Self-Employment Success Strategies
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I received such wonderful messages about my original
post on self-employment that I wanted to follow up
with more tips.

Around this time of year last year, I first got an inkling that
I wanted to work for myself. I knew how to work for others--interview, job acceptance, review, promotion--but I
just couldn't make myself do it anymore. Getting laid off 
​after years of working in a dysfunctional organization turned me off to the normal 9-to-5 life. It seemed far healthier to put my labor into a company I owned that reflected my values and directly benefited me. 
It hasn't been easy. Every day is a physical, personal, and professional boot camp. I love what I do, and I'm thrilled to help organizations solve their archives and records management problems. 

I have faith that I am creating something bigger than myself and putting good into the world. I've collected some of the lessons I learned so far. 

DON'T FESS 
Avoid canceling calls or meetings whenever possible. When I have a lot to do, I always feel the need to cancel my events but I don't. Building my business doesn't stop just because I have deadlines. My word is everything, so if I say I'm going to do something, I am. Canceling means I have to reschedule the call or meeting, and I'll inconvenience the other person. 

The only time I canceled a meeting was because I had been in the ER until 3 am with my husband when he dislocated his shoulder. Even that was done with reluctance. 

When someone cancels on me, unless it wildly inconveniences me, I feel joyous!

EMBRACE THE WOO WOO
I like doing magical things (using the tarot, burning sage, and lighting candles) because they are a cheap, easy way to self-soothe. 
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It's not necessarily that I believe in the power of tarot cards, but I find that they are so open to interpretation that they are helpful in getting me to tap into my feelings. When I feel the need, I pull a card from a deck, and check out the meaning at Biddy Tarot. Tarot helps me listen to my intuition.  

APOLOGIZE WITHOUT EXCUSES
When you're working for a client and mess up, apologize without excuses.

For example, I was photo editing for a client who was writing a book about art conservation. I often had to secure permissions of photographs of paintings before or after restoration phases. As you can imagine, it was sometimes hard to determine the correct phase. For two images, I got the wrong ones. My client was lovely about it, but I felt awful. My first inclination was to write an email justifying my mistakes. I realized the best, easiest, and most professional solution was to apologize for the mistake and offer a remedy--the time it took to correct the mistake was free of charge, of course. 

"I'm sorry, and here's how I'll fix it" is all you need to say.

YOUR CLIENTS' FINANCES ARE THEIR BUSINESS 
One of the best pieces of advice I received early on in consulting is not to worry about my client's finances. Clients find me because they are already motivated by a problem they are trying to solve. One assumes that they have the means to pay me as well.

I once gave a quote for a project that I was worried was too high. The client accepted it without pause. I later met with them in their finely appointed home so my money worries were completely unjustified.

If a client is unhappy with your prices, they will let you know. I've been lucky enough to have clients that accept my quotes. I offer a competitive rate and a lot of value. In time, I've been getting more comfortable quoting prices because I know I do excellent work. The first client is yourself!

BE ENTHUSIASTIC 
I tend to be straightforward in my emails, so I make it a point to be enthusiastic. Get excited about your project. Let your clients know that you are thrilled they contacted you and hired you. Use exclamation points in emails! Cheer on the phone! Wouldn't you rather work with someone that is delighted to work with you rather than someone who is even measured?

DON'T PRICE YOURSELF TOO EARLY
Pricing projects takes time. You want to work on a series of calls or meetings, building up a number of small yeses. When the fee comes up too early, it's a bad sign. I usually hold off until I have more information.

Even when the price is out there, you may not agree. Instead, say that you would really like to work with them and you're sure you can agree on something that makes sense for you both. By the time the money is mentioned they will have gotten to know you well enough that they will want to work with you. It's just a matter of explaining how you determined the amount, and they will most likely agree because they understand the value they are getting with the cost. 

If you are bidding on a project where you think that the other quotes will be similar, what additional value can you offer? Remember that clients buy for value not cost.

UNDERSTANDING TIME 
When you work by yourself, time becomes valuable. You can make decisions easily, solve crises right away, and whip up a proposal in no time. You have to understand that your clients can't move so quickly. I can write a proposal in an hour, but the client may not be able to sign off on it for weeks.

I'm also getting better at adding time to project schedules. I know I can finish a project in two weeks, for example, but not if I have to pause my work to wait for supplies or resources from my client.

I also routinely add 30 minutes to whatever my travel time estimation is; I'd rather get to my appointment 15 minutes early than have to flag down a taxi because the subways are delayed. 

My work time is different now too and out-of-sync with my 9-to-5 clients. I usually work from about 12 pm to 7-11 pm. I avoid sending late night emails because it makes it seem like I'm burning the midnight oil. Instead, if I'm working late, I draft important emails and send them when I first wake up. (I used to have a boss that routinely emailed at 2 am, and it made me worry about her!).

I can attest that time seems the slowest when you are waiting for your final invoice to be paid!

NO GODS, NO MASTERS 
You are the subject matter expert in your business.

When I first started working for myself, I bought classes from two well-known online course sellers (whom I won't name, but you may have heard of them). I thought they could provide the answers for me, but the courses were overpriced and the content under-delivered. The experience made me feel ripped off, and there's no way I want to mimic their techniques and make my clients feel icky too. I imagine that most online classes are this way, and I’m glad I discovered this expensive lesson early rather than later.

I’ve also been approached by people who have offered to open doors for me and to introduce me to people in the field and big clients. I’m wary of that too because when people want to help you, they do. They help you, quickly and quietly, because it’s the right thing to do, it makes them feel good, and they like you. They don’t make a big fanfare of it like these guys did, implying that you might owe them something in return.

I’ll add here that these eager helpers were all white, older, heterosexual men. While no one acted like Harvey Weinstein, there was an unmistakable sleazy vibe. Yes, there are creeps too in the higher echelons of the library and archives field!

When I told a friend about what happened during a recent occurrence, he offered these encouraging words: 

​Remember Margot, you have done and are doing great things with your work with legacies via personal and institutional archives. You are an author, corporation owner, and entrepreneur and are highly educated. Remind XXX that you already have a “service” and do not need to establish one...Don’t let someone try to create and sell to you what you already are!

In short—you are the expert. Don’t give predatory people any mind, and know that the majority of people are good and will help you if they can.

BE AWKWARD 
One of my insights of accepting myself through self-employment is to also accept my awkwardness. Over the years, people have pointed out my character flaws in some not-so-nice ways. Part of being awkward is that you know you're being awkward, but you don't know how to fix it! If I say something now that sounds silly, I just laugh it off and continue talking. Most people are gracious when you misspeak. Anyone else is an insecure jerk. 

WORK NEVER ENDS, BUT YOUR LIFE DOES 
There will always be work to do: writing, business development, networking, marketing, client work, administrative work, and personal work. Self-employment allows me to take advantage of opportunities that pop up like a long, leisurely lunch with friends. Sure, I could've continued my current project during the time. The work would still be there, but that lunch wasn't. I can take time off in the middle of the day as needed, but it just might mean that I have to work longer hours the next day. 

If you're self-employed, what tactics do you use to get the best of yourself? If you hire consultants (especially in the information sector), how can we serve you better? 

Working for yourself is an exciting, fulfilling, and (at times) terrifying experience.
Most of us have spent careers working for someone else, which makes the transition to solo work difficult. Here’s what I’ve discovered so far to help me survive and thrive while running my consulting business. 

SCHEDULE EVERYTHING When you aren’t accountable to a time clock or a standard 9-to-5 day, it is easy to get sloppy with your time. To be as productive as possible, I plan my week on Sundays. I write a weekly to do list, and then block out my Google calendar.
My typical schedule cuts the day in half. I work on personal things from 7 am to noon. These activities include working out, getting myself ready, performing household chores, and running errands in the neighborhood. If there are any critical calls to make or emails to send, I’ll do that as well.

My professional life starts from after lunch to about 7-10 pm (or, frankly, whenever my husband gets home from work). I find that I get on a roll at about 4:30 pm. I write a daily to do list, and use a Miracle Cube Timer to keep track of my time. 
I work from home most days, unless I’m traveling. I schedule appointments in the city all on one day to maximize my time.

I also try to schedule my calls for the week on one day. As an introvert, calls tire me, so I schedule them back to back. Each call gets easier as I find my groove.

BE PRESENTABLE Even during my busiest periods, I make sure to look nice even if no one is there to see it. The stereotype of freelancers working in sweatpants is true! (I’m wearing them as I write this). But they’re fresh sweatpants I put on after a shower and before I did my hair and makeup. When I’m battling the craziest deadlines, I take care of myself because it sets the mood for the day.

I look forward to meetings with clients now because I get to dress up in Brooks Brothers and Fendi!

RELIEVE STRESS When I used to work for other people, my tension derived from toxic colleagues and dysfunctional workplaces. Now I feel the stress of having too much to do and knowing that I’m the only one to do the work.

To combat this, I work out every day. It’s primarily for the mental relief, but a fit body is a nice result. I do Crossfit, SoulCycle, and Aaptiv workouts.

I started incorporating meditation and deep breathing exercises into my daily practice. This body scan meditation is more refreshing than a nap. I use an accupressure mat, which is painful until the endorphins kick in. 

I also use natural stress relievers like Tulsi tea and Calm.

Before, when I worked at a “normal” office job, I felt like I had to contain my feelings until I left work. Self-employment has given me the freedom to address my stress and anxiety as it occurs. Doing so has significantly improved my life.

MANAGE EMOTIONS Along similar lines to relieving stress, I also manage my emotions. I strive to be happy and calm and avoid things that anger or annoy me.

Recently, I was feeling upset about something that I couldn’t figure out, and I had an important call with a client approching. Rather than trying to intellectualize my feelings, suppress my emotions, or otherwise try to be a stoic professional, I made myself cry. It was cathartic and I had 15 minutes before the call so I let it all out. I’m glad I did because I no longer felt bad, and I could talk with my client without having to push down my feelings.

Music is a great way to maintain a mood. Sixties-era ska/rocksteady/reggae and 70s/80s punk and hardcore pushes the happiness button in my head. I also have certain songs I listen to to get me hyped including “Accept Yourself,” “Bam Bam,” and “Sucker MCs.” No one will harsh my mellow!

CELEBRATE THE SABBATH Self-employment, at least initially, means that you work all the time. It’s important to take a mental and physical break so that you don’t burn out. I celebrate the Sabbath from Friday night to Sunday at noon every week. The time allows me to reconnect with family and friends, have fun, and give myself a break so that I’m fresh for the next week. Being a workaholic or a martyr is no way to live.

TRAVEL WELL I’m still perfecting my travel experiences, but I’ve done several things to make my life easier. I’ve enrolled in TSA Pre-Check, created a travel packing list, and joined the loyalty programs of my favorite airline, hotel chain, and car rental company so I rack up points each time I travel. I keep my Dopp kit packed with beauty samples and my favorite masks. Each time I travel for business, I think of new ways to make my experience more enjoyable.

LISTEN TO YOUR GUT When talking to potential clients or partners, I listen to my intuition. There’s been several times where I felt a bad feeling about an organization or an individual. The feeling cannot be justified. You just know on a primary level that there’s something not right there. In situations like this, I use the rest of the conversation to figure out what the red flags are. If possible, I usually wait for the other party to turn me down before I turn them down. If needed, I will say no to moving forward. I never “ghost” people professionally because it’s not right. I found it far more compassionate to let people know in a timely manner that working together is not possible.

TREAT YOURSELF LIKE A LAMBORGHINI, NOT A JALOPY I take care of myself more than I did before. I recently treated a chronic pain condition I had for over twenty years by finding a wonderful physical therapist. I also found a doctor that treated me for an asthma-like condition that landed me urgent care several times in the past couple years. I eat healthy, drink in moderation, exercise, practice self-care, and sleep well. When I don’t do these things, I get sick and then I can’t work.

BE COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE Almost every day, I’m doing something outside of my comfort zone—meeting new people, starting projects, or pitching ideas. In the past, that twinge of dread before an unnerving event used to paralyze me, but now I just feel it. Soon enough it passes, the task is done, and I move on to the next uncomfortable thing. I realize that every experience allows me to learn and perfect my craft. Sometimes I’m just awkward and uneasy. I accept that my feelings are temporary, and I move on.  

BE AUTHENTIC At a recent Society of American Archivists conference in a session about radical empathy in archival practice, Holly Smith, College Archivist at Spellman College, said, “If I can’t be my authentic self in a space, I don’t want to be in that space.” That statement is something that I’ve felt for a long time, but couldn’t articulate. (Holly is one of the most beautiful people inside and out, by the way).

The most important and challenging part of self-employment is being able to accept myself fully. I’ve removed myself from toxic environments, and the only critical voice left is inside my head. How cruel this self-talk can be! I wouldn’t let a boss talk to me this way, but I’ve lived with this voice unknowingly my whole life.

I have to practice radical self-acceptance because I must depend on my brain and my body to do the work to support myself. Being an entrepreneur has built my confidence with each client I get and project I complete. I am forced to love myself because that’s the only way to survive.
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I have learned to stop hiding and be more myself. In high school, I won “Most Unique” as a senior superlative.

But the freak flag I proudly let fly has been suppressed. I conformed my personality and my presentation for so long because I felt that I had to to survive in the working world. In the past year, I’ve slowly crept out of my shell and have expressed myself more. I want to get back to being the shame-free and fearless teenager I used to be.

Clients pay for ME; all of me—my expertise and my experience. I no longer have to put on an act to protect myself. My clients have problems that I solve. We align forces to fix something together. I show up in a way that I never have before. It feels good to do the work that I love while being my true, best self. 

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Margot Note Consulting, LLC
margotnote.com
[email protected]
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I’m Defining “Me” for the First Time and It Feels Great

“What I do is what I am.”
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Recently I overheard someone say this, and it caught my attention. I’m not sure if I am struggling with the comment because I don’t agree with it or because it caused me to pause and consider how this limiting belief has affected me throughout my career. 
So much is tied up in those seven words. 

Am I my job? In an episode of Sex in the City, Carrie Bradshaw commented that writing is what she does, not who she is. Do people consider me a life and career coach before they consider me as anything else? Does my job ultimately define me? Shouldn’t there be room to evolve?
What this comment comes down to is how I define myself and how I want others to see me.
I ‘m the only who can change this perception of myself as more than my profession. If I want people to see me beyond my job, I need to show up in a new way. I need to demonstrate that I have different sides. My life can’t all be about my job. 

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