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.    

Have you had a business challenge and can't figure out what to do? Check out Jill['s new e-booklet, available at Amazon.com to read about the most common challenges her entrepreneurial business coaching clients have faced and how to do with said challenges. 

Also, if you have a business that is craft industry related and have ever wanted to write a book,. check out Jill's article for the Craft Industry Alliance Journal. The Craft Industry Alliance is a professional organization for makers worldwide; it's an incredible resource of education, support, and like-minded crafty people. (And joining is a tax-deductible business expense.) 

I've been doing a lot of press the last six month since Creating a Freelance Career was published, and since A Salary Cinderella Story (Or How to Make More Money Without a Fairy Godmother) was published on February 12 and became a best-seller. In addition to being a guest on radio shows, podcasts and the like (see the one on the homepage for an example), I have also been asked to write guest articles (as opposed to being the subject the article or interview) for a variety of websites. The most recent of these was for Little Pink Book and is about the role femininity can play in your business success. Click here if you'd like the read the article. 

This past week, I was also published in The Washington Post after having the honor of interviewing ballerina and nonprofit founder Aesha Ash. And I've been exchanging e-mails with the chief firefighter in Antarctica, who along with his wife, will be featured in an article for Team Rubicon, as they also volunteer with TR in the off-season. 

Other things I've done this week include had a meeting with my marketing coach, put together a proposal for a potential book client, write part of a new e-book (on the challenges I see most often in my entrepreneurial coaching clients' businesses) and finalize all of the swag bags, the food and the logistics for this weekend's Long Beach Women's Wellness Retreat. Oh and I also prepared a short lesson for a FB Live event I'm doing next Tuesday in the Creating the Freelance Career Group. If you fear failure, you may want to tune in.

It's been a week full of variety, but that's the way it is when you're self-employed and running a few disparate businesses. I've provided this slice of my life to help take some of the mystery out of what self-employment looks like. Right now, I need to get back to work. Happy almost the weekend. 

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​Do you need more like-minded people in your life, people who understand your drive and determination to forge your own path? Creating the Freelance Career has created a gathering place for freelancers, solopreneurs and entrepreneurs who want to be in a support community, to find collaborators and colleagues, to learn and grow our businesses together, through the platform of Facebook. 

In a closed Facebook group, we will inspire and motivate each other, find helpful tips, read stories of success and challenges, and interact with Jill L.Ferguson, author of Creating a Freelance Career, and with many of the entrepreneurs and freelancers whose stories serve as the case studies in the book. And most importantly, we will all learn from each other. 

So come join us, if you're just starting out or a seasoned self-employed professional. We'd love to learn about you and your business(es).  

Yesterday, Upjourney.com released its list of best business books to read for 2019 if you're an entrepreneur and Creating a Freelance Career ​made the list, along with some esteemed classics like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and works by John C. Maxwell. We are both humbled and excited to be included as recommended reading and grateful to the love shown by Upjourney.com and the social media community for our book. 

Also, this afternoon Jill L. Ferguson will be a guest for an hour on Kimberli Lewis' Leadership Beyond Borders radio show (Voice America Radio) discussing "The Emergence of the Freelance Workforce." If you miss the 3 pm PST start time on January 15 and would like to hear the whole broadcast, click here to listen live or after January 15, you can click here to hear the show.

We're so thankful for Javier Perez of Page-Turner Publicity for setting up this radio interview and others. 

On Monday, January 7 at 11 am PST, Jill L. Ferguson will be speaking (live) with Patricia Raskin on her show Positive Living. The show has call-in options for listeners, and will be recorded for future listening (if you miss it the first time) on iTunes. 

Also, on January 15 at 3 p.m. PST, Jill will be on the international business show Leadership Beyond Borders, hosted by Kimberli Jo Lewis. This show can be heard on VoiceAmerica.com and on iTunes. 

Since early October I've been doing publicity for Creating a Freelance Career. What this means is that I've hired a publicist (for the second time in my life; I hired the same publicist back in 2006-2007 for Sometimes Art Can't Save You), and I've been making the rounds of radio shows, podcasts and guest writing on applicable websites. In past instances, I've done a whole mess of television interviews and bookstore and university talks and signings. This is all done to spread word about the book, to get your name out there as an expert and to find people who can be helped through the work we do. Routledge, my publisher, and their in-house publicity/salespeople are targeting colleges and universities, professors and students. 

Sometimes publicity can be fun. I like traveling; talking to people I've never met; being on television. podcasts and radio. For example, one show I did that aired on November 20, School for Start Ups had an engaging host who was a joy to work with. The same can be said about Stephen Warley and Life Skills That Matter that we recorded in late spring and aired in May.

Other times, being on a show can be like walking into the middle of a dysfunctional family, like on the NYC radio show I did a decade ago, where the host hadn't read my bio, the Q&A provided by my publicist or anything else so he knew nothing about me or why I was on his show. All he talked about on-air for more than 30 minutes was what he thought of my looks and how it was too bad the radio audience couldn't see me. His producer repeatedly cut to commercial to silence him, and every time he did, they got into a big cussing match about the host's behavior.

That same year, i also ended up with a stalker who saw me on television. came to meet me later that day at a bookstore and tried to follow me everywhere i went for the duration of my tour in his city. These two things are some of the downsides of publicity that few people talk about. The other downside is that for all of the "out and about" time you put in, the effects may be minimal in terms of in-person turn outs at reading and signings and book sales. One international group of women and non-binary writers t which I belong discusses this regularly. Some book signings and readings may fetch two to three people in the audience while others bring in hundreds--all for the same speaker and book. In a way it's like voter turn-out: it can be affected by weather, interest, other obligations or even if it is a city or town where going to events is something people do or not. 

To create a successful publicity strategy, one needs a consistent message and multiple ways to deliver it over a sustained length of time. This means that message needs to be conveyed on all media channels (including social) regularly. But of course, one-of lists, such as those for holiday gift buying never hurt, if you're included on those. :)