The opposite of feisty
How do you make time? They may be boring, but systems can be a route to increased focus on your core skill
Watch out freelancers, I'm about to talk about the boring side of business. Yes, that's right, if you're self-employed and especially if it's turned into a life goal, you're running a business. Even though I embrace the word freelancer (and especially the notion of being feisty about it!), for many years I've thought of myself as a business owner. It’s a slight mindset shift that helps me take myself seriously and see CodeWord Communications as a long-term endeavour, something to build and grow.
And actually, most of it is not that boring, just the part I'm about to discuss: systems and processes. Now there are people who find even that exciting, I'm just not one of them. But I definitely see the advantage in adopting them, despite the extra work to get there. At the moment I'm trying to streamline some of my business processes, upgrade the tools I use to do weekly tasks and think about how I can hand off administration off to others. So I can focus even more on writing.
I've had a virtual assistant (VA) on and off for several years, but there are still tasks that I’ve hesitated to hand off because the transfer seemed more challenging than the time savings. Like invoice creation. First, I had to think about my own process of invoicing (create the spreadsheet, gather the contact/cost information, create the invoice, proofread it, send). Next, I had to figure a way to make that process transferrable. I started by using another tool that I upgraded recently to, a project management software platform that helps me get a better view of my projects. Now I add my invoicing information as I create the project record, and when I’m done move the project into an invoicing column so my VA can log in and create the invoices.
Emboldened by this move, I'm even looking into actual accounting program to automate invoice delivery, although that's still at the experimental stage. As my accountant says when I invite her to speak to my freelancing classes, “whether it's a shoebox or the most sophisticated platform, the best system is one you'll use.” I wasn't starting from shoebox and I'm not advancing to sophistication, but trying new things and especially those with time-redeeming potential is exciting. Maybe even a little feisty.