Reflections on a Year Soon to End

Mostly everyone I have talked to over the past few days has made a similar remark: 2009 seems to have gone by fast. Starting with the seating of a new president in January through the bankruptcies of GM and Chrysler months later to the halting of much of the financial bloodletting by the fall months, a lot took place this year.

But it seemed to move at lightning speed, at least that is what some people have told me.

2010 is upon us and I have just one question to ask: how will you pronounce the new year? I’ve been mulling this for a few years now and am inclined to say “twenty-ten” instead of “two thousand and ten.” Twenty ten is short, to the point, and returns us to the pronunciation style we favored in the 20th century.

Still, I am hearing most newscasters and everyday folks pronounce the latter, therefore I am presuming that the lengthier, more cumbersome five syllable utterance will beat out the three syllable vocalization, at least initially.

I trust that your holiday season has been a good one, though it certainly has been trying one for several people. Just yesterday I talked with a friend who lost his job in May, who commented how much different the job search was for him this time around. As an engineer, he was used to losing his job from time to time only to regain a new one almost immediately, but nothing quite matched his experience in 2009.

Instead of receiving replies from companies about his job inquiries, he heard absolutely nothing. This went on for months until, finally, in November one query returned a contract opportunity which may last him until June.

I say “may last him” as we both know that contract gigs can be canceled at any time. He believes the job will be around for most of that time, but he is not relying on that happening. Instead, he will be launching his new business in the weeks ahead and joining the growing numbers of people who were downsized at the height of their careers and have decided to make a go of it on their own.

Anyway, what choice do most people have? It is not as if there are many jobs out there. At least good paying ones at that.

I am not about to harp on 2009 as the past is just that: gone. Like my friend who is launching his new business, I’ve decided to keep my eyes focused on what lies ahead. We have both entrusted our businesses into the capable hands of Almighty God, knowing that His guidance is more than sufficient for 2010 and beyond.

This will be my last post on Matt’s Musings for 2009, with a forward looking tips article to be posted here on New Year’s Day. Many thanks to each of my readers as your loyalty has helped sustain me through much of the past year.

Photo Credit:  Billy Alexander

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