Family emergencies can serve as a reminder that there is much more to life than work – these times can offer an amazing opportunity to pause and reflect on our own priorities.

Unfortunately, even during periods of grief or illness, we tend to measure ourselves against others who appear to have achieved superhero status.

As social media has become a part of our daily lives, we see images of superheroes all around us – their plethora of blog posts, never-ending networking and dizzying schedules are on public display. For the rest of us, those who seem to never slow down (and never fail) often are used as the measuring stick of success.

The Real Deal

Most of us know that when you see someone else’s marriage, you don’t really know what goes on “behind closed doors.” The same is true for professional dynamos – those who seem to have superhero stamina and smarts are actually real people with real problems and real failings.

What’s more, sometimes we assign superhero status to those who would readily admit they are far from it, if asked. Fellow Solo PR Pro, Laura Scholz (whose energy has always been a marvel to me), bravely recounted her struggles on her blog recently.

This is not to say the world isn’t filled with heroes – I’m sure we all have many heroes of the human, mortal variety who inspire us daily and keep life interesting. But superheroes only exist in comic books and movies, and constantly trying to be one will only leave us exhausted, unsatisfied and empty.

I loved it when Stuart Smalley, the old self-help-addicted character on Saturday Night Live, said, “I’m should-ing all over myself.” How often do you catch yourself should-ing? What are your tips for avoiding superhero syndrome?

Image credit: Carla216

1)  Does anyone have a co-op, biz partner or share office space? How’s that working out?

2)  How do you charge for full-day sessions w/a client? Hourly rate? What if clients asks for a “day rate”?

3) Do you include a termination notice in their contracts? How do you manage if a client won’t?

4) How do you handle clients that don’t pay/honor contract? Are you worried about reputation if you fight?

Download this week’s transcript in PDF for the answers, and be sure to add your tips in the comments!

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!

1. A community member wanted to discuss @ginidietrich’s post: It’s Time to Rid PR Firms of the Billable Hour. What do you think of billing by the hour?

2. How do you deal with PAPER? Beyond electronic storage. What about old client, project files?

3. If someone who isn’t a #solopr is approached to do freelance projects, what would you advise?

3a (follow-up question). [What if someone] asks for a finder’s fee or commission to pass along business?

4. What are the top skills you find clients are looking for right now?

Just download the chat transcript in PDF for the full discussion. What do you think — do you have any extra tips to share?

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!

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!

1) How do you know when it’s time to start hiring staff and turn your solo practice into an independent agency?

2) How can I demonstrate my value/sell myself as a PR consultant without giving away all my secrets?

3) Any tips for how to think and act like an entrepreneur?

To find out what top independent PR consultants had to say on these important issues, download the transcript in PDF. What would you add?

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!