. The free meeting does not include the preparation or review of quantitative calculations of any sort. He is happy to provide such services but would need to charge an hourly rate for his time. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/01/21/freelancers-may-get-a-late-break-on-tax-enalties-thanks-to-the-irs/
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BUT FIRST…CHECK THIS STUFF OUT1. (Even More) Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint – 2019 Locations & DatesPhiladelphia, PA: April 27-28th Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: May 25-26th Sydney, Australia: July 13-14th Singapore, Republic of Singapore: July 20-21st This workshop will piggyback on the material Dean Somerset and I covered in the original Complete Shoulder & Hip Blueprint. With this iteration, though, we’ll be going a bit deeper into the coaching and programming side of things:
Find out more details HERE. 2. Coaching Competency Workshop – Raleigh, NCI’ll be making my first appearance – ever (<— how’s that possible?) – in the wonderful state of North Carolina this coming March to put on my popular Coaching Competency Workshop. Full details (date, location, itinerary, how to register) can be found HERE. EARLY BIRD rate is currently in effect ($50 off regular price) and ends soon. SOCIAL MEDIA SHENANIGANS
STUFF TO READ WHILE YOU’RE PRETENDING TO WORKPostpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (Self Study) – Dr. Sarah DuvallIf you train women, you owe it to yourself to consider taking this course. What I LOVE about Sarah’s approach is that not only does she provide a thorough deep dive into the realm of postpartum training and considerations, but she ADVOCATES strength training as an integral component. In her words:
I’ve recently been re-acquainting myself with the material and it’s really helped to open my eyes to knowledge gaps in this area in addition to appreciating just how much ATTENTION TO DETAIL is required when working with this population. My wife is two-years postpartum and has been dealing with right sided hip pain for a while now, and it just so happens I watched the section on glute clenching and femoroacetabular movement this morning and it punched me in the mouth. I had several light bulb moments. Sarah currently has this course on SALE for $150 off the regular price, but it ends this coming Monday (1/21). Go HERE, you won’t be sorry. Cleaning Up Thoracic Rotation – Dean SomersetDean’s not one of my best friends for nothing. Sometimes I hate him so much he’s so smart. The Missing Lower Body Exercises For Strength – Nick TumminelloIt’s not just about squats and deadlifts, yo. 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/2019/01/stuff-read-youre-pretending-work-1-18-19/
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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. There are no shortcuts to mastering photography. It takes hard work and repetition. But along the way, there are some little things that separate the good from the great. Beyond tehcnical skills and theory, it’s about tapping into something deeper to create that elusive “wow” effect. Here are some foundational principles for honing your craft. Find your nichePhotography is an incredibly broad field, but standing out is about working on the nitty-gritty. While a firm grasp of general photography is of course helpful, most successful photographers specialize in one or two areas, and focus on the visual vocabularies of their specific playing fields. To solve problems and rise above the rest, don't be a generalist; learn the tricks of the trade that pertain your specialties. Mind the broader picturePerhaps just as important as your grasp on the technical aspects of photography is your understanding of its requirements and purpose in its various applications. While you will can easily find tutorials on camera operation, context takes more research and perhaps, continued formal education. Well-structured curriculums focus both on hands-on technical training and on understanding the very nature of modern communications and photography’s place within. This second aspect will be of great help in articulating your own visual message. Be inspiredAre there photographers out there whom you respect and admire, or who simply do some things better than you? Try to analyze the specific ways in which they achieve those results. Even if you don’t understand the technical process behind a certain effect, or don’t have the right vocabulary to replicate it, you can learn a lot a a basic visual and intuitive level. Once you know what you’re going for, experiment with your own process, and seek peer advice on the technical aspects. Every new attempt is a learning process, so try, try again. Broaden your approachYou’re probably not taking pictures at random, but focusing on everyday work, with concrete goals. But try to approach your work as a series of studies of specific topics, or techniques, or themes. Approaching the same problem from a number of different angles will clear the picture on what works better and, over time, make your process faster and more efficient — especially once you have an arsenal of useful little tricks. And most importantly… enjoy the process! Jennifer Hahn Masterson is a seasoned freelance visual designer and digital nomad. When she's not busy pondering the design principles of unity, space, hierarchy, balance, contrast, scale, and similarity, she likes to immerse herself in a good book and satisfy her perpetual wanderlust. You can check her out on Twitter. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/01/18/simple-tips-for-improving-photography-skills/
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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. There are no shortcuts to mastering photography. It takes hard work and repetition. But along the way, there are some little things that separate the good from the great. Beyond tehcnical skills and theory, it’s about tapping into something deeper to create that elusive “wow” effect. Here are some foundational principles for honing your craft. Find your nichePhotography is an incredibly broad field, but standing out is about working on the nitty-gritty. While a firm grasp of general photography is of course helpful, most successful photographers specialize in one or two areas, and focus on the visual vocabularies of their specific playing fields. To solve problems and rise above the rest, don't be a generalist; learn the tricks of the trade that pertain your specialties. Mind the broader picturePerhaps just as important as your grasp on the technical aspects of photography is your understanding of its requirements and purpose in its various applications. While you will can easily find tutorials on camera operation, context takes more research and perhaps, continued formal education. Well-structured curriculums focus both on hands-on technical training and on understanding the very nature of modern communications and photography’s place within. This second aspect will be of great help in articulating your own visual message. Be inspiredAre there photographers out there whom you respect and admire, or who simply do some things better than you? Try to analyze the specific ways in which they achieve those results. Even if you don’t understand the technical process behind a certain effect, or don’t have the right vocabulary to replicate it, you can learn a lot a a basic visual and intuitive level. Once you know what you’re going for, experiment with your own process, and seek peer advice on the technical aspects. Every new attempt is a learning process, so try, try again. Broaden your approachYou’re probably not taking pictures at random, but focusing on everyday work, with concrete goals. But try to approach your work as a series of studies of specific topics, or techniques, or themes. Approaching the same problem from a number of different angles will clear the picture on what works better and, over time, make your process faster and more efficient — especially once you have an arsenal of useful little tricks. And most importantly… enjoy the process! Jennifer Hahn Masterson is a seasoned freelance visual designer and digital nomad. When she's not busy pondering the design principles of unity, space, hierarchy, balance, contrast, scale, and similarity, she likes to immerse herself in a good book and satisfy her perpetual wanderlust. You can check her out on Twitter. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/01/18/simple-tips-for/
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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. When a prospective client comes to you asking for a logo, a brochure, copywriting or any other service, they want a tangible or digital product, right? Wrong! That’s just the beginning. What they’re really asking for is something much deeper. Maybe it’s:
Whatever you’re providing, you’re not working at an assembly line or taking orders at a fast food joint. Be the expert by identifying the deeper needs of your clients and the results that they’re trying to achieve. Here’s how. Understand their businessDo your research, and ask questions:
Remember, clients care about what your work will do for them. So when you provide an estimate or proposal, don’t just provide specs; explain the benefits of the work. And when you present your work later, circle back on how it relates to these goals. Focus on quality, not quantitySome clients favor commoditized services because they’re cheap, and offer unlimited options and revisions. But oftentimes these services don’t take time to understand the client's business, or their target audience. Also, when a client is making decisions based on personal preferences — not the best interests of their business — both sides lose. Many times, clients have complained to me about the poor results, lost time and money, and miscommunication they experienced with commoditized services. This makes selling your services easier. Provide better deliverablesThink about what you could provide as part of, or in addition to, your service that adds value for the client — and demonstrates a nuanced understanding of their needs:
You’re worth itThose are just a few examples of how you can add value to what you’re already offering (and charge more). Your service provides expertise, convenience time-savings, and true value. Now that is worth paying for. Colleen Gratzer is principal of Gratzer Graphics LLC, providing branding, publications and websites to nonprofits since 2003. In April 2018, she started Creative Boost and created the Design Domination podcast to help emerging designers by sharing her insights based on 20+ years of graphic design expertise and 15 years of having a successful design business. Colleen has seen it all and knows the ins and outs of working for yourself—from 0 to quit-your-job level income. Visit http://creative-boost.com for more information about the podcast and for helpful, actionable tips. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2019/01/17/dont-just-sell-your-services-sell-your-value/
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Last week I wrote about “fillers,” what they are, why I’m a big fan of them, and how I include them into my programs on deadlift day(s). You can catch up HERE if you happened to miss it. The post seemed to resonate with people so I decided to expand the concept to include how I go about utilizing fillers with other common exercises. Today: squatsssssss. Filler’upThe beauty of fillers is that, much like tv shows based in the city of Chicago – Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago Justice, Chicago Sanitation, Chicago Teacher’s Union – there’s an endless array to pick and choose from. What follows isn’t close to an exhaustive list. What’s more, fillers can serve as a splendid opportunity to individualize someone’s program to hone in their unique injury history or their unique mobility/stability deficits. QUICK ASIDE: When it comes to writing training programs for people, there are more similarities across the board than there are differences. Far too often I find coaches/trainers making things more complicated than they have to be. Mike Boyle spoke to this not too long ago on social media:
Training programs, more often than not, revolve around these movement patterns, and the individualization generally comes down to what iteration of said movement pattern best fits the goal(s), injury history, and ability level of the athlete/client. More to the point, instead of focusing on the facade of “sport specific training,” the better moniker should be centered on “people specific training.” But that’s a hefty conversation for another time. In the end, like I said, fillers are an ideal way to provide some semblance of customization into a program. Fillers For SquatsMuch like the deadlift, there are many moving parts to a squat which the body requires access to. Starting from the bottom-up:
Here are a handful of fillers for your consideration: 1) Wall Hip Flexor Mobilization with IR/ER[embedded content] The plain ol’ vanilla Wall Hip Flexor Mobilization is still one of my all-time favorite fillers, but this variation, which I stole from my boy Dean Somerset, adds another level to it. Squatting requires hip flexion, and deep(er) hip flexion also requires hip internal rotation. Adding this in between sets of squats will make your hips feel nice-n-juicy. The key, though, is to actually get motion from the HIP and not just crank through your lumbar spine. I like to put my hand on my ASIS and then “drive” that towards and away from my opposite (up) knee. In short, I think about opening and closing my pelvis. There isn’t a ton of range of motion with this drill, but serves as a nice way to “unglue” the hips. 5 reps per direction/side is money. 2) Seated 90/90 Hip Switch (Progressions)[embedded content] What I like most about this drill is that it hits both hip INTERNAL and EXTERNAL rotation simultaneously. The objective is to keep your chest up as best you can, along with your feet staying cemented to the floor. 1st Progression = Supported (hands) 2nd Progression = Unsupported (no hands) 3rd Progression = Adding in additional end-range Hip IR on the trail leg (be sure not to crank through your QL). 4th Progression = I don’t know, blindfolded? A new Bird Box challenge? Shoot for 5-8 repetition per side (depending on which progression you’re doing). Hands Supported = high(er) reps. End Range Hip IR = you’ll hate life. 3) Side Lying Open Book[embedded content] This one is pretty self-explanatory, and a great drill to help open up the chest and work on mid-back mobility. Lie on the floor with a foam roller (or yoga block) underneath your top knee to prevent you from falling into excessive lumbar rotation. With your hips & shoulders starting stacked, “open” your top side by following your hand with your eyes. BE SURE YOU’RE BELLY BUTTON DOESN’T GO ALONG FOR THE RIDE (it should stay put). 5 reps/side. 4) Pec Stretch with End Range Lift Off[embedded content] This one comes courtesy of the Prehab Guys. Unlike the Front Squat the Back Squat requires much more shoulder mobility; particularly humeral abduction and external rotation. This is a nifty drill to help with both (along with helping to improve the ability to posteriorly tilt the scapulae). 3-4 reps/side should do the trick. 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/2019/01/using-fillers-programs-squats/ |
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
April 2023
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