For me, 2009 was marked by big work changes, and these precipitated big lifestyle changes. I went from working full-time in a city office as a copywriter to freelancing as a journalist and editor entirely from home. That’s right: as publications the world over raced to slash staff numbers, I entered the market. I always did have impeccable timing.
So I’ve changed the focus of my work, and effectively moved into a different field within the same discipline. And as you might expect, most of my plans for 2010 are about building on this new approach.
Clients
I’m planning to expand my client list this year, and hopefully do repeat work for some preferred clients. This will take some research, seeing as the offshore market is likely to be significantly larger than the domestic market for the work I do. So I’ll need to spend some time researching markets, seeking out good prospects, and then researching them. In short: a lot of leg work.
Skills
As I mentioned when I reviewed my last decade of work, I’m keen to do some more study this year, as I’ve found a few gaps in my knowledge that I’d rather not have to work around. I’m hoping that some extra training in, for example, interview techniques, will help improve the quality of my work output, and increase the satisfaction of my clients.
I’ve also started a modest self-directed learning regime to help sharpen up some of the skills I have, but need to exercise more often.
Setup
My home office setup is working well for me, and an imminent shift from wireless to cable Internet is sure to make my work day more efficient and less frustrating,
I’m also in line for a new phone this year, as well as a hand-me-down computer that’s significantly faster than my trusty old iBook G4. Since I’m one of those rare web workers who’s not wildly passionate about technology, I actually see these changes as hurdles rather than excitements. That said, I am looking to get more out of my gear this year, since I know I’m not using it to its capacity, or getting the most out of its capabilities.
Work Focus
In my field, there used to be much talk of specialization being key; with the market as it is, the prevailing wisdom now indicates that freelance writers should diversify. My plan is to specialize in a particular approach to my subjects, rather than in a topic area itself. Madness? Possibly, but I’ll give it my best shot. I’m also trying to work out where the sites I manage and maintain fit into my work and skill development plans, and what I need to do with them next.
How about you? What are you planning for 2010?
{"source":"https:\/\/gigaom.com\/2010\/01\/14\/georginas-plans-for-2010\/wijax\/49e8740702c6da9341d50357217fb629","varname":"wijax_6293aa7e9399e84c6d2f336cea4940b7","title_element":"header","title_class":"widget-title","title_before":"%3Cheader%20class%3D%22widget-title%22%3E","title_after":"%3C%2Fheader%3E"}