Yesterday I wrote about how home-based professionals who use Elance can improve upon their contractor profile so that they have a better chance of winning jobs and getting invited to bid on better projects. Later in the evening, I decided to follow my own advice and at least get started on improving my own profile. When I looked at what I had written there over a year ago when I joined Elance, I was surprised at how much things had changed.
For one thing, I now have experience. When I started out as a freelance writer, I had no experience as a writer. I knew that I could write well and I hoped that that would be enough to help me break in to the world of freelance writing. If I had to choose words to describe myself, confidence and courage would not likely be at the top of the list. When I look back at my decision to just go for it and put myself out there as a freelance writer, I realize that at times I can be both confident and courageous and it does pay off. I’m still writing, I’m loving it, I’m learning how to do different types of writing projects, and my business is growing.
Another thing that has changed quite a bit since I first wrote my Elance profile description is the way that I view myself as a professional. Up until last night when I reworked some of my profile description, I sounded like a dedicated stay at home mom who had put her law career on hold and was looking for writing work so that I could afford to stay home and raise my son. While that’s not a horrible thing, it does not exactly sparkle with energy or make me look like a highly motivated professional. In other words, I cannot remember whether that description fit me a year ago but it does not fit now so I changed it. Hopefully, people who read my profile will now get the idea that I am a motivated home-based professional who is seeking to advance in both the professions of law and writing while holding down the fort on the home front as a stay at home mom.
Home-based professionals go through a lot of growth and change as they create, build and grow your businesses. Have you taken some time lately to reflect on what you have accomplished and just how far you have come?
Photo by hotblack on morguefile.com.