What do you think? What would be in your graphic?
 

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.