20 things I’ve learned in 20 years as an independent

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By Susan Horner

It’s been a busy year, and somehow I just realized that I reached the milestone of 20 years as an independent business communicator months ago. To echo a post my friend and fellow indie Donna Papacosta ran in the summer about her 26 years in business, here are 20 things I’ve learned in those 20 years:

1. There will always be peaks and valleys. If you’re good at what you do, you’ll survive the valleys. Use them to recharge for the peaks, learn something new or have fun.
2. Take the time to help others. Be a mentor, talk to students, take part in a panel discussion, share your expertise.
3. What goes around comes around.
4. Volunteer.
5. Join your industry association and take an active part in it. I’ve been active for years with IABC.
6. You’re allowed to say no, whether it’s to a job you aren’t really suited for or to another volunteer commitment when you already have several.
7. Listen to your gut. Sometimes it’s smarter than your brain.
8. If you turn down work, offer to find someone else in your network with the required skill.
9. Always do good work, whether for a client, a volunteer job or your child’s school. People pay more attention than you think.
10. Be particular about spelling and grammar. Frequent mistakes reflect badly on you as a communicator.
11. Network. Get out and talk to people, especially if you spend most of your days in a home office.
12. Get a business card, even if you are a student or between jobs. You can run off a low-cost version that has your name and basic contact information. If that embarrasses you, say your professional card is at the printer’s.
13. Build your professional network when you don’t actually need to call on it (like when you’re looking for a job or a new client). LinkedIn is a great place to start.
14. Don’t be "had" on price. What you do has value, and you don’t want to work for someone who only wants the lowest price.
15. That doesn’t mean you can’t do a job for less than you would normally charge, if it’s for a cause that is meaningful or you want to gain experience in a specific area. Make it your choice, though.
16. Keep learning. Even seminars, short courses and conferences will keep your skills fresh.
17. Take breaks. Let calls go to voice mail and stay off Twitter while you have dinner or take your kids to the park.
18. There’s more to life than work. Make time for the people and things that bring you joy. Will you reach the end of your life and wish you had worked more? Not likely.
19. Celebrate your achievements.
20. Don’t let fear of the unknown stop you from making the decision your heart tells you is right. It took me a year before I left my corporate job to become an independent. I have never regretted it.

Sue Horner is an independent communicator and writer whose company is called Get It Write. This is an edited version of post from her blog at http://www.GetItWrite.ca.

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