Self-employed Rod

starting a new decade

2010-01-06T10:52:00.003+01:00

It's only ten years ago that we started a new century and new millennium. Time flies! Everyone was talking about it and preparing for the worst. What would happen to the bank system when computers would go to a real 4 digits date and crash because they would think it started a new counting with 00? Billions were spent to adapt the systems and I remember I decided to draw enough money to survive for a few weeks just in case the millennium bug would strike. Nothing happened of course.

Only six days ago, we entered a new decade. So what do we call these first ten years of the 21st century looking back? The 'years-naught' or the 'zero-years'? After all, we used to refer to previous decades as the 70-ies or 90-ies. So now we are in the 10-s I guess. Finally double digits again. Feels good.

Not only time is flying, but also business environments. Publishers are working hard to rethink business models. I worked briefly for a Dutch publisher who was working hard to dust off forgotten magazines. Whether I could try and bring in ads that were never sold? It turned out to be too late, they lost the contract as the license holder wasn't satisfied and I came in too late to make them change their minds.
But the same publisher is now a business contact and I'm bringing him a new techology that could make his models grow faster than ever.

Another contracter I work with experienced hard times bringing in advertising money. Maybe he had the wrong people, or maybe he didn't coach them very well, I still don't know, but I met some of them only once and they were gone at the next meeting. He guaranteed site owners fixed fees per month but had to go back to bring them bad news in Q4. Confidence was lost and more sales people had to go. My contract as a freelancer was not effected as my contribution can't be measured in direct ad money. But, also his model had to be adapted, new shareholders came in to save the company from going under. Now I have to renegotiate my contract as sales management is taken over. Not sure how they will appreciate my work so far. I have at least created track record and in a better position than 6 months ago when I had to rework my way into the Dutch agency system.

Still neworking and meeting old and new contacts to present myself. My own project is starting soon in Feb and I just got invited to become a rep for a b-to-b publisher in sectors with strong Dutch presence (water and food). Building networks!

e-reader ad sales

2009-12-07T10:42:00.003+01:00

From print ad sales to e-reader ad sales is only a small step. I just watched the new e-reader that Time Inc. is introducing. How they will give Sports Illustrated a whole new dimension is incredible, but also technically around the corner.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntyXvLnxyXk ).
It's the future of TV in your laptop. All the content is already there - the photo's, the reports, the stats, online links. The print magazine is just adding moving pics presented on a e-reader. Suddenly you got a formerly dying publishing branche back into the playing field.

I'm ready to sell the online/print/tv ads.

Working new jobs!

2009-09-07T14:41:00.002+02:00

Well, the inbetween stage is over with a bang! Last week agreed to start a project with a colleague freelancer in January 2010. This will give us a good base to start talking to other potential contractors to hire us after this project is finished.
Another new project started in my own trade: ad sales for a neglected magazine. The publisher had no solution to accomodate two titles internally and decided to outsource it. Working on a retainer fee and good commission when ads are booked. That second part will take some time as nothing has been done to promote the magazine among advertisers and their agencies. A real pioneer job!

One other project, introducing a new outdoor concept was prolonged with additional projects to handle. Another day covered!
Still time to work out final details for my next NY trip. Meeting familiar clients and a new boss in NYC. Hoping for some better news after a disaster year. The only thing that's bothering me is to keep the projects lined up and give them all the attention that is needed.

The energy to kick in new things is rushing through again. Just a quick note to keep track of that feeling.

in between jobs (1)

2009-09-01T10:50:00.004+02:00

I've switched jobs a few times during my career. And as a result hovered in between jobs. In fact I did it 5 times while working full-time. The first time after 7,5 years. It cost me a lot of emotions. How to break the news I was about to quit? How should I leave behind my position? Find somebody else first or leave that to the owners? Write a manual for my successor or let her find out things herself? As the job could have been forever, but I decided it was time to move on, it was leaving-the-proper-way.

The 2nd time, headquarters decided my office was to be closed and my position taken over by a colleague in Germany. This time, the feelings were a little less positive, but I managed to do the hand-over the proper way again. As a result, I am still on speaking terms with most of my former colleagues.
The following two jobs were too short for handovers and leaving was more of 'run-for-your-life' situation. Then a one-year-stand job followed of which I hardly remember what I actually did. A mistake to hire and be hired.

The last job before becoming self-employed was again full of emotion. I was in love with the sales concept. I wanted to get involved and contribute to a better company performance, both in- and externally. A big mistake. It turned out that paying employees and representatives their fair share was something on paper, not of the heart. One member of management was so full of himself that he almost forgot to pay his employees during the summer holidays (and he himself was gone already of course!). Something that hit a strong emotional string of righteousness deep within me.When I reminded him of that omission (after being pressed hard by my colleagues) I was told more or less that I was getting too involved and didn't trust him apparently. After finishing this one in a less cordial way, but still proper, it was defintely time to start my own company.

In between jobs for a full-time employee can be strange, but it can be worse as a self-employed, especially when they are short term. More about that feeling in part 2.

Doldrum sailing

2009-08-18T09:13:00.006+02:00

Sailors going around the world (and those on small lakes too) know that on some sunny days, it's just not good to be out there trying to sail on. You always bring a peddle to at least get back to the shore or pass through that doldrum. And you keep telling yourself that this is just the quiet before the storm. You will be flying soon, the hull only just touching the water! The rudder will be so hard to hold on to! Blisters on your hands etc.

Self-employed can have that feeling too. I don't mean because of lack of work, but just that everyone else is enjoying their vacation and you decided to stay home to make it through the summer with your project. But that project also needs people to respond and react on proposals. When that ceases, you feel like being in a big doldrum. What are you going to do today? Just don't feel guilty about it, is my attitude. I've chosen being self-employed as my way of working. It's hot outside, take a break yourself and enjoy the summer.

I still think, though, it's the quiet before the storm though. One new project is about to be offered to me (just needs little wind), the other goes in round 2 next month. The current 3days/wk project is to be evaluated this week. It's a challenge in many ways, but worth investing my energy and time. Let's see what the contractor thinks. I'm working on a US trip in September. Tickets booked, working on hotels and fixing appointments. I'm really looking forward to that!

So, concluding: yes, today is a slow day. But I'm preparing for the storm. That's why I'm grateful for the occasional doldrums!

Presenting yourself online

2009-08-02T20:38:00.005+02:00

It's always a bit scary. Although I'm convinced I had to change the way I presented myself online, once the site was live, there was no returning back. I asked people in my network what they thought of it and the reactions were reassuring.

It must be clear from the site that this is no effort to polish my image with lofty words or over-the-top description of successes in the past. Just me and some pictures,talking about my professional life. And about the things I enjoy in life and of course my ambitions. This is what I've done so far, this is what I can do for you. How can I help you in your sales situation? No more, no less.

Although I wished I could put more into it and gave more examples of how I've worked so far, the chosen grid didn't allow more text or more pictures. I might change a few pictures later this year as I never really sat down or thought about taking professional pics. I'm the one taking most of the pics! Sound familiar?

Anyway, I trust my new site will support my position as a self-employed in current and future sales projects. Right now, I'm still working hard on the new Dutch portal site for self-employed and helping the new outdoor concept around football stadiums get attention of the national mediaplanners in Holland. Last but not least, I'm working on a new trip to the US to present Nikkei BP in the best possible way during this crisis and keep budgets on level into 2010.

Personal Branding

2009-07-31T09:31:00.002+02:00

As a self-employed person, I realize everyday that my offer to run a commercial project, support a sales team or help launch a new product, all comes down to who you are as a person. I mean, WYSIWYG. Not like an agency where the owner who wins a pitch over a new client and moves it down the organisation to be handled by a client service director, who again has the daily routine things handled by an account manager. And back up the chain when things have to be presented and approved.

No way! When a self-employed wins a new project, it's him/her that handles the account (after a short celebration at home or in the car), writes the invoice, handles complaints etc.etc. What You See Is What You Get. No hiding when you don't feel like meeting your client. No hiding when you have an off-day.
But that's the kick of being self-employed - doing things at high pace and switch to something else when this job is done. I love it.

The WYSIWYG rule I also applied to my website. You can't hide behind a smart piece of text. You got to show your face and tell who you are. So, that's what I did. The site should be live within hours and I look forward to hearing comments (and gaining new clients!). check it out: www.leerling.biz

A typical zzp-day

2009-06-22T21:09:00.003+02:00

I started the week with a typical self-employed schedule. Meditated on what is lying ahead and searching for inspiration how to present myself more personal.

It's Monday! time to plan the week ahead, including the 3 fixed days that were bought by the new self-employed virtual office portal. Planning to work at least a few hours on that project today. Will I have time for that?

First, a small ad-hoc sales project that I handed in last week needed feedback to check if the results were according to his liking. It was. I decided to add some suggestions how to enlarge the sales circle. He picked it up and will consider hiring me again to build that extra bit of network for his next sales round after the Summer. Nice! We are getting closer also personally.

Then a new online sales project was dropped on my desk just before lunch time. Whether I can project 2nd half 09 and FY 2010 on advertising income. Wow. Not even the long-running popular business sites can do it these days, so how on earth can one do that for a site which has not pursued advertising so far? Tough one, but a nice challenge. Started working on it right-away. Searching online for data, competitors, comments etc. Looking good. Long live internet! One site offered an overview of all professional planners for this kind of business. A few hours of calling should do the trick.

My Dutch friend in Saudi Arabia gets online. He's already half way the week and we exchange a few jokes. Gets me going, a good laugh!

My own site needs a drastic revamp as well. Have been mailing up and down with the creator of the first version (2004) to work it into a personal branding site. The 4 pages can be reduced to 3 with links to social sites, blogs and partner sites. No long stories, but short personal presentation. Who are you and what do you offer? And .... can we trust you?

Then my friend in the US wakes up and tells me it's getting steaming hot in central USA. And we just are slowing melting again after a cold weekend.

Two more calls to keep my project for the self-employed portal going and the day is gone. Just enough time to write my blog.

Here we go again

2009-06-17T15:20:00.003+02:00

After returning from the US, there was no other option than relaunching my own company. I knew that, of course, when still back in New York, but the harsh reality of the freelance life took a little while to dawn on me. Especially in these hard times where so many more self-employeds, or zzp-ers, as they are called here, have entered the market.Lots of them not of their own free will, but forced because they lost their job. Lucky I was used to this way of living after having worked on my own before from 2004-mid 2006.

Starting over again sounds easy as you should know what to expect. But still, the admin procedures and dealing with people who just don't understand your decision. Both on government level and in private. I just put up my shield and keep running. As long as it brings money and satisfaction, I'm fine. And it still feels right and part of my personality.

The company who offered me a 3days/wk job dropped out the moment I announced my arrival back home. Too good to be true? Sorry, the project was just cancelled. If you want, you work on commission in stead? I just didn't want to hear that and continued working for 2 months. When that didn't bring anything concrete I decided to quit and find my own ways again. March and April flew by and in May I contacted my network with a concrete question: do you need salespower?

It worked and I just found a new free-lance project for 3 months at a start-up internet company. Creating their distribution network. Exciting new project with still changing market approach plans and room to influence directions.

In the meantime, I'm working on another new project, this time really of my own in whicfh I join forces with my old business buddy. First pitch was back in April, next one in August. If that gets a go, we can start planning on 6 months instead of 3. Also exciting, but patience was the magic word on this project.
Little other projects are welcome and I just finished one for another old network contact. Yet another network contact tipped me off on a publisher looking for a rep. Had a call from London this week and offered my service.

Well, well. First new blog published. First 3 months of being on my own again have gone by. I'll keep you posted.