Not Content With The Status Quo For 2010
What are your plans for 2010? Hopefully, the new year will find you actively pursuing your goals including taking a more nuanced approach to your freelance writing. I’m certainly looking forward to Christmas, but I know that once the holiday season has come to an end, 2010 will be in full swing.
I sense that 2010 will be far different from the past two years which had all of us battling through a tough recession. I’m grateful that I’m still getting plenty of work although, sadly, a couple of my favorite clients have cut back or canceled some of their assignments due to economic pressures.
Yet, I can’t look back as what is done is done. A new year offers a chance to start over and, more importantly, to move forward. What better time to outline a plan to press on than with the new year? Unless, of course, you’re content with maintaining the status quo for the coming year.
Nah, I didn’t think so.
On the occasion that someone asks for my advice regarding their plans for the coming year I try to help them as I can. One friend, who is a gifted artist/teacher, has been mulling starting her own website for many months now. Once she commits to making that move, I’ll be advising her on the approach she should take.
This will be a huge, but important move for her as she isn’t particularly computer literate, but knows that expanding her options will bring in much more work. And, when you’re pushing 60 you can’t rely exclusively on tried and true ways to sustain you. Linda’s fresh outlook will help her and has inspired me to make some important changes myself including doing the following:
Visibility – I often feel as if I’m in a non-stop campaign mode, showcasing what I do to current and prospective clients. More than half of my work is with the auto industry, a market that has been battered for several years. Yet, hope springs eternal and I believe 2010 will offer additional opportunities for me. I’m currently the automotive columnist for a pair of regional publications and have contributed to two other publications in the past month. For me, 2010 is all about cashing in on my visibility by querying people I’ve crossed paths with in 2010. My Twitter presence has yielded several excellent leads, people whom I will contact in the first two months of the year.
Reassess – I absolutely enjoy blogging and can’t see myself ever stopping this activity. Still, I understand that some of that time spent blogging for myself should shift to writing copy for clients. The former brings little remuneration except through ad income while the latter can help sustain my lifestyle. I expect that I’ll be selling or perhaps merging one of my blogs in 2010. Auto Trends is the most likely to go before 2011 rolls in.
Target – Relating to my first two points is my desire to target specific clients while opening up the possibility that I may ditch my freelance work to become a staff writer. Yes, I’ve certainly have said in the past that I prefer to freelance, but if the right opportunity presents itself, I’ll gladly reconsider. There is a dream employer whom I would like to work for and, no, they don’t have anything to do with the auto industry. Naturally, if an opportunity to work for them turned out to be a freelance assignment, I’d still be interested.
How about you? Do you have goals you would like to see realized in 2010? If so, please share them here – inquiring minds want to know!
See Also — Will You Be Reaching Higher In 2010?
Photo Credit: Poormanz Graphixz
By LD Jackson, December 15, 2009 @ 11:41 am
I would hope that I will not be content with the status quo, both in my personal life and with my blogging. The traffic to Political Realities has nearly doubled since last year and I would like to increase it’s visibility even more. As for my personal life, I feel the need to recommit my life to the purpose of serving God. Does that make any sense?
LD Jackson´s last blog ..Citigroup and Wells Fargo to pay back bailout funds
By Matthew C. Keegan, December 15, 2009 @ 11:56 am
@LD Jackson
Larry, everything you mentioned is noble, especially committing yourself to serve the Lord in 2010. I only urge you to seek his counsel as far as what that means as there is so much busyness in the church that many people neglect prayer and reading the Bible. Allow Him to prioritize your life!
By Dominique, December 16, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
It is interesting to me that I read this today. I just posted my last post on AUP2. I have decided that now is the time to change directions in 2010. I will be launching a new blog, Four Walls and a View, so that I can start “writing what I know.” I have thoroughly enjoyed writing AUP2 but I don’t think my work will every get better because I am not writing what I know. Part of me is sad but part of me is excited by the new challenges and choices I will have for 2010. Also, I will be able to find time to write for others and work toward my goal of writing and getting published some day.
BTW, my new blog will be a chronicle of my life and living with Chronic Fatigue and Fybromyalgia.
Thanks for the great work and I hope we stay “linked” in the new year!
Dominique´s last blog ..a change in DIRECTION…
By Matthew C. Keegan, December 16, 2009 @ 1:23 pm
Hi Dominique!
Congratulations on making the move to a blog that reflects more of who you are and what you’re passionate about. I find that when I write about subjects near and dear to my heart, my strengths come out. In this case Four Walls and a View can help advance you to your goal of getting published. I particularly like the topic as I first became aware of chronic fatigue through a friend back in the 1980s. Back then, it wasn’t considered to be an illness — she had to fight to get heard and helped.
Keep us posted — I will point to your new blog once it launches.
By herretoej, December 16, 2009 @ 2:51 pm
Everybody have unique thoughts on various things for the upcoming year. We are facing a dramatic climate condition and it can be overcome only by growing trees. I’m going to adopt trees/plants etc., rather than kids for 2010. Also, they predicted that 2010 will be the hottest year in our living history and trees can play a major role in it. It would be great if all country asks their civilians to plant a tree to save the planet.
By Matthew C. Keegan, December 16, 2009 @ 2:54 pm
Herretoej, don’t worry so much. Planting a tree won’t save the planet and God is still very much in control. Much of what is being said and predicted is based on data that has since been challenged. Even if partially true, worrying about things won’t make a difference. Enjoy 2010 and all of the blessings coming from our Creator.
By dani, December 16, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
Thanks for that 2010 thingy , Hope next year will be as blessed as this , Thanx again mate keep up the good work
By Arihant Kothari, December 17, 2009 @ 12:59 pm
Glad to see economy reviving from 2010 but some sectors will stay stagnant because these sectors are a necessity. For example – health, insurance. What do the others have to say on this?
By Matthew C. Keegan, December 17, 2009 @ 3:25 pm
Arihant, I agree. There is no agreement on how the economy will fare in 2010 with the threat of a double digit recession looming large. Still, let’s plan for better days. What other option is there?