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In general, freelancers tend to have a unique relationship with feedback in that they can:
We will explore various dimensions of these three feedback elements in the context of freelancing, paying particular attention to how we can improve our feedback orientation. A classic concept from academic HR literature, feedback orientation "…refers to an individual's overall receptivity to feedback, including comfort with feedback, tendency to seek feedback and process it mindfully, and the likelihood of acting on the feedback to guide behavior change and performance improvement." Why is improving feedback orientation important? Before we dive in, let's cover briefly why freelancers should care about their feedback orientation in the first place. As a long-time freelancer, here are two reasons I've learned the hard way over the years. First, many of us ventured into freelancing for the schedule autonomy and the ability to control variables that once felt out of our control. With this, there are times when the pendulum may swing a bit too far – to the point where we may forget, too quickly reject, or otherwise be so focused on shipping deliverables that we deprioritize the vital role feedback (including feedback from folks outside of our domain) can play in our development. Intentionally seeking and growing more comfortable with feedback can help us stay at the top of our field and build healthy relationships with our clients. Second, going all-in on freelancing often means spending time on issues related to HR, accounting, etc. – elements your full-time employer would likely have systems to handle for you. In juggling it all, it can be far easier to quickly dismiss or accept feedback rather than take time to process it mindfully. In my experience, taking the time to build this discipline has led to making better decisions concerning the feedback I've received. Let's now cover the three elements mentioned earlier: receiving feedback, the feedback-giving trap, and processing feedback. Receiving feedback Many feedback articles suggest that feedback givers hold the power in the relationship, but the evidence suggests otherwise. One study showed that 44% of managers found giving feedback stressful or difficult, with 21% avoiding giving negative feedback altogether. That same study showed that 37% avoid giving positive feedback as well. What can freelancers take from this? Taking the lead in the feedback relationship by proactively and genuinely seeking it (and, of course, fielding it well the moment it comes your way) can ensure you get the feedback you need to keep improving. Feedback-seeking behavior is often positively correlated with positive working relationships. Research from Grant & Ashford, among others, frames feedback-seeking as a proactive behavior that can help individuals achieve their work goals. The feedback-giving trap Speaking again from my experience: once I better understood the feedback power dynamic and my role in it, I could expand my role in the relationship – from primarily receiver to both giver and receiver. After all, if you are proactively seeking feedback and making the giver feel safe in delivering it, you can also provide feedback about the feedback. For example, rather than accepting or bypassing client feedback such as "I love what you came up with here," you can respond by saying, "I appreciate that. Thank you. It's important to me that I receive specific feedback because this helps me keep improving. Might you be able to explain what, in particular, you love about it?" Generic "I love it" type feedback is often left on the table. As you improve your feedback orientation, you'll see generic feedback as a door to receiving the specific feedback you need. Processing feedback Processing feedback can be considered an expansion of what you may typically think of as receiving – actively listening, asking great questions, and co-creating a psychologically safe space for feedback delivery. In this sense, processing is about how you feel, metabolize, and ultimately decide what to do with the feedback you receive. This can take many forms. One is to take a somatic approach by bringing awareness to how particularly challenging feedback feels in your body and then trying to tease insights about why this is the case. Another form that can be used in tandem is to run the feedback you received through a feedback decision tree (I've found that visualizing each step in this decision tree can be especially helpful). In addition to monetary payment, I encourage you to practice seeing feedback as another way your client pays you. This mindset could be the key to your continued evolution. -- Cameron Conaway is a workplace feedback expert. His work has appeared in Harvard Business Review, NPR, and Stanford Social Innovation Review, among other publications. Website: https://cameronconaway.com/ via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/03/15/developing-your-feedback-orientation-as-a-freelancer/
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Taxpayers should bookmark these IRS.gov tools to help take the stress out of filing season3/15/2023
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IRS Tax Tip 2023-11, January 31, 2023 As people get ready to file a 2022 tax return, they may have questions or need additional information. IRS.gov has tools and resources that can put the information a taxpayer needs at their fingertips. Taxpayers can bookmark the links below or save them as favorites on their computer or other device. Having this info just a click away can help taxpayers approach tax season with confidence.
via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/03/15/taxpayers-should-bookmark-these-irs-gov-tools-to-help-take-the-stress-out-of-filing-season/
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When you're working as someone else's employee, your time is structured according to their schedule; you have a set shift with a start and an end time, you have specific tasks that you have to do within that shift, and your pay is set based on those hours. When you're a freelancer, your time is entirely your own. You decide when you work and for how long. Sure, you still have things that you need to get done for your clients, but you're in control of when those things are done, which can be both exciting and terrifying. I've learned that as nice of a luxury as setting my own hours is, I do have to keep regular hours if I really want to get anything done, and I have to know what I'm doing during those hours to avoid cramming everything into one mad dash at the end of a deadline (freelancing =/= high school English papers). So, I thought I would share my tips for fellow freelancers about time management - your time is money, so maximizing your time maximizes your money. Go figure! Organizing Your Work WeekOne of the first things I learned to do was set up an organizational system for my work week. This is essentially the same thing your manager does at a more standard job, except you're the manager and your employee is you. The basics of organizing your work life are to keep running calendars (yes, multiple) of your activities and plan ahead to ensure that you've got the time you need to finish your projects to the best of your ability. Keeping CalendarsAs weird as it sounds, I keep three different calendars:
Keeping my calendars this way helps me not only make daily progress but also make progress toward longer-term goals that I have for myself and my business. It also means that I've got redundancies at work for me; with so many calendars in place, I'm bound to have everything written down on at least one of them. For example, say I'm working on a novel (which I am), I have five clients that I regularly work with (which I do), and I also have several one-off projects to track (which I usually have). When each of those projects comes up, I mark down the important dates in my digital calendar - what day I want to have my first draft finished, when invoices are due, and what the deadlines are for individual projects. Then, on the first day of the month, I'll create my physical whiteboard calendar with all of those important dates, as well as any holidays, appointments, or special events; I'll use this as a reference when scheduling meetings, so that nothing conflicts. Finally, on Mondays or Sunday nights, I set aside time to write out a daily schedule for the work week (Monday - Friday) in my daily planner, which checkboxes for each recurring client and to-do list items for my one-off projects. I also make sure to schedule in administrative tasks like emails and social media in my to-do list so that I can keep up with all aspects of my productivity. It's nice to have at least a few things I know I can check off easily to get me motivated to do the rest, and believe me, physically checking things off gives you some motivating satisfaction. Planning AheadThe big reason that my three-calendar system works for me is that it allows me to plan ahead far enough that I can effectively manage my deadlines and know what I need to work on and when. I estimate this based on how long it takes me to complete certain projects, and I do that by breaking my projects down into steps. For example, if I have a 1500-word article due for a client, I know that the steps to creating it are:
So I know that I need at least four blocks of time dedicated solely to this project. Those times will vary; I might dedicate an hour to research and outlining, two hours to drafting (which often includes more detailed research), 15 minutes to submission and invoicing, and an hour to revisions. That means this project will take up 4.25 hours of my time - which is a good chunk of my workday if I do it all at once, but if I break it up over two or three days, allows me plenty of time to work on other things as well. Maybe I'll edit another client's work between outlining and drafting or plan content for my blog between submission and revisions. I'm still making progress, but I'm making progress on multiple things at once, which is especially important when you've got a lot of deadlines to juggle. Breaking your work into manageable chunks makes it easy to meet deadlines, and mixing and matching those chunks into your available work time means that you're maximizing your productivity while minimizing distractions and avoiding the burnout that comes with working on one project for an extended stretch of time. Tracking Time for ContractsIn this line of work, one of the most popular charging methods is per hour (per word is also a favorite, but that's another discussion). This means that you'll need some way of tracking the hours that you work so that you can accurately bill your clients. You can do this in either a spreadsheet or a time-tracking app. Time Tracking SpreadsheetsWhen I say spreadsheets, I'm including both physical spreadsheets in things like business planners and digital spreadsheets that you keep on your computer. Both are relatively easy to set up. A very basic time-tracking spreadsheet will look something like this:
While you can definitely track all of your time in the same place (as I do in the above example), I'd highly recommend tracking each client in a new sheet in the file or page in your planner. This will make tabulating time significantly easier, and make it so that you can't accidentally bill one client for time worked on a different client's project. You may also choose to include other information in your sheet; for example, it might help you to include your rate for that particular contract or the amount earned during that time. If you're creating individual sheets for each client, you can customize your methods for each contract. Time Tracking AppsIf you want more specific time tracking, you might choose a time-tracking app. These essentially do exactly what it says on the tin: they track the time you spend working on a particular project. That being said, apps also tend to have additional features such as automatic timetable creation, project labeling, and integrated rest periods. Here are three tracking apps I recommend. TogglToggl is one of the most popular time-tracking apps for freelancers because it has a free plan and a simple-to-use desktop app. With the free plan, you can track and save your time, label tasks, integrate rest periods, and work with the desktop app offline. If you want additional options, like reporting and analysis as well as integrations with calendars and other business apps. PomofocusPomofocus is a free browser-only app that lets you split your time according to the Pomodoro method - a sequence of short bursts of intense focus followed by short breaks, with a long break every fourth focus period. You can fully customize your timing, color theme, and notifications, as well as label your tasks and view reports of your time. That being said, there's no offline version, which can be inconvenient. UpworkIf you already have an Upwork freelancer account, then you can download their time-tracking app to your desktop and use it for the hourly contracts you accept through their service. This app lets you select the contract you're working under and then label the task you're working on. It then tracks your time in 10-minute increments, taking screenshots at the end of each increment to validate your time. This tracking automatically adds to your contract's work diary and auto-bills your client at the end of every workweek. However, you can't use this app for non-Upwork contracts, which is frustrating. ConclusionKeeping track of time is an incredibly important aspect of freelance writing, but it's one that tends to catch people off-guard when they get started. It certainly took me quite a long time to figure out what works for me. If I can pass on my hard-earned knowledge to other freelancers, then it's all the better. Learn how to manage your time, and go make your money. Hey, by the way, if you're brand-new to freelancing and you're not sure how to keep your records straight - or even what records you need - consider checking out my 3-month business planner for freelancers. It has everything you need to keep your business in order for the quarter, including business contact pages, income and expense tracking, client lists, and, of course, time management tools in the form of hourly log pages and planner pages for each month, week, and workday. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/03/09/tracking-your-time-as-a-freelance-writer/
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As a small business owner, you may have heard the term ‘surety bond,’ or you may have heard other businesses describe themselves as ‘bonded and insured.’ But what does it mean to be ‘bonded,’ and how do you know if your business needs a surety bond? Here’s what you need to know about what a surety bond is and whether or not you need one. What is a surety bond?A surety bond is a contract between three parties – the principal, which is the company presenting the bond (your business), the obligee, which is the company or entity requiring the bond (your client), and the surety (the company you purchase the bond from). In the contract, the surety guarantees that the principal will perform the duties and activities required by the obligee. The principal pays a fee to the surety, who then assumes the risk, up to a certain dollar amount, if the obligee maintains that the principal did not adequately perform the duties in an implied or specific contract. You may need a bond in order to conduct business in your line of work, or you may need one for a specific project. Surety bonds for certain types of businessesBonds – called commercial bonds - may be required for some types of businesses, and these requirements are dictated by the state in which you operate. For example, in Massachusetts, you need to have a surety bond if you are an auctioneer, a private detective, or a used automobile dealer. In Texas, you need a surety bond if you collect debts for a third party. In California, you need a surety bond if you are a tax preparer or a process server. To determine if a surety bond is required for your business, check with the national association for your type of business, if there is one. For example, the National Association of Professional Process Servers can tell you if your state or municipality has licensing laws and surety bond requirements. Your state Real Estate licensing board will have requirements for the surety bonds that real estate brokers must maintain. Surety bonds for specific projectsBonds issued for specific projects, typically construction projects, are called contract surety bonds. When a contract to build a project is awarded, the company which won the contract (the principal) obtains a surety bond that will compensate the project owner (the obligee) in the event that the contractor defaults on the contract or causes a financial loss of some kind. There are four types of contract bonds.
What is the cost of a surety bond?A surety bond is priced based on the amount of risk the surety is assuming, and the likelihood that they will have to pay out on the bond – in other words, the likelihood that the principal will default. For this reason, companies with good credit and no record of default may pay less for their surety bonds than companies that are new, or that have a history of default. The type of business has some bearing as well. For example, the standard bond for a real estate broker covers their handling of deposits and escrow payments. The typical requirement is a $5,000 bond, and a real estate broker can usually obtain one for six years for about $50. For a large-scale construction project, the surety bond would need to be for a significantly higher amount – perhaps $1,000,000 or more – and would be significantly more expensive. The best way to determine your cost for a surety bond is to get quotes from at least three surety bond companies. Many companies will provide a quote online when you answer a few questions. Does a surety bond replace insurance?A surety bond does not replace general or professional liability insurance. A surety bond protects only the obligee, or the customer or owner of a project. In order for a small business to be fully protected, business insurance is also required. Likewise, small business insurance does not negate the need for a surety bond. Surety bonds are often required by federal, state or local government entities, professional organizations, and contract owners. Not having or obtaining a surety bond and insurance may disqualify you from being awarded certain contracts. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/03/07/what-you-need-to-know-about-surety-bonds-and-whether-you-need-one/
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IRS Tax Tip 2023-13, February 2, 2023 Receiving a tax refund is happy news to any taxpayer; getting it quickly is even better. Direct deposit is the safest and most convenient way to receive a tax refund. The IRS encourages taxpayers to file when they are ready and choose direct deposit to receive any refund they may be owed. Benefits of choosing IRS direct deposit:
Taxpayers should deposit refunds into U.S. bank accounts in their own name, their spouse's name or both. They should avoid making a deposit into accounts owned by others. Some banks require both spouses' names on the account to deposit a tax refund from a joint return. Taxpayers should check with their bank for direct deposit rules. Get a bank accountTaxpayers who don't have a bank account can visit the FDIC website for information on banks that let them open an account online and how to choose the right account. Veterans can use the Veterans Benefits Banking Program for access to financial services at participating banks. Mobile apps may be an optionSome mobile apps and prepaid debit cards allow for direct deposit of tax refunds. They must have routing and account numbers associated with them that can be entered on a tax return. Taxpayers should check with the mobile app provider or financial institution to confirm which numbers to use. Taxpayers must have their routing and account numbers for direct deposit available when they are ready to file. The IRS can't accept this information after a return is filed. There is a limit of three direct deposit refunds made into a single financial account or prepaid debit card. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/03/06/the-benefits-of-having-a-tax-refund-direct-deposited/
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No more than a few years ago, most freelancers would get their gigs from dedicated platforms, referrals, return clients, and of course, brands approaching them for an offer. Project-based, contract-based, or long-term, these collaborations may have varied in format, but the substance is the same: freelancers were often treated as external workers who don’t play a key role in the company culture. In these past few years, however, things are rapidly changing. Today, we have a growing number of businesses and their recruiters actively looking for freelancers, but with a twist. Now, more organizations are happy to treat freelancers as employees — to the extent it’s allowed — and integrate them into their core activities and culture. That said, it’s important for freelancers to understand what they can expect, what they can ask for, and how they can improve their chances of being hired for the best gigs out there. Here’s what we can learn from recruiters and how we can leverage that knowledge to grow our freelance careers even more. Setting clear communication goalsOne of the more pervasive freelancing myths is that the business is always the one setting communication expectations you have to abide by. Some companies do insist on taking the wheel on this aspect of the collaboration because they need their workforce (freelance and full-time) to be available at a certain time of day. Others, however, are more than happy to adjust and provide ample flexibility in terms of collaborating with their freelancers, especially when that’s the price for working with someone they are really impressed with. So, while the recruiter might not say so directly, you can definitely share your two cents on what you feel will be the best way to cultivate effective communication between you and other team members.
Recruiters can be freelancers, tooWhen you’ve got your foot in the door and you feel that you’re already at a disadvantage for being a freelancer talking to a recruiter, keep in mind: the recruiter you’re speaking with might be a freelancer, as well! This is a career path on the rise, meaning that you will be increasingly likely to come across recruiters who work for a multitude of clients, or maybe a single one, but that fully understand where you’re coming from. Whether or not they are freelancers, recruiters can also be rookies, unfamiliar with the specifics of your job or workflow and new to the concept of hiring freelancers. To be a successful recruiter, they need to learn on the go and make sure they find a good fit both for the company and for the candidate. That said, make sure you don’t leave anything important unsaid and share your concerns, ask questions, and don’t make assumptions. The best way to find a great gig — and possibly a wonderful referral later on — is to treat the recruiter as the person who needs you as much as you need them. Be mindful of the recruiting processRecruiters are just one piece of the recruiting puzzle. That is why recruiters often want freelancers to keep this crucial fact in mind: every recruiting strategy is different, and therefore, you cannot approach every gig with the same mindset. That means that you might:
Too many times, recruiters rule out someone because the person simply hasn’t provided enough information to consider them for the role. Not sure? Ask them. Automation can be trickyAutomation is a buzzword that’s reshaping the business world as we know it, and the recruiting sector is no different. Chances are, the recruiters you’re speaking with (or attempting to speak with) use some form of HR workflow automation to eliminate menial tasks and focus on the core of their work. What that means for you is that you might not even get to meet the recruiter until very late in the process, so your approach to each project needs to be on point. You should ask if you, as a freelancer, get access to some of the company perks in case you will collaborate on a long-term basis, and how you can leverage them if they’re automated and only available to full-time staff. Always ask about onboardingThis ties in nicely with the previous topic of automation – if some aspects of HR and recruiting are automated, that means some kind of software will be in use. It can be extremely helpful for companies to use remote recruiting software to find and hire freelancers with as little hassle as possible, but that also means you need to understand what their onboarding entails. Busy recruiters jumping from one conversation to another might not mention the specifics, and it’s best for you to ask. Check what the onboarding includes, if you will go through some kind of training, how long it lasts, and of course, how you will be compensated for the time you spend integrating into the company if there are no deliverables to charge for during that initial stage of onboarding. Over to youWith more companies recruiting freelancers for long-term collaboration and not just project-based work, it’s crucial to know which questions to ask and how to adapt your expectations. It also means you might boost your chances of landing that dream gig, so it pays to understand the recruiting side of the process before you apply for your next project or contract. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/03/02/5-lessons-freelancers-can-learn-from-recruiters-2/
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Hey, you. Did you know you don’t have to be a tax genius to file your own taxes? How to DIY your tax returnWe get it — filing your own tax return can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before. But once you get started, you might realize it’s much easier than you thought it would be. And it has benefits, too. Tax preparation software like TaxAct® is designed to guide taxpayers through the online tax filing process with ease. We start by asking you for basic information about yourself and any dependents you might have. Based on your answers to our interview questions, we’ll determine the most beneficial filing status for you, pull the necessary tax forms for your financial situation, and help you fill them out step by step. Once you’re done filling out your federal income tax return online (and possibly your state return, too!), we’ll help you pay any taxes owed, choose how to receive any tax refunds, and submit your tax documents to the IRS for processing. It’s that easy! Benefits of doing your own taxesHere are a few perks you can look forward to when using TaxAct to e-file your tax return. 1. Saving moneyHiring a CPA to do your taxes often costs hundreds of dollars. the IRS offers free federal filing utilizing TaxAct’s software for those who qualify (based on your age and adjusted gross income), and TaxAct itself offers other affordable packages depending on your tax situation. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time filer, avid investor, small business owner, or self-employed freelancer — we’ll walk you through the process. While filing, TaxAct also helps you determine which tax credits and tax deductions you may qualify for and whether you would save the most money by taking the standard deduction or itemizing. 2. Filing on your termsOne of the great things about e-filing is your ability to save your tax return and come back to finish it later. This way, you don’t have to sit down and file your return all at once. If you get interrupted, or you’re waiting on more tax forms to arrive, TaxAct makes it easy to log back in and pick up where you left off. 3. Expert support available at your fingertipsDIYing doesn’t mean you’re on your own; if you get stuck or have a question when tax filing, there’s no need to panic. When using TaxAct, you have the option of using our Xpert Assist feature that will give you access to any questions you might have about the tax code or our product.1 We also offer a handy FAQ page for all filers with answers to common tax questions that we update yearly. 4. Improved accuracyThere’s no need to worry about math errors or missing signatures holding up your tax return with online tax filing. TaxAct crunches the numbers for you, eliminating the human mistakes we inevitably make when filling out paperwork. For extra peace of mind, we can even help you check for potential errors or inconsistencies before officially submitting your return. In fact, we’re so confident in our product’s accuracy that we offer a $100k Accuracy and Maximum Refund Guarantees.* 5. Saving time year after yearOnce you file with TaxAct, the next year is even easier. Your information is stored on our secure site, so you can save valuable time by not reentering the same info as last year. Just log in to edit your account or any previous information you’ve entered with us. Tax preparation made easyYou don’t need advanced tax law knowledge to save money and get the maximum refund you deserve during tax season. TaxAct offers all the tools and support you need to file your taxes online with ease and confidence. Ready to make tax prep your next DIY project? Let’s get started. *Read more about the TaxAct Maximum Refund and $100k Accuracy Guarantees.1TaxAct Xpert Assist is available as an added service to certain users of TaxAct’s online, consumer prepared 1040 product. Service hours limited to designated scheduling times and by expert availability. Some tax topics or situations may not be included as part of this service. View full TaxAct Xpert Assist Terms and Conditions.All TaxAct offers, products and services are subject to applicable terms and conditions.via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2023/03/01/why-should-i-file-my-own-taxes-online/ |
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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