Checkout the Go Solos! list on Spotify, and if you’re looking to become a PR consultant, there’s also a playlist specifically designed to help get you geared up: Take the Leap.

If you don’t have Spotify yet, you can join for free and download. Some of the songs on these playlists have meaning, while others are just to give us some energy on days when we need it. My music tastes are eclectic (to say the least), so feel free to build your own playlist using some of these songs and share it in the comments below!

Do you have favorite songs for when you need a pick-me-up? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll add the community suggestions to the playlist. Looking forward to hearing your input!

I don’t have hundreds of employees or thousands of co-workers I can “encourage” to vote for my session (which many potential speakers have). But wait, do I – and my solo PR brethren – have something just as powerful?

The Solo PR Pro community is vast, supportive, and we’ve always been a band of brothers (and sisters). Collectively, surely we have as much muscle as the larger agencies and more traditionally employed!

So, let’s conduct an experiment to test this theory, by helping each other – what could you use help with? For me, I’ve proposed a SXSW “Core Conversation” on Making Money as an Agency of One, which will be an open discussion to share ideas, tips/tricks, and pitfalls to avoid. The SXSW crowd tends to include a lot of programmers, designers and others not typically involved in our Solo PR community, which could lead to a fascinating discussion where we can learn new approaches from each other.

If this sounds like a session you’d like to attend (or you think it should be part of the SXSW program), you can share your support by voting. To do so, quickly create a free account and hit the thumbs up (and comment/discuss, if you’d like) – the deadline is this Friday, September 2. Of course, if I’m speaking and go to the conference again this year, I think we should have a Solo PR meetup!

Now, what support do *you* need from the Solo PR gang? Whether you’d appreciate a “like” on your Facebook page or a follow for your new client on Twitter, all pimp-y requests are welcome in the comments below.

And, of course, if you also have a session up for vote in the SXSW Panel Picker, definitely let us know!

Those of you who have followed this blog for a while know that I believe regular breaks are critical for preventing burnout and enjoying a long-term, successful career as a Solo PR Pro.  I’ve been preaching the importance of vacations for years.

For the next week, I’m putting my money where my mouth is — I’m going on an unplugged vacation! My first day out of the office is actually Monday, so I guess technically I’m “going fishing’” — not “gone” yet. Hope you all have a great week ahead, and I’ll “see” you when I get back.

All indie PR pros (and friends) are invited to a happy hour meetup, co-hosted by Solo PR and the PRSA Independent Practitioners Alliance (IPA), on Sunday, October 17, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at OneLounge in Washington, DC. Let us know if you can make it at http://solopr.eventbrite.com/.

The meetup takes place during the PRSA International Conference and is walking distance from the event, but you don’t have to be a registered attendee to join us. And if you aren’t independent yet, you’re welcome – bring your questions and find out more about this career path.

Many of us have formed real friendships via the Solo PR community – it will be great fun to experience the support and camaraderie offline. Hope to see you there!

Photo credit: Leana~

With so many of us feeling stressed out, and since our longevity as Solo PR Pros depends on effective stress management, this week’s #solopr Twitter chat focused solely on this important issue. We discussed:

1) What are some of the most stressful situations you’ve faced as an independent consultant?

2) What steps do you take in your personal life that help you manage stress?

3) What work-related stress relievers have you found?

4) What steps can we take in our businesses to avoid stress in the first place?

Find out some of the tricks used by your fellow solos by downloading the transcript in PDF. On a side note, so many of us noted that our pets are important stress relievers, just for fun we’ve started sharing pictures of our furry “co-workers” on the Solo PR Pros Facebook page. Take a look and join in the fun!

What additional tips can you share for identifying and managing stress?

The #solopr chat – held each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. Eastern – is a weekly ritual for some of the most savvy Solo PR Pros on Twitter. Anyone with a Twitter account is welcome to participate – see Join Us for the #solopr Chat on Twitter to find out how!

It can be done! Have you ever been creative in where and how you worked? What’s your dream?

As the U.S. prepares to observe its Independence Day holiday, it’s an excellent excuse for consultants to pause and celebrate the many joys of being independent in business.

Even in today’s sometimes difficult market, being your own boss is extremely gratifying. Among my favorite perks:

• No one else calls the shots – your fate is in your own hands
• No soul-sucking assignments – you have the power to choose your clients, and can select only projects that interest you
• No “calling in sick” or a measly 10 days of vacation time
• No dress code
• Make your own schedule, and be there for family and friends when they need you
• No commute
• Focus on what you do best, with no bureaucracy
• Work where you want, when you want
• No trying to look busy when you’re not
• No dread on Sunday evening, knowing that another unsatisfying work week lies ahead

So happy Independents’ Day to you all, wherever you reside! Let us know how you celebrate going solo in the comments. And for those in the U.S., please have a fun and safe July 4th weekend!

Photo credit: The Wandering Angel

We all do it on occasion. Sometimes we fool even ourselves, we’re so good at pretending to be busy — and independent consultants are especially vulnerable.

It can be a form of procrastination (as in the illustration above). Or perhaps we just can’t find the muse that day — the brain juices simply aren’t flowing for some reason. Sometimes we feel a little guilty if we don’t have enough client work, and busying ourselves with non-essential tasks helps fill the void.

If you find yourself losing track of time as you mosey aimlessly around the Web, ask yourself: could I take a walk? Endulge in a guilty pleasure? Pick up the phone and call an old friend? Getting away from the computer can be the best way to jump start your productivity.

Just remember: there is no glory in working for the sake of working. Take time for some amusement, and you’ll be more efficient when you have actual work to do. So have fun out there!

What do you do when you find yourself pretending to be busy? Any tips for clearing the cobwebs?

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

The video isn’t just funny, it’s an excellent illustration of how absurd these requests really are. If a client tries to work you over, stick to your guns! The value you’re providing to them remains the same — recession or no.

Jennifer (Jen) Wilbur, principal of Rockstar Communications, is a seasoned communications executive with more than a dozen years of experience providing strategic public relations and communications programs for consumer and technology companies. Jen holds unique experiences spanning the agency world, small startups and Fortune 500 companies. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and at her Dog Beach Blog.

How and why did you “go out on your own”?

After working for agencies, a Fortune 500 company and a digital media startup, I was ready for my next challenge. Consumer technology is a passion of mine, and at the time (nearly 5 years ago), my choices were limited if I wanted to stay in San Diego (and boy, did I!). I knew a couple of other successful PR consultants, so I started asking them about the pros and cons and figured out pretty quickly that my next step would be as a “Solo PR Pro.”

Once I made up my mind (which didn’t take long), I read and inquired about everything I could that pertained to self-employment. I bought a computer, created a business plan with objectives and then jumped right in. I shared my plans with my employer and let everyone know I’d be available soon as a consultant. My supervisor even had fun with it. My going-away email to the company was a press release announcing Rockstar Communications (I will keep that email forever!)

How do you find most of your clients?

I have always been good at keeping in touch. I didn’t realize it when it was happening, because it wasn’t the catalyst, but I managed to build an incredibly strong network of friends and colleagues. Just about every client I’ve worked with has been referred to me from someone in my network. That used to consist of family, friends and colleagues; all people I had physically met and/or worked with in the past. Now, through my involvement with social media, that network has grown. We’ve never met in person, but we’ve grown to be friends and trusted colleagues. Business is starting to flow in from this avenue, as well. I’ve cold-called a couple of companies here and there, and not one of those attempts was successful in winning business.

What are some examples of interesting projects you’ve been able to work on as an independent?

One of my first clients was Veoh, an online video company. I was introduced to the founder when Veoh was just a twinkle in his eye, and I was able to watch the business plan develop, and help the company launch and grow. Veoh launched just before YouTube use exploded. The idea of democratized TV and online video was just beginning. It was great to still experience the rush of a startup, but without being in a cubicle all day.

Since much of my focus has been with helping technology startups launch, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of a wide range of new business ideas, running as a PR agency, managing and executing marketing communications and PR campaigns. Some were successful, some failed, and the jury is still out on others. Everything from digital music to email marketing programs, to online video to mobile food ordering and digital imaging/animation.

I also had the opportunity to work as a member of a larger PR team by contracting with other PR firms. This gave me the ability to work with larger, more established brands in consumer electronics and entertainment.

What benefits of being independent have you experienced?

First and foremost, a work/life balance I’ve never had before. I’ve always enjoyed my job, worked hard and traveled often, and there often wasn’t much of a line between home and work. I was never home, leaving the house around 7 AM, and not getting home until the wee hours. Work, lunch, work, more work, drinks after work, work again, bed. Not much room for anything else. I love dogs, but that wouldn’t be fair to either of us.

Since going solo, I actually get more done and managed my day better. I exercise, eat right and find time to sleep. Heck, I even go to the beach nearly every morning and dabble in my hobby of photography.

I only attend necessary or beneficial meetings and am not distracted by office gossip and politics. I see some of my clients’ calendars and cringe. They are in meetings from 10-4 most days. When do they get actual work done?

All this, and I still find time to have fun with my husband and my good friends.

What do you find to be the biggest challenges?

My biggest challenge is drawing out information from my clients. While it’s a huge plus to not have to be in the office all day, every day and attend needless meetings, you have to find other ways to get your client to tell you what’s going on in a timely matter. Creating a system that works for both of you can be tough, but it’s important.

Another challenge is saying “No” to work that isn’t right, especially when going through a dry period. It’s great to have days where you find yourself with extra hours to do personal things or relax, but sometimes those days become weeks. Sometimes a job comes by that you’re not excited about or is too small. I’ve learned that there is always a better one right around the corner if you’re just patient. Learning to turn down work so you’re available for the project you’ll love can be taxing (but very much worth it).

What’s your favorite “guilty pleasure” that being solo allows you to do?

I refuse to call it a “guilty” pleasure, but I have two things that have enhanced my life immensely. I’ve always wanted a dog, but never saw it as fair to either of us to have one, since I was never home. Now, not only am I home with my two French Bulldogs most of the day, but I take them to the beach nearly daily. This spurred me to spend time on a hobby of mine, photography, with my photo blog, A Dog’s Beach.

What are some important things to keep in mind to succeed as an independent consultant?

• You have to be self-motivated. Very rarely will anyone set deadline for you.
• You must find ways to feed the social bug. It’s not as easy to pick up lunch with a coworker, so set up monthly or weekly lunches with friends and colleagues.
• Create a routine (even if you’re like me, and it’s not in your nature). If you do non-work related items around the same time and frequency each week, it’s easier to manage your schedule and workload.
• Be available, but not TOO available. Yes, you should be available for emergencies, but you must set boundaries or you will be tied to your machine 24/7. Then you might as well go back to getting a salary and benefits along with it.
• Get used to talking about yourself. Don’t expect work to come to you without effort. Even if you have a strong network, like I do, you have to remind people that you’re still there, about your successes and that you have time for more business (when you do). Don’t give anyone a reason to forget you when an opportunity arises.
• Make sure you and your client sign a contract. It’s certainly not a fun part of the job, but you have to protect yourself. A contract doesn’t guarantee you will receive full payment or continue working, but it sure helps.