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Being a freelancer takes a certain amount of balls. Men, you’ve got this in the bag.
Lord Almighty, did I just say that? Perfect pun, unintended. That rocks.
It’s true. In a general sense, men seem to have more cojones, not just of the physical kind, but the metaphorical kind as well. Men tend to be more brave, bold, and courageous when it comes to taking a risk, putting themselves out there, and asking for what they want when they want it. They’re pack leaders, hunters and gatherers by nature, and heads of corporations.
Lucky for us women, even though we don’t have our male counterparts’ family jewels driving our need to survive and thrive, we have our own similar attributes to draw from. We’ve got… melons. [That’s right. Now, go make some melon balls and put them to use.]
You want examples, you say? No problem. Observe, and I shall teach you the ways of the force, young writing Jedi.
No matter where your balls are located, here’s how to use them for freelance writing fun and profit.
Show Your Face [Or Your Balls]
First of all, male or female, you’ve got to put yourself out there and get in the face of your potential freelancing employers or you will never get a break. Why? They won’t know you exist!
Introduce yourself, throw out a pitch or a sample piece of work they can use right now if they wish. Show them you mean business and you’re prepared to produce something they can use.
Don’t be afraid. What do you have to lose? If your work meets their standards and they already pay for posts anyway, they’re going to offer to pay for your accepted submission. If they don’t want your piece, use it somewhere else, like on your blog. There you go —next week’s post, in the bag.
Submit It — And Forget It
Even if you think you might not qualify, go for it.
I was recently made aware of a blogging opportunity for blogs with a certain amount of unique views per day. I didn’t meet the required amount, but I decided, “What do I have to lose?” I applied anyway and went on about my business. Later I received an email and was pleased to see that I was accepted.
If you don’t try, you won’t be accepted… that much is guaranteed.
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Want another example?
When I joined Mirasee, the very first e-mail I received concerned a contest.
The deadline was literally in hours, I hadn’t even had time to properly examine the site yet, but the title caught my eye and a light-bulb-moment idea sparked. Hey, I could even win money and consulting just for placing in the top three.
I didn’t hesitate. I thought, “What the heck?” I slid down that pole, lickety-split, submitting my entry just minutes before the deadline and forgot about it.
I was shocked to receive the e-mail stating I was a finalist. In the end, I didn’t place, but it was awesome exposure and experience for my writing career and I made some great connections. The piece was even recently promoted in a marketing e-zine in the UK. Think that would have happened if I had just slapped that piece on my blog instead? Let me answer that for you. Nope. No chance.
Serve Up Some Options Along With Those Balls
I once had a freelance writing employer ask me to work on a project for him. At the time, I wasn’t interested, but I decided to throw caution to the wind. Instead of just saying no, I said, “I don’t feel that I can do that at this time, but here’s what I can do for you if you’d be interested.”
Guess what. He loved the idea and it is now an ongoing gig for me. Boo-yah! Melon balls, anyone? Oh, and after working on my idea for a period of time and at the same time seeing him post examples of the work he originally asked me to do, I felt capable to take on the original project, so I submitted a sample. Now I have both gigs. Yes. I totally rock.
Never be afraid to suggest something different.
Want another example? The same employer asked me to work on a particular account doing ad copy. I had researched the company, read everything on their website, and had another one of my brilliant light bulb ideas. It had nothing to do with what he was asking of me for this client, but again, what did I have to lose?
I approached him with the concept of pitching a contest to the client and came up with some basic ideas. To my delight, he pitched the idea. To our delight, they loved it! It’s now a yearly event for that client and my employer gained repeat business he would not have otherwise obtained.
Making a daringly different suggestion can boost your income as a freelancer, too. I’ve added marketing consultation to my skill set, making me an even more valuable employee. My employer now contacts me about various clients and pays me just to look at their websites, Facebook pages, etc. and give him my honest opinion and suggestions in relation to the content.
I’m a consultant? Yeah, I’m suddenly a consultant!
Balls: a Summary of Applications
Get out there and pepper the world with a giant serving of you. Determine what you’re good at and offer it to those who don’t even know they need it. Follow this basic 10-step plan:
- Tell people you exist.
- Be brave.
- Ask yourself, what do you have to lose?
- Do it, and do it again. If that fails, do something else, somewhere else.
- Offer another service. Be creative! They might just need your brilliant idea that never occurred to them.
- Be awesome.
- Be awesome again.
- Be awesome in new places.
- Continue being awesome.
- That is all.
Girls have got balls. They’re just a little higher up, that’s all.
~ Joan Jett
Image: Sam Howzit
Awesome post and great advice!
Glad you enjoyed it, Alicia. I checked out your work and connected with you here, there, and nearly everywhere. Nice to meet you! I agree with your piece on misconceptions about writers. I think it’s funny when people assume I’m famous and making big money just because of what I’ve accomplished so far. I’m just beginning! Thanks for your comment.
Awesome post. When I saw so many balls coming at me I was highly concerned about whether they could be juggled appropriately. Your have your hands full and the balls are all in the air. Great post and great advice.
Yeah, I totally can’t juggle, but the balls are fun to play around with. And no, I don’t mean that in a metaphorical way. My husband can juggle and we actually have a set of juggling balls. I’m looking at them right now. LOL!
What a funny post, Cindy! 😀 Great advice packed with a lot of humour. Just to make my day, ahah. Thank you!
I’ve been dealing with depression over the last year, so I had to come back to freelancing one way or another. Oh, I had lost everything… or nearly everything; so I told myself: “what do you have to lose?”.
I still find it difficult to believe that I have scored new gigs and recovered old ones in less than 1 month! And just because I let myself put on a bold face!
Never felt more powerful in my life. I don’t even care if prospects say ‘no’. Just means I’m gonna try again.
~ Luana
P.S. That pic with the astonished balls… just cracked me up!
That’s wonderful that you are empowering yourself and battling your depression by putting on a bold face and getting back in the game. I’ve been there (depressed) and have found that the best way out is to push myself to put one foot in front of the other and be my best in spite of the fact that I don’t feel that way. Keep taking chances and remember that every ‘no’ gets you closer to a yes! I think I learned that when I was selling insurance door to door and almost went bankrupt, but it’s still encouraging 🙂
Ha…this is such valuable advice and delivered with a dash of wit too. Love it. I’m definitely going to try and put myself out there more as I tend to hang back a lot. Not anymore though, apparently I have balls!? 😉
Good for you! I see you’re a Tedx speaker – I will have to check your speech out. I just joined Toastmasters recently and plan to do some public speaking in the future. I would say it takes a fair amount of balls to do a Ted talk!
I love this article! Thank you for having the _____ to write it! I’m in a complete state of awe because this is exactly where I’m at and exactly the ‘kick in the ____’ I needed. Empowering AND funny…perfect combination.
That’s what I’m here for… kicking people in the ____. ;0)
This post is great, thanks for that Cindy!
It really is all about just putting yourself out there more as you just never know what can come from it and in all seriousness the better we all can get at handling rejection, the better.
Makes taking a chance that much easier.
Just recently (I’m a bmx rider for context) a clothing company I followed on Facebook announced that they’re looking for a team rider or skater and to send en email their way, I thought to myself what do I have to lose besides a possible 5 minutes of my time sending an email/video, I didn’t expect anything from it and 1 week and a half later I’m their new team rider!
Did I expect it? Hell no, Am I excited? You know it!
Just got to replicate that same attitude and (to be a kid of the internet right here) the #YOLO approach to all aspects of our lives, especially work and who knows where we can wind up!
Thanks again!
Jackson
Hey, Jax! Glad to know you are already putting these principles to work and you’ve seen success. I also believe in the YOLO lifestyle (within my current moral compass, that is). I went to your website to learn more about you and was very shocked that you are only 22 years old! I am exactly twice your age and my husband is 38 and we are just now beginning to follow our dreams and become “lifestyle entrepreneurs,” as you put it in your “about” section.
I liked what you had to say on your site and your maturity is certainly beyond your years in coming to the realization that you want and deserve more out of life than a 9-5 grind. I applaud you.
I clicked, clicked, clicked on your links and it was no surprise that I ended up on a site referring to the 4-hour work week, which my husband just got done reading and between things he has learned from Tim Ferriss and King Human, he is sold on changing his life and living it on his terms!
Cool to make a connection with a 22 year old BMX’er from Australia. You just never know where like minded people will meet!
Fear of rejection keeps us afraid of trying; it is a fact if you are rejected at least you can’t work with the same level of motivation and your many blogging chores remain less passionate on that day. But without making attempts success is almost impossible. So one should adopt a wise approach of keep trying and never be upset on rejection. Great post thanks
If you get rejected, it means you tried. And that’s something to be proud of. The thing is to KEEP trying. 🙂
And I guarantee I shall!
While I’m a big believer in being awesome and having bowling balls, I know how easy it is to become hesitant and start second guessing yourself. I still haven’t gotten any pleasant surprises from submitting and forgetting in the Freelance context, but I’m really new so I’m sure they’re just waiting for me.
Time to go looking for some! ^^
Hey, I am checking out your website and will leave you a comment there. You know, the more I get into the writing business, the more I find that writers are not the most confident bunch, which is the opposite of what I expected! Sometimes, I trip and fall over my own (metaphorical) balls, but most of the time, being brave benefits me.
Awesome and entertaining advice, Cindy!
I’m a big fan of your #1. Everything stays in the confidence you have to put yourself out there. My first article in Huffington Post (it took me two years to get featured there) landed me a high-paying client who didn’t even sneeze when I gave him my rates. When he read it, he said “that’s exactly what we want.” It’s all about making the clients come to you by marketing yourself through guest posting on big blogs. At least that’s the strategy I’m using.
Thanks again for sharing this post! And your site is now very much bookmarked. 🙂
Wow, a feature on Huffington Post is one of my goals as well! I gather that you have to be “invited” like a secret club or something. Putting yourself out there can really open doors like magic. I became a published author all as a result of joining a LinkedIn group and commenting on a thread. Lucky connection! Or… divine intervention, I’m not sure. Thanks for reading my piece and bookmarking my site. I don’t write about writing that much, but I guarantee I will entertain you somehow… at some point… with something.
Thanks for your reply, Cindy!
Re: HuffPo, no secret club or anything. It simply was the right time. Arianna Huffington initiated The Third Metric conference – a movement to redefine success focusing on our well-being. Back then (July 2013) she accepted posts on this topic sent to her email address. I emailed her my post, she accepted and published it. Took less than 48 hours. The conversation is still going. They want people to keep contributing and spreading the word.
As of September, Third Metric posts can be sent to a different email address. Not sure if Sophie allows peeps to post links here. But happy to email you the details if you’re interested.
Yes, you can e-mail me: hiyacynthia at Hotmail dot com 🙂 I hadn’t heard of the Third Metric, but have done some research now and it looks like something right up my alley!
Love this article – so easy to play small and safe – where does that get you? I’m going to take this on! Be awesome and continue being awesome! Yes!
You go, girl! 🙂
Great post Cindy, this really made me smile! 😉 I think it’s so true, part of being awesome is just having the sheer guts to give things a try. Throughout my “portfolio” career I have taught at universities, worked as a trainer, consultant, blogger, copywriter, design manager, social media manager, blog coach and creativity consultant. My friends think it’s hilarious that I am always doing something different, but each thing has enabled me to grow more, and to learn from the experience.
Get your balls out ladies, I totally agree! *high fives* x
High five back atcha! Experience is the best teacher, isn’t it? And sometimes, the way to get experience is to jump right into the fire and hot-foot your way through it to the other side. No fear, no fear!
Yes, just what I needed to read at 7 am! I haven’t been nearly as bold as when I first got started last year. I think life has gotten in the way. I need to take charge again. I hate it when circumstances do that. Thanks!
Life does get it the way, for sure! Hope this helps to motivate you…
Loved this post. What you’re saying is so true. I’ve been getting out there now, networking, approaching people, pitching and it’s working well so far. I’ve picked up a new client, negotiated a partnership, received a new opportunity to promote my services and offer training on good business writing skills with another organisation who helps small businesses grow, and picked up a few other leads. It’s been hectic but exciting and empowering. In fact, I think I’ve surprised myself that I have the balls to be so ballsy!
On the Huffington Post topic – I also received an invitation to blog for The Third Metric section this week as well. Out of the blue and so unexpected! And I too had a goal to get a post on HuffPost but hadn’t got around to pitching them yet, and then they go and contact me! That’s crazy! Apparently, they read an article I did on another blog, liked it and invited me to blog for them. Yes, it doesn’t pay, but will be great exposure!
Cindy, I love your writing style and your humour! 🙂
Empowering is right! And wow, kudos to you for the HuffPo invite out of the blue. I had that happen recently when Grammarly contacted me out of the blue. I don’t even know how they know I exist. I made a little money reviewing their product and doing a post, which is something I would have done anyway because I wanted to try them out. That was pretty cool that I didn’t even have to do a thing and somebody offered me money to write for them.
Hi Cindy! Thanks so much for this post. I have to keep reminding myself that the only way I can get better at writing is to actually WRITE something. If I want a freelance job, I have to work at it. What have I got to lose? This was the motivation I needed today. Thank you!
You have nothing to lose! If the answer is no, just move on and submit the piece somewhere else or keep on writing. There are so many avenues for success in freelance writing. Just dive in and you’ll be doing the backstroke in no time. And yes, your writing will improve with practice and sometimes, your rejections will even come with helpful hints and feedback. It’s all good when you get constructive criticism from people who can pay you to write for them.
Thank you for your guts and passion. Very inspiring and I totally identify with the feeling…TRY and don’t tell me no! You’ll find a way as long as you go after what you want. Great post!
That’s right. If you don’t try, you will never know! Simple principle, easier said than done for some. I can honestly say that it has only backfired on me maybe 10% of the time. What’s that, though? Nothing. That means I still have 90% success and that’s awesome!
Coolest article I ever read…
Don’t get me wrong if I say this, it really takes some balls to write such a witty article with a great message..
Wow, you guys are all making me feel like a writing rock star. Feedback like that keeps me writing! Thank you!
You can add “chops” to your culinary list of
melons and balls, Cindy. And based on this
post, your writing style is best described as
“saucy.”
Your story reminded me of what my Dad told
me the summer after my freshman year at
college (and I’m paraphrasing). “Michael, you’ve
got two feet, a backbone and a good head on your
shoulders. So it’s time for you to stand up,
speak up and smarten up. You’re not a kid
anymore.”
Well, neither are the rest of us. Those days are
long gone.
If you don’t stand up for you, no one else will.
And you don’t always have to be at your best
to do your best for clients. But if you don’t ask,
you won’t get the gig. You just needs the balls,
melons and chops to make the pitch and put
one foot in front of the other.
Extremely well done, Cindy. I look forward to
Sophie inviting you back so I can enjoy more
of your work!
You hit the nail right on the head. It does take chops and putting one foot in front of the other, time and time again until you get there ;0)
And yes, I hope Sophie does invite me back! It’s my first time guest posting for her.
The cool thing about guest posting with Sophie is
that she has a keen eye for talent and potential.
If you didn’t have the chops to write, Sophie wouldn’t
have let you guest post in the first place. But beyond
that, Cindy, she sees a desire within you to resolve
unanswered questions only your humorous writing
style can answer. I’d say you’re well on your way…
And to top it all off, you’ve got swag, Cindy.
And I mean SERIOUS swag!!! It’s obvious
that your old boss/mentor taught you well.
Keep up the GREAT work!!!! 🙂
Well, thank you so much! I have to go immediately and tell my kids that someone thinks I have swag ;0)
Thank you, Cindy, for the kick in the ass! Women really do have a tendency to sit and wait to be chosen rather than just going for what you want. You really just have to stop waiting and choose yourself.
I totally agree. I give credit to a wise old boss I had when I was younger. He literally taught me how to not be shy! I could teach a class. No, wait! I mean… I should write a book – on confidence ;0)
Being brave is something I’ve been practicing over the years. It has not failed me much at all.
Isn’t such a lot of freelancing (or anything) down to having the balls to just get out there and be confident in what you do? So many people think it’s a case of being highly proficient and achieving perfection in their chosen field, but that’s actually just a huge bonus!
After I quit my job and went freelancing full-time I came to realise (almost by accident) that how boldly I acted was in direct correlation to how much I earned.
Good on ya for spreading the word to others Cindy. 🙂
That’s the truth! I am not highly proficient and have not achieved perfection by any stretch of the imagination, but I am learning, growing, and just keeping my focus to move forward. So far, it’s working!
I loved your blog and for a shy person like me i needed to read that thank you.
Never be shy, Scott. It’s a most boring way to live life. Take chances, be brave, and live life loud. I do and I love it. (Advice from a former shy person 🙂 )
Cindy, this is one of the best posts I’ve read for awhile! Obviously you take your advice to be awesome to heart because you’ve produced some great content here 🙂
However, as awesome as the advice to reach for awesomeness is, my favorite is #3. Asking what do you have to lose? Hell, yeah! Every so often I remember that, but usually it’s a question I forget to think about. Time to print it on huge letters and post it on my office wall.
So, now I’m off to prove that I have nothing to lose and lots to gain. Cheers
Many of us think we have something to lose when in reality… we don’t! It’s perceived that way only in our minds. I’m going to be doing another guest post soon on this very subject on another site.
This is one of the best blog posts that I’ve read in a long time. First off, the word “balls” is seriously one of my favorite words. One of the reasons why is mentioned all through this blog post.
Second, I’m constantly telling myself when I get down that I need to “Pull myself up by my bra straps”. Kinda in the same stream of thought, no?
Someone told me years ago that sometimes, the things that are the most simple for people are often the most hard. You summed up the answer to this: Get out of your own way and get to it!
I like your way with words and your humor. I’m going to check out your work. Great job!
Thanks for checking out my work. I write about a very wide variety of subjects, to be sure. Humor has saved me from many a life tragedy pulling me under and drowning me. And balls have kept me afloat!
It takes testicular fortitude to be a writer. Great piece.