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Are you self-employed in a creative career, and want to share your trials and triumphs with others?
Many people enter the creative self-employment industry wide-eyed and hopeful. And while optimism is a driving force for small businesses to prosper, there are internal struggles that can hamper one's success. I am writing a book that will expose the trials and triumphs to help creative types to lead more fulfilling careers.
Is business slow, and you don't know what to do with the extra time? Do you feel like you're not contributing if you don't work 40 hours a week? Are you troubled by paying for health care? Are you working excessive hours and don't know how to give yourself a break?
I want to hear from all types...those who are so hard working and can't relax and those who procrastinate. The book will include a hopeful tone, but highlight the problems that the self-employed face. To contribute, please fill out as many of the questions below as you can, send responses to [email protected]. Prior to publication, you will need to sign a release form authorizing your contribution if it is chosen. Not all submissions will be published, and those chosen for publication will be at the discretion of Kristen Fischer. Contributors to be published will be contacted by Kristen Fischer prior to inclusion in the book. Upon publication, contributors will receive a copy of the book.
1. Name (full)
2. State
3. Title
4. Career blurb (what do you do?)
5. Website
Please answer any of the following in at least 1 sentence. Fill out as many questions as you would like, and send it back to me.
HARDSHIPS
1. What is the hardest thing about being self-employed and how do you strive to overcome this factor?
2. Do you feel that not working enough/working too much hinders your success?
3. Do you ever feel guilty for not being in the corporate 9-5 world? Did you ever work a 9-5 job? What was it like leaving, and why did you leave? What do you miss about the 9-5 world?
4. Do you procrastinate? Do you find that not having a boss watch over you hinders your work?
5. How do you stay on top of work hours. Do you log them in? Do you work more so in set hours or whenever work arises? Do you work on weekends?
6. Do you consider yourself a workaholic? Why?
7. Do you doubt your talents when work doesn't come in steady?
8. Do you ever consider giving up on a creative full-time job and going to a 9-5 type of job? Why?
9. How often do you face rejection? What are the feelings associated with putting your work out there, and how do you handle rejection and fear of exposing yourself?
10. Have you experienced anxiety/depression over money/work issues since you started as a self-employed worker?
GOOD POINTS
1. How did you become self-employed?
2. What is your favorite thing about being self-employed?
3. What are the advantages, specifically to your career field, to self-employment?
4. What do you do with down time (when steady work doesn't come in)?
5. Recall a moment when your creative talents shined with regard to your work.
6. What/who is your biggest source of inspiration or support as you continue your career? How has this person or thing helped you?
Feel free to add additional information. I want the emotions that can come up when you move into the "I'm my own boss" world. It's not peachy all the time, and the goal of the book is to be candid and real about the good and bad. The book won't discourage others from self-employment; rather, it will expose the things some people don't mention about self-employment, and offer positive advice to self-employed creative people. Feel free to contact Kristen with any questions at [email protected]. This questionnaire is also available at http://www.kristenfischer.com/creatively.htm.
Many people enter the creative self-employment industry wide-eyed and hopeful. And while optimism is a driving force for small businesses to prosper, there are internal struggles that can hamper one's success. I am writing a book that will expose the trials and triumphs to help creative types to lead more fulfilling careers.
Is business slow, and you don't know what to do with the extra time? Do you feel like you're not contributing if you don't work 40 hours a week? Are you troubled by paying for health care? Are you working excessive hours and don't know how to give yourself a break?
I want to hear from all types...those who are so hard working and can't relax and those who procrastinate. The book will include a hopeful tone, but highlight the problems that the self-employed face. To contribute, please fill out as many of the questions below as you can, send responses to [email protected]. Prior to publication, you will need to sign a release form authorizing your contribution if it is chosen. Not all submissions will be published, and those chosen for publication will be at the discretion of Kristen Fischer. Contributors to be published will be contacted by Kristen Fischer prior to inclusion in the book. Upon publication, contributors will receive a copy of the book.
1. Name (full)
2. State
3. Title
4. Career blurb (what do you do?)
5. Website
Please answer any of the following in at least 1 sentence. Fill out as many questions as you would like, and send it back to me.
HARDSHIPS
1. What is the hardest thing about being self-employed and how do you strive to overcome this factor?
2. Do you feel that not working enough/working too much hinders your success?
3. Do you ever feel guilty for not being in the corporate 9-5 world? Did you ever work a 9-5 job? What was it like leaving, and why did you leave? What do you miss about the 9-5 world?
4. Do you procrastinate? Do you find that not having a boss watch over you hinders your work?
5. How do you stay on top of work hours. Do you log them in? Do you work more so in set hours or whenever work arises? Do you work on weekends?
6. Do you consider yourself a workaholic? Why?
7. Do you doubt your talents when work doesn't come in steady?
8. Do you ever consider giving up on a creative full-time job and going to a 9-5 type of job? Why?
9. How often do you face rejection? What are the feelings associated with putting your work out there, and how do you handle rejection and fear of exposing yourself?
10. Have you experienced anxiety/depression over money/work issues since you started as a self-employed worker?
GOOD POINTS
1. How did you become self-employed?
2. What is your favorite thing about being self-employed?
3. What are the advantages, specifically to your career field, to self-employment?
4. What do you do with down time (when steady work doesn't come in)?
5. Recall a moment when your creative talents shined with regard to your work.
6. What/who is your biggest source of inspiration or support as you continue your career? How has this person or thing helped you?
Feel free to add additional information. I want the emotions that can come up when you move into the "I'm my own boss" world. It's not peachy all the time, and the goal of the book is to be candid and real about the good and bad. The book won't discourage others from self-employment; rather, it will expose the things some people don't mention about self-employment, and offer positive advice to self-employed creative people. Feel free to contact Kristen with any questions at [email protected]. This questionnaire is also available at http://www.kristenfischer.com/creatively.htm.
