Get stories from an adventurous writer, fly fisher, and content marketer. After 25 years of writing I've learned a thing or two, join me as I share that knowledge, offer up insight in surviving as a writer, and talk about fishing (and nature and marketing and whatever else is on my mind that day).
Freedom like a shopping cart
When I first started thinking about this newsletter, one of the important themes that emerged was freedom. The idea that I was free to do as I pleased with my career, time, and efforts was ultimately a huge part of why I started freelancing in the first place.
I wasn’t tied to one company. I wasn’t answering to people I didn’t respect. I wasn’t forced to work when I didn’t want to.
I was free to structure my life as I pleased.
The longer I stayed in business, the more this became a central theme in everything that I do. Over the last few years, I’ve put a lot of time and energy into making decisions that increase that freedom. \
But it’s not easy, especially in the early years. There’s a desperation that can sink in during the first few years where if you’re not always hustling, you’re never going to succeed. It’s a message that we’re bombarded with all the time. As creative entrepreneurs, we’ve gotta hustle.
You gotta post on LinkedIn.
You should have a strong presence in Twitter.
Gotta get a newsletter going.
The longer you pay attention to the scene, the more it seems like you’re required to do.
It can be disheartening if you pay too much attention it, though. Sometimes it seems like you’re doing all the right things, but nothing’s happening. You’re not making the money you should be making, you’re not getting the engagement you’d hoped for, and you’re not making mad cash.
At some point I realized that not everything is going to work for everyone. You have to pick and choose your channels and focus on the ones that bring the most value.
Some people do really well on Twitter. I can barely get a single like.
Others make it rain because of LinkedIn. It treats me okay.
What works for me is networking. In small doses, and small online communities, it works great. Honestly, it’s one of the things I wished I’d realized sooner. It would have saved me years of struggle and feeling like I wasn’t successful.
What does this have to do with freedom?
Well, what works is different for everyone. There’s no magic bullet. And, there’s no one forcing you to do any of it.
You play around with a few things. Find something that works. And keep doing it until it doesn’t. If you’re lucky, you’ll find that your audience follows from place to place. People pay notice, find value, and decide that you’re worth the time.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a tech writer, a weaver like my mom, or a painter. My advice ends up being the same. Figure out where your people are, make friends, build your network, and add value. It doesn’t have to be like LinkedIn where you’re one of millions of voices chattering away. But it could be. It could also be a local meetup in your town. Ultimately, you’re free to figure out what works best and make the most of that.
Once you realize that, running a creative business doesn’t necessarily become easier, but you can live the life you started dreaming of when you started your business.
I’m still figuring things out. I likely always will be. But I’ve put together a life that allows me to work the way I want and spend a couple of weeks in Cambodia with my family (this email was largely written on a train between Phnom Pehn and Kampot).
Before I go, I want to ask – What does freedom look like to you?
Cheers,
Doug
PS: Wondering about that subject line? It’s a song from NOFX’s excellent mid-90s album Heavy Petting Zoo. I’m following my advice from last time and letting my weird out :)
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Get stories from an adventurous writer, fly fisher, and content marketer. After 25 years of writing I've learned a thing or two, join me as I share that knowledge, offer up insight in surviving as a writer, and talk about fishing (and nature and marketing and whatever else is on my mind that day).
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