Are you on the freelance treadmill?

photo credit: www.metaphoricalplatypus.com

Ponder this quote from new media thought leader and business consultant Chris Brogan:

If we don’t pay close attention to how what we’re doing fits in with the rest of our life, then we might end up winning the wrong race.

When it comes to my work I’ll admit to thinking sometimes, just sometimes, that I’m running the wrong race.

Twitter, Facebook, blogging, ebooks, workshops, mentoring, writing, client meetings, feature articles. All these things are a part of my daily life. But sometimes they’re a drag.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my life as a freelance writer.

But the truth is, I want to write books that make a difference.

Writing, however, takes time. And I get so caught up in running the new media and “successful freelancer” race that instead of running in the open air on a tree-lined path, I get on a treadmill of keeping up with what a modern freelance “should” do.

That ends. Today.

I’m creating margin in my day to make that happen.

For me, it starts with tightening up my schedule and employing the “un-do” list:

• No more “let’s catch up” coffee dates or lunches.
• At least one full, uninterrupted day in the office (and preferably more).
• A minimum daily words (or time) plan for the book.
• Using a production schedule (essentially a spreadsheet) to chunk and manage my client work and freelance assignments.
• Saying no to keeping up.

Ready to jump off the treadmill and onto the path? Tell me how you’re going to do it.

By JanO on 5/24/11, In freelance business, freelance writing, productivity tips and time management, Tags author, business, Chris Brogan, consultant, facebook, freelance, freelancer, life, production, time, treadmill, Twitter, writer, writing