Comments on: PR Consultants Have the Freedom to be Human http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/ Resources on how to become and remain a successful freelance PR consultant Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Mick Constantinou LLC http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/comment-page-1/#comment-804 Mick Constantinou LLC Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:50:05 +0000 http://soloprpro.com/?p=695#comment-804 I was an "employee" with billion-dollar, international companies for over 20 years of my career. Becoming a "Business of One" has been a welcome change. While it was initially an involuntary change (i.e. an economic layoff), I now look upon it as a blessing in disguise. <br> <br>The “employee” mindset can be a breeding ground for complacency. The notion of self-employment forced me to re-apply, re-adapt and re-define my talents. Self-employment has enabled me to focus on what I love to do and specialize in a ways that attracts companies in need of highly-skilled, project-based support. Service contracts have far more clarity than any employment agreement/entitlement ever delivered. “Climbing the Corporate Ladder” (i.e. job security) has been replaced by income security.<br><br>Most importantly, I control my destiny. I control what I do today and the commitments that I make. That could mean meeting with a client or being able to take my kids to school every morning. It could mean delivering a project or getting more involved in Junior Achievement. It could mean coaching a business team or coaching a Little League team. How I value time and income is up to me.<br><br>I think what stops highly-skilled professionals from pursuing this lifestyle is that, (1) they don’t know where to start and (2) they don’t have the time to maintain a successful solo practice because of the administrative hassles. I know it stopped me from trying again after I failed the first time in the 90’s.<br><br>I could have never made this change, permanently, without the help of BOTH USA. I was an “employee” with billion-dollar, international companies for over 20 years of my career. Becoming a “Business of One” has been a welcome change. While it was initially an involuntary change (i.e. an economic layoff), I now look upon it as a blessing in disguise.

The “employee” mindset can be a breeding ground for complacency. The notion of self-employment forced me to re-apply, re-adapt and re-define my talents. Self-employment has enabled me to focus on what I love to do and specialize in a ways that attracts companies in need of highly-skilled, project-based support. Service contracts have far more clarity than any employment agreement/entitlement ever delivered. “Climbing the Corporate Ladder” (i.e. job security) has been replaced by income security.

Most importantly, I control my destiny. I control what I do today and the commitments that I make. That could mean meeting with a client or being able to take my kids to school every morning. It could mean delivering a project or getting more involved in Junior Achievement. It could mean coaching a business team or coaching a Little League team. How I value time and income is up to me.

I think what stops highly-skilled professionals from pursuing this lifestyle is that, (1) they don’t know where to start and (2) they don’t have the time to maintain a successful solo practice because of the administrative hassles. I know it stopped me from trying again after I failed the first time in the 90’s.

I could have never made this change, permanently, without the help of BOTH USA.

]]> By: Mick Constantinou LLC http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/comment-page-1/#comment-794 Mick Constantinou LLC Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:50:05 +0000 http://soloprpro.com/?p=695#comment-794 I was an "employee" with billion-dollar, international companies for over 20 years of my career. Becoming a "Business of One" has been a welcome change. While it was initially an involuntary change (i.e. an economic layoff), I now look upon it as a blessing in disguise. <br> <br>The “employee” mindset can be a breeding ground for complacency. The notion of self-employment forced me to re-apply, re-adapt and re-define my talents. Self-employment has enabled me to focus on what I love to do and specialize in a ways that attracts companies in need of highly-skilled, project-based support. Service contracts have far more clarity than any employment agreement/entitlement ever delivered. “Climbing the Corporate Ladder” (i.e. job security) has been replaced by income security.<br><br>Most importantly, I control my destiny. I control what I do today and the commitments that I make. That could mean meeting with a client or being able to take my kids to school every morning. It could mean delivering a project or getting more involved in Junior Achievement. It could mean coaching a business team or coaching a Little League team. How I value time and income is up to me.<br><br>I think what stops highly-skilled professionals from pursuing this lifestyle is that, (1) they don’t know where to start and (2) they don’t have the time to maintain a successful solo practice because of the administrative hassles. I know it stopped me from trying again after I failed the first time in the 90’s.<br><br>I could have never made this change, permanently, without the help of BOTH USA. I was an “employee” with billion-dollar, international companies for over 20 years of my career. Becoming a “Business of One” has been a welcome change. While it was initially an involuntary change (i.e. an economic layoff), I now look upon it as a blessing in disguise.

The “employee” mindset can be a breeding ground for complacency. The notion of self-employment forced me to re-apply, re-adapt and re-define my talents. Self-employment has enabled me to focus on what I love to do and specialize in a ways that attracts companies in need of highly-skilled, project-based support. Service contracts have far more clarity than any employment agreement/entitlement ever delivered. “Climbing the Corporate Ladder” (i.e. job security) has been replaced by income security.

Most importantly, I control my destiny. I control what I do today and the commitments that I make. That could mean meeting with a client or being able to take my kids to school every morning. It could mean delivering a project or getting more involved in Junior Achievement. It could mean coaching a business team or coaching a Little League team. How I value time and income is up to me.

I think what stops highly-skilled professionals from pursuing this lifestyle is that, (1) they don’t know where to start and (2) they don’t have the time to maintain a successful solo practice because of the administrative hassles. I know it stopped me from trying again after I failed the first time in the 90’s.

I could have never made this change, permanently, without the help of BOTH USA.

]]> By: meryl http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/comment-page-1/#comment-705 meryl Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:22:03 +0000 http://soloprpro.com/?p=695#comment-705 I love being a freelance writer for the very reasons you listed. I hated when I had to leave the office to pick up a sick kid, take someone to a doctor's appointment because they rarely have hours after 4pm and so on. Yes, it's all on me to get my work done and I get it done. <br><br>Plus, in 2007 -- my dad had a stroke in April, died in December. Being a freelancer allowed me to be with him as much as I could (he lived an hour away from me). I love being a freelance writer for the very reasons you listed. I hated when I had to leave the office to pick up a sick kid, take someone to a doctor's appointment because they rarely have hours after 4pm and so on. Yes, it's all on me to get my work done and I get it done.

Plus, in 2007 — my dad had a stroke in April, died in December. Being a freelancer allowed me to be with him as much as I could (he lived an hour away from me).

]]> By: KellyeCrane http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/comment-page-1/#comment-686 KellyeCrane Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:03:02 +0000 http://soloprpro.com/?p=695#comment-686 "Ninety percent of the time my days are not all that different from everyone else but that other ten percent makes being independent worth the world." - That is a beautiful statement, Karen. Thanks so much for sharing! “Ninety percent of the time my days are not all that different from everyone else but that other ten percent makes being independent worth the world.” – That is a beautiful statement, Karen. Thanks so much for sharing!

]]> By: KarenSwim http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/comment-page-1/#comment-685 KarenSwim Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:48:40 +0000 http://soloprpro.com/?p=695#comment-685 Kellye, I'm glad your mom is doing well now and so glad you could be there for her. It's sad that this humanity is not available to all. Imagine how much better corporate life would be if there was an acknowledgment that the people who work there have a life apart from the office. Ninety percent of the time my days are not all that different from everyone else but that other ten percent makes being independent worth the world. Kellye, I'm glad your mom is doing well now and so glad you could be there for her. It's sad that this humanity is not available to all. Imagine how much better corporate life would be if there was an acknowledgment that the people who work there have a life apart from the office. Ninety percent of the time my days are not all that different from everyone else but that other ten percent makes being independent worth the world.

]]> By: KellyeCrane http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/comment-page-1/#comment-684 KellyeCrane Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:42:04 +0000 http://soloprpro.com/?p=695#comment-684 Thanks, Tamara - all good points. I think one of the keys is having a network of consultant friends who will happily step in for us when disaster strikes. Another important strategy is to stay ahead of the curve on deadlines -- this gives me an idea for a follow-up post! Thanks, Tamara – all good points. I think one of the keys is having a network of consultant friends who will happily step in for us when disaster strikes. Another important strategy is to stay ahead of the curve on deadlines — this gives me an idea for a follow-up post!

]]> By: Tamara Gruber http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/comment-page-1/#comment-683 Tamara Gruber Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:39:02 +0000 http://soloprpro.com/?p=695#comment-683 Being an independent consultant allows me to strike a work/life balance that works for me and my family. It is great to have the flexibility to schedule meetings around school drop off and pick up and have time to spend with my daughter by working flexible hours. Of course, the downside is that when a crisis hits, there is no one to fill in for you and when you get sick, you still need to figure out how to get the work done and put the hours in. Most of all, working in marketing and PR we all know that deadlines change and last minute scrambles are not uncommon, making those lovely perks of flexible hours very challenging at times. Being an independent consultant allows me to strike a work/life balance that works for me and my family. It is great to have the flexibility to schedule meetings around school drop off and pick up and have time to spend with my daughter by working flexible hours. Of course, the downside is that when a crisis hits, there is no one to fill in for you and when you get sick, you still need to figure out how to get the work done and put the hours in. Most of all, working in marketing and PR we all know that deadlines change and last minute scrambles are not uncommon, making those lovely perks of flexible hours very challenging at times.

]]> By: Jennifer Wilbur http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/comment-page-1/#comment-682 Jennifer Wilbur Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:18:17 +0000 http://soloprpro.com/?p=695#comment-682 Talk about being human. Right after I posted, I forgot I had a last-minute meeting that I had to attend this afternoon. So, NOW I'm taking my break. ;) <br><br>That kind of kills my whole point, doesn't it. I'm cracking up. Well, MOST times I get up super early to be with my Ronnie, I get to take a break/nap in the afternoon if I want to. So there. :) Talk about being human. Right after I posted, I forgot I had a last-minute meeting that I had to attend this afternoon. So, NOW I'm taking my break. ;)

That kind of kills my whole point, doesn't it. I'm cracking up. Well, MOST times I get up super early to be with my Ronnie, I get to take a break/nap in the afternoon if I want to. So there. :)

]]> By: KellyeCrane http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/comment-page-1/#comment-681 KellyeCrane Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:51:01 +0000 http://soloprpro.com/?p=695#comment-681 Hmmm..... :-) Hmmm….. :-)

]]> By: KellyeCrane http://soloprpro.com/pr-consultants-have-the-freedom-to-be-human/comment-page-1/#comment-679 KellyeCrane Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:50:40 +0000 http://soloprpro.com/?p=695#comment-679 Thanks, LuAnn! I feel truly blessed, myself. Thanks, LuAnn! I feel truly blessed, myself.

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