I just ran my numbers
I’ve averaged 3/4 of what I need to make every month since Brett’s been home. I didn’t know I was doing as well as that — I kinda don’t understand it. That’s what actually came in since April — not what’s still outstanding. I thought I was making 1/2 of what I need to make because I’d just been keeping track in my head.
I plan to be filthy rich by December. (Kidding. Kinda. Maybe spring.)
So I wanted to give an update about how things are going work-wise for those of you playing the corporate writing game at home.
1. Since I started networking the tone and content of my meetings have changed. Before I was going blind into big meetings and handing business cards out to everyone I saw. Now I’m scheduling meetings with individuals and we’re talking about what we can do for each other more specifically. Basically I’m nurturing leads for myself and I’m also helping to hook up people in my network with other people because I finally have a network.
2. I’m starting to have a better understanding of business in Columbus — which corporations are the heavy-hitters, which ones are impossible to work for, which ones regularly use freelancers, etc. I’m also getting a better understanding of business in general including the titles of the people I need to target and how things work and the language people use with each other.
3. I’ve also honed and re-honed my elevator pitch.
4. I’m getting a better idea of what I have to offer although I’m still not totally clear about what my specialty will be or what I’m really great at. My writing group tells me that my copy is “snappy,” which leads me to believe that I’m probably going to be best in an industry that doesn’t necessarily need to be dry.
5. I’ve learned that I really get this marketing thing. I think I’m pretty intuitive about it and sometimes when I’m talking to someone at a networking meeting I can get a clear understanding of what they’re doing wrong (and right) with their branding and campaigns. My confidence hasn’t caught up with this though; I’m working on it.
6. I’m still perfecting my calendar/appointment system. I think my best bet would be a PDA but I can’t really lay out the cash for that right now. We’ve got a broken TREO somewhere in the house (courtesy of Brett’s brother) but I have no idea how to make it work. Also learning to balance Noah’s school with my work (and Madison’s school) is going to be a bear. There was a meeting I really wanted to hit the Thursday after this but Thursday Madison has school, Noah has gym, we only have the one car and everything pretty much happens at once. I don’t know if I’ll be able to swing it. Damn.
7. I can’t remember names. I can see them (on their business cards, on their emails) but I’m so used to scanning names to get a general idea — enough to start typing ’til my address book picks it up and finishes it — that I’ve forgotten how to translate them into names I say. For example, this week I had an appointment with a woman and her name was K-something. I thought I knew it until I was in her parking lot and realized I had no idea. I knew it was K and had an R but that was it. I could see it but I couldn’t say it. (It was Karen and I was leaning to Katherine — Yipes!) Now I know I ought to just bring their card with me or write it down and look at it one more time before the meeting. (I had another close call with a Melissa/Michelle.)
In short, networking online and networking off-line aren’t the same thing. Duh. Glad I figured that out four months into my efforts!!!!
Melissa/Michelle happens all the time (says the woman named Melissa). I also get called Martha a lot. I’m 28. Is there ANYONE my age named Martha? I’ve never met one.