You have been working for an agency and now after buying the
How to build wicked WordPress themes book, you have decided to strike it out on your own and work for yourself. Now of course you will be working from home most likely, but working from the comfort of a pyjama clad kitchen table can have it’s pitfalls.
One of the most important things to consider when making the change from fixed employment to contracting will be the need for discipline in your working life.
People often think just about the advantages of working for themselves (the freedom, flexibility and potential financial rewards) and forget to consider the likely disadvantages.
So, when fleeing the methodized and restricted routine of an office (and office life) it is important to bear in mind that you will be needing a bit of that structure to make a hit of your own independent business.
Here are five methods to ensure that you balance the freedom of the new job with a little amount of discipline!
1. Design a System or Technique of Working that You’re At Ease With
Possibly the most important parts to working as a contractor is the self dicipline that you have from the beginning to the end of every project. It is absoloutly vital that you manage all your client interactions with a systemised process and that process is smooth an efficient. It can be as easy as starting with a ‘To Do’ list and then expand on it for each client.
Give each task dates and delivery timeframes, and STICK TO IT! a simple excel spread sheet can make a massive task and a seeminly overwhelming job much more managable.
If you want, there are tonns of books and publications out there that can help, and if you’re in the habit of throwing monney away, you can always buy some dedicated software that will do the job efficently.
2. Learn how to Prioritize
Once you have that system is running it’s extreamly important that you start to set priorities for your work. As a freelance worker your reputation is the most important asset that you have. Your business can be made on your ability to deliver the goods on time and to the clients expectations so setting a priority for each task is highly important.
Something to remebember is, do the task that NEEDS to be done and not the the task you WANT to do.
3. Remove Any Disruptions
This is particularly important for those contractors or self employed who work from the home office. First of all, if possible it’s always best to set your workplace’s space outside the house or at least in the room at the farthest end of the property or perhaps in the loft area.
Next, you need to come to an understanding with your household, that there are certain hours within the working day when you unquestionably can not be disrupted, unless there is an emergency. If you don’t do that, you will will be continually pestered by spouses or kids, and called on to look at busted dishwashers or get shopping or take the puppy for a walk around the block.
Although you’re at home, particular hours of the day should be observed by your household as working hours and you should be regarded as out of reach.
4. Use a Carrot Not the Stick
The easiest method to motivate yourself to work is to create rewards for good work or completed tasks. Perhaps you might use the freelance timetable to plan a holiday with the partner or kids, however only if and when you complete a certain commitment.
Give yourself a thing to look forward to and to motivate you.
Quite simply, become your own boss, but be a good boss!
5. Always be Disciplined using your Income
Finally, one area of self-control that professionals and consultants frequently pay too little attention to is their finances. It is vital to be aware that there may very well be occasions when jobs are thin on the ground. For this reason it is important to create a system which sets a percentage of the earnings on a monthly basis into a separate checking account for those times when you are not working.
You should also consult with an accountant about all of the financial areas that are tax deductible, from your home office to your utility bills to travelling as well as office supplies. Once you’ve worked this out, be sure you record and save all the bills.
Finally, since tax choices for contractors as well as self employed are so different from fixed employment, look into all the ways you can maximize your revenue, from Managed Service Companies to Umbrella Companies and other such structures designed for contractors.
So when you start your new WordPress Theme Development career be sure to employ these techniques and you will set yourself on a path that can only lead to success!
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