One of the most persistent barriers to the business success of self-employed professionals and creatives is the “I don’t know how” problem. Here’s how it often goes. An expert or a colleague advises you to take some specific action to grow your business: “Collect all your leads in a contact management system” or “Start a […]

You’ve got important stuff to write. Blog posts to create, articles to compose, a course to design, a proposal to outline, maybe even a book to write. Your intention may be to build your business, publish your writing, work on a passion project, or further a side hustle. If you’re a self-employed pro, writing may be a sidebar. Or you may be someone who’d like to be writing for a living. But when can you find the time? And what’s in your way? Let us help you get past all that and make writing happen!

I often speak to groups of self-employed professionals and creatives about what works and what doesn't to get clients. We talk about the effectiveness of active, relationship-oriented strategies like networking online and in person, building referral partnerships, speaking to groups of potential clients, and following up persistently with interested prospects.

I used to be a scientist once upon a time. A geologist, to be exact. As part of my training, I learned numerous scientific principles, like Newton’s laws of motion, for example. You may remember the one that says: “A body in motion stays in motion.” My science education has often provided insights into issues […]

Most self-employed professionals and creatives truly enjoy no longer having to answer to The Boss. But the lack of someone to report to can also be a problem. There’s no one to make you do stuff you just don’t want to do. If you procrastinate about posting to your blog or Substack, resist going to […]

Modern always-connected life wasn’t designed for the professional or creative who needs to focus. It’s almost as if there is an internet-based conspiracy to interfere with your most important work. Kate I. Foley, an impossibly-young fiction author and poet, captures it perfectly: “You’re typing a short story, or an article, or some other writing project, […]

“It’s just not working,” my client said dejectedly. “I’ve been doing exactly what the experts say –- expanding my network, asking for referrals, following up, but I still have only a handful of clients. I’m thinking about giving up and getting a job.” “When did you start doing this?” I asked her. “How long have […]

The fear of hearing those words when talking about your business can stop you in your tracks. It’s the response you can most dread hearing when you tell someone what you’re doing now, or introduce yourself to a group, or make a sales pitch: “You? Really? Well, who do you think you are?” In reality, […]

Joanna Penn is the author of more than forty books, including The Successful Author Mindset. But she has doubts about her writing. I’ve written eight books, dozens of magazine articles, and hundreds of blog posts. And I have doubts about my writing. Both Joanna and I are perfectly normal writers. If you have doubts about […]

Does it seem strange to use the word love when referring to a business relationship? Substitute another word if you prefer -- "like," for example, or "respect." However you want to express it, the point is to consider how much you care about the people you sell to -- their needs, goals, desires, concerns -- all the elements of their lives that might be involved in their decision about whether to buy from you.

The worst thing that can happen when a self-employed professional or creative is working on an important project — like a book, a course, a design, a website, or a report — is a breakdown. An essential resource is suddenly unavailable. One of your key concepts turns out to be unworkable. Someone you were counting […]

I know you have good intentions about marketing your business. You may even have some sort of marketing plan. But if you’re a typical self-employed professional or creative, you don’t always follow through on the intentions or plans you make. Sometimes you get busy with client work. Paying business is a good thing, of course. […]

As a self-employed professional or creative, how often do you tell yourself you will write, then never get to it? Whether your writing is blog/Substack posts, web/email/social media content, course materials, reports/proposals, or a book/ebook/lead magnet, I know how easy it is for writing intentions to slip away. Your morning fills up with email or […]

OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF SELF-PROMOTION Promote Yourself with Confidence as a Self-Employed Professional by C.J. Hayden Available in Paperback, Kindle, PDF or ePub Learn to overcome fear, resistance, and the voice of your inner critic, so you can promote yourself and your business confidently! Hesitation to promote yourself as a self-employed professional, freelancer, consultant, or […]

As a self-employed professional or creative, it’s likely that some sort of writing is frequently on your to-do list. But we all have days when getting started on a writing project seems impossible. It can happen when you’re tired or stressed. Or when your brain is full of other priorities. You may also feel blocked […]

We humans are endlessly creative at finding paths to get in our own way. Even the most well-adjusted, self-aware people struggle with internal obstacles that keep them from being as effective or productive as they would like. When you’re a self-employed professional or creative, these challenging personal blocks can grow into frustrating business blocks. Any […]

Have you been longing for inspiration to strike before you can write? Or perhaps waiting for a muse to appear? To Merriam-Webster, the muse is “a guiding genius.” Vocabulary.com describes it as “a source of artistic inspiration.” For a host of would-be writers out there, it’s something they’re waiting for before they start writing. But […]