Back in 2015, when I met Swatee Surve, she was an enthusiastic engineer who was determined to create an app video game and thriving company called Litesprite to help people combat health issues like stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and the like. She was passionate about how tech products could influence wellness, and she was driven by this mission. She worked long hours, networked like crazy, and side hustled walking dogs and pet sitting to support her vision. 

At the first-ever Women's Wellness Weekend event in January of 2016, Surve was a participant and she extended an invitation to the other women to become beta-testers of her game. I helped her extend the invite to others by writing about Litesprite in the Huffington Post and in other publications .

Fast-forward a couple of years and Litesprite was the first video game to ever win a U.S. Surgeon General's Award for its contribution to public health. And now, this week, Bayer G4A announced a partnership with Litesprite. 

I am thrilled for Swatee Surve and Litesprite, and I think her story is a good example of why when we have a dream of self-employment or of creating a company and we have a vision and drive, we need to keep going. We all have unique talents and skills and things that only we can bring to the world to help make it a better place. Follow your passions. Pursue your dreams wholeheartedly and never give up. 

​Swatee, you are an inspiration to us all. Thank you. 

The episode of the U.K.-based podcast My Perfect Failure that aired this past weekend featured CreatingtheFreelanceCareer.com's founder Jill L. Ferguson. Titled "How to Scale Mountains with Serial Entrepreneur Jill L. Ferguson" the episode covers how to combine multiple work projects as an entrepreneur, how to deal with challenging situations, how freelancers and entrepreneurs can overcome failure, and the work that we do here, at Creating The Freelance Career to help our clients scale mountains and achieve their career goals. 

My Perfect Failure, the Podcast, hosted by Paul Padmore, taps into the world of Failure.We explore What is Failure, why does it happen and how do we move beyond our Failures. With the help of a range of amazing guests from all walks of life we discuss and debate to get their take on this subject. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most places where podcasts are found. #podcasts #entrepreneurs #freelance #guest #failure #success

This past week Fairygodboss.com asked Creating the Freelance Career founder and author Jill L. Ferguson to moderate a new group they were starting. The group, also titled Creating the Freelance Career, is targeted towards women entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, freelancers, side hustlers or anyone who is self-employed or does contract employment. The online space is devoted to education, support, news, inspiration, and fun.

Ferguson sees the space as a perfect place to strike up new collaborations with like-minded people and a space where creativity and camaraderie can thrive..She also sees the group as a variation of the Facebook group of the same name that she runs, and the work that is done by Creating the Freelance Career consulting group. "I'm honored to be asked to work with the fine women at Fairygodboss," Ferguson said. "And I can't wait for this group to expand and become the robust and helpful entity it was designed to be." 

The Fairygodboss group is open to anyone, so if you'd like to participate, click here.   

During the past three weeks, I've been on more than a dozen calls with people who are looking for a ghostwriter. While they've come to the right place (yes, that is something I do), many of them don't actually need a ghostwriter; what they need is a book coach and an editor. But if one doesn't consider oneself a writer but has ideas for a book or a blog, sometimes the difference is unclear. 

For example, in the early 2000s, I was hired by Women Unlimited's founder Jean Otte to ghostwrite what became Women Are Changing the Corporate Landscape, Originally, I was hired to conduct all of the interviews, do all of the research and to write the book, plus hire the editor and work with the printing company who would provide the paperback copies. Then, Jean and WU's president decided to write intros to the book, and my name was added to the front cover. This is similar to what happened to Tony Schwartz when he wrote ​The Art of the Deal for Donald Trump and his publisher (though Trump didn't write any of his own book). 

But those examples are a bit unusual because the ghostwriter is usually unseen or heard from, they are literally the invisible specter that makes the project happen or brings the blog or book to life. And because the ghostwriter does the research and conducts the interviews and does all of the writing and editing, she or he is paid a fee for the project. (In the case of books, this fee is in the thousands of dollars; for a blog, the fee will be in the hundreds, if you are hiring an experienced U.S.-based writer.)

GHOSTWRITER VS. COACH AND EDITOR

Some of the potential clients and clients I've talked to this month have drafts started of their books or have drafts written of their blog posts. Or they may have an idea and an outline and have the desire to write the book themselves, but need guidance. Some of these people have thought they needed a ghostwriter, when what they really need is a book coach and an editor.

A Ghostwriter:

• Takes an idea and figures out how to tell the story.
  
• Conducts all of the interviews.
  
• Does original research. 
  
• Writes all of the drafts and edits the manuscript.
  
• Works closely with the person(s) whose name(s) will ultimately appear on the front cover. 

A Book Coach and Editor:

• Holds the writer or idea generator's hand as s/he creates a draft of the project. 
  
• Offers developmental feedback, and may do developmental editing and copyediting.
  
• Explains the publishing options and helps the writer bring the product to the marketplace (either through help finding and querying editors and publishers or guiding one through the best self-publishing process for the writer's goals).  
• Works closely with the person(s) whose name(s) will ultimately appear on the front cover. 
• Acts as a cheerleader throughout the whole process. 

For book coaching and editing, combined prices start around $1,000 and can run as high as $5000, depending on the coach. Ghostwriting prices are determined by a number of factors such as experience of the writer, length of the proposed book, amount of original research required, turnaround time expected from idea to finished product, and if any of the book has been written and is expected to be cleaned up and incorporated. Some American-based websites claim book ghostwriting prices start at $5,000, and Upwork has people frequently looking for overseas ghostwriters in the hundreds of dollars price range. But If you want to hire an experienced ghostwriter and an experienced author to research and write a book-length manuscript for you, expect to pay a lot more than that. 

Ghostwriters who handle celebrities' books often earn over $50,000. Schwartz himself admits to receiving a six-figure advance plus a part of the royalties (the royalty part is very unusual for a ghostwriter as ghostwriter's receive the money upfront not residuals for years after publication). And Schwartz admits that he devoted a year and a half to Trump's book; it's that time and work that someone hiring a ghostwriter is paying for. 

Hiring a ghostwriter can be very beneficial if you have an idea and want to write a book but don't think you have the time or the skills to do so. Expect to work with the person closely, and to provide guidance when asked. After all, the finished product will have your name on the cover.

A survey of more than 7000 people by FlexJobs found that 30 percent of workers have left jobs because they wanted more flexibility in their work and their lives. People want flexibility for a number of reasons: some hate their commutes, some have family obligations, some want a better life-work balance, and some want flexibility to save time. I know when my husband commuted more than 40 miles one way each day--which took between one and two and a half hours each way depending on the day's traffic--he cherished the rare days he could work from home.

Having flexibility is also one of the reasons people choose freelance careers and/or self employment. And flexible means a variety of things, such as being able to work from anywhere, setting your own hours, choosing your own collaborators, creating a multi-faceted career, and choosing the actual work you do (and what you delegate or outsource). Flexibility may also mean choosing when you go into the office or to a client's and when you work from home, from somewhere remotely, or do meetings via Zoom, Skype or WebEx. 

Having flexibility in our work also means that we may be more productive and more contentment. The Flexjobs' survey showed that many people wanted flexibility in their schedules because they are pet parents, have caregiving responsibilities, or live in an area with a poor job market.  

Some jobs, obviously, lend themselves to more flexibility than others. But a few traditional occupations now have more flexible options (think telemedicine for doctors, for example).  
In fact, the breakdown of who wanted Job flexibility looks like this:

• • Pet owner (28%)
  • Freelancer (25%)
  • Entrepreneur (20%)
  • Introvert (20%)
  • Live in a rural area (14%)
  • Stay-at-home mom (14%)
  • Traveler or digital nomad (12%)
  • Semi-retired or retiree (12%)
  • Chronic physical issue or illness (11%)
  • Caregiver (10%)
  • Student (9%)
  • Artist (9%)
  • Athlete or fitness enthusiast (9%)
  • Long or “super” commuter (7%)
  • Other or more details (7%)
  • Environmentalist (6%)
  • Mental illness (4%)
  • Stay-at-home dad (2%)
  • Military spouse (2%)

The next time you are discontent in your work, ask yourself why, and if some flexibility--in whatever way you define that--wouldn't help you feel more content and productive. 

Excerpt from Bigger Than the Mountains: You Can Achieve Business Success

Each of us has a voice inside of us that tells us who we are and that directs us. Mine has told me since I was a young child that I would write. The same voice has also led me on a path to do a number of other avocations and vocations, even when my loved ones weren’t always supportive or didn’t understand. Part of being able to succeed in business is knowing exactly who you are and what your company is and does.

For some people and businesses, this is a stumbling block. One client I had a few years ago who wanted me to coach him through the start-up of his entrepreneurial endeavors stumbled with this in the extreme. It was like he’d donned protective boots and hat and taken the first ten steps up the mountain only to decide he wasn’t sure about the scenery in that particular space and that maybe a peak on another continent was really where he should be. For a few weeks, we planned a restaurant. But then he got an idea for what he thought was a new kind of high heeled shoe and thought maybe that was the industry he should enter. Then initial research proved his idea wasn’t original so he changed courses to a third, fourth, and fifth idea, all in one year’s time. This not only made him difficult to coach, it made him unable to succeed at anything because he never stuck to anything long enough to see it through.

Another client of mine, a university, was struggling with some of its core functions, such as the assessment of student learning and being able to prove to outsiders what their students learned and were capable of upon graduation. I asked them to return to their mission to see what was important to them, to give them a framework for reporting the information. In the workshop I was leading of a few hundred administrators and faculty members, not a single person could tell me the mission of the university. So we Googled it and found it buried on the university’s website. When I saw it, I wasn’t surprised they didn’t know it as it was more than half a page long. Additionally, we were all shocked to realize the mission of the university had nothing to do with students; they weren’t mentioned once.
It’s almost impossible to succeed in business if your company isn’t clear on what it is and who it serves. Since many of you reading this are founders and CEOs of your own enterprises, you need to be clear on who you are, what you bring to the business (including your strengths and challenges), and why you are doing the business you do.

Take a few moments and answer these questions:
• What is my business’ core function?
• Who does it serve? (Get specific about who your
ideal client or customer is.)
• What need does my business fulfill?
• And how does it do this?
• What makes me uniquely qualified in this endeavor?

#entrepreneurship #freelancecareer #selfawareness #knowthycustomer 

Last week I was interviewed by a journalist for an article for a forthcoming fall issue of  The Writer. The topic was saving for retirement when you're a self-employed writer, something I've written a bit about in my book Creating A Freelance Career   

In the book I explain that when you are self-employed you are considered both the employee and the employer so you can deposit into an I-401K or a Solo 401K both the employee and the employer's contribution towards your retirement. In 2019, the employee contribution can be $19,000 and the employer contribution can be $37,000 for a maximum contribution of $56,000. (See here for more information.) 

Plus, depending on your income levels, you could also contribute to a traditional or a Roth IRA (also on page 138 of Creating A Freelance Career). And as I write there, "While, these numbers may seem overwhelming as you're starting your freelance career, when it comes to saving for a rainy day and for retirement, it's important to get into the habit. Even earmarking a small amount to weekly or monthly go into both a savings account and a retirement account will accumulate, providing a cushion and some benefits when you're older and grayer." 

Which reminds me of the final question the journalist asked me: When do you plan to retire? I admitted that I've been writing for publication since I was 12 years old and I can't see myself ever stopping writing articles and books. I think it is an activity that defies age and also helps keep me feeling young. 

And I believe many of us that are following passion projects and creating businesses that help us burst with life feel the same way. Why stop doing something that invigorates you and that you feel contributes positively to the world. 

What are your thoughts? #retirement #I401K #passion projects #savings 

Do you find yourself gazing off towards the horizon and have dreams of what it could be like if you had your own business? Or maybe you're unsure of what exactly you'd like to do business-wise, but you know you'd like to have more control of your time and your life.

Deciding to become one's own boss and to be responsible for one's own income is a HUGE step. It will take a leap of faith (if you don't have a trust fund to fall back on) and some planning so that you have enough to pay your bills as you start out. 

Plenty has been written in academic and business circles about the personality traits that comprise a potentially successful self-starter. Inc. Magazine reports that highly successful entrepreneurs are creative, passionate, motivated, optimistic, future-oriented, persuasive, flexible, resourceful, adventurous and decisive. I agree with all of these things but I believe that above them all is belief in one's self. If you don't think you can have a rocking self-guided career, then it doesn't matter how creative or persuasive you are. 

Sure, there are times where we all feel self doubt, or may going through LinkedIn's or Indeed's job listings "just to see what's out there. Especially at times where we aren't making the sales we'd like and may feel a bit frustrated or down. But truth is, these feelings pass if one believes in his or her own vision and the benefits of what you're contributing to the world. 

So ask yourself these questions today:
1) Do I believe I have something special to offer?
2) Do I believe that I am the one to do this (whatever this is)?
3) Am I passionate, motivated, creative and optimistic?
4) Do I know where to go for the support I may need? 

If you aren't quite sure of the answer to the last one, many online groups and organizations offer free support to people with big ideas or a big audacious goal. I run a Facebook group that does that called Creating the Freelance Career. Others can be found on LinkedIn (if you don't like Facebook) or through local chapters of national organizations. Google search what's available in your area, or check out Alignable (it's like an extremely localized version of LinkedIn). Or, send me an e-mail or a shout out on social media that says you want to talk about your idea and need some support. I'm always happy to lend an ear and to help so that people can stop dreaming and start doing. 

From the 23 of May until last week, we took a much-needed vacation. I still daily moderated the Creating the Freelance Career Facebook group but I did no other work...for the first time on vacation in almost five years. (I'm notorious for spending a chunk of time every time i travel on work, including finishing the book manuscript for ​Reframing Quality Assurance: Evidence from Practice during my honeymoon in Bora Bora while my husband was on work conference calls). 

But this time, we hiked and ran the dog on beaches, ate amazing food, and enjoyed the California coastline and Central Coast wineries. And we spent quality time together, connecting face to face with each other and making new friends. 

On the drive home, we stopped along Highway 1 to see some exquisite wildflowers and took a short walk from the highway to the ocean. We took photos, breathed in the salty air and marveled at the surf as it crashed into the rocks. Only later, back in the car, did we find a tick on my husband's jeans. 

And then over the next week, we found more ticks. Two more on my husband, followed by six or seven on Nacho the wonder dog (pictured above). All of these ticks we easily removed (some weren't even attached yet). But the ticks tickled my thoughts (after I got over the creep out factor and confirmed that they weren't deer ticks so they weren't carrying Lyme's Disease). I realized how the possibility existed to permit the ticks to overshadow the sheer awesomeness of the spontaneous walk to the shore. In essence, I could choose to let the little bastards overshadow and squelch my joy or I could choose to remain in exuberance over wonderful walk and the totality of time well spent.

I choose the latter.

In business we come to the same crossroads. For example, we prepare and present an apt proposal to our bosses or a potential client. And we relish the feeling of "win"....but only until we hear one negative word about anything or receive an unrelated rejection. Then suddenly, our minds are reeling down a hole of darkness and our emotions plummet, too. And even if the win is much bigger, for some reason we focus on the little picky thing, the little tick, and not only do we help it embed, we almost welcome it.

Instead, we need to determine to brush the tick off and let the comment or rejection bounce off of us like a rubber ball bounces off of asphalt. Say "Sayonara" to the disappointment or the letdown and focus on the joy, the wins, the present and the future.

The ticks will always be there, but we don't have to entertain them (physically or mentally) in our lives and our businesses.