The New Year brings fresh inspiration to professionals of all types. It is natural to wonder whether this will be the year that you achieve some of the things that you have been dreaming of for a long time. When you own and operate your own business, there is always a sort of tension between plugging away at your work just like you have been and mixing things up a little to try something new.
If your business is still in business, you are doing something right. Whatever you have got going on, it is working. It may not be working as well as you would like it to, but it is working. You know what you are doing, who you are doing it for, and what you can expect in return both financially and otherwise. You know how long it takes you to do the work, and what the specifications are. It is comfortable, yet sometimes you wonder when it will be time to take things to the next level, to make some improvements in some areas of your business or try something a little (or a lot) different.
It is certainly easier to keep plugging away and leave those thoughts to just that, thoughts. After all, taking on new and different projects takes time and you already have a full plate. Where would that extra time come from? Would you have to work more hours and give up some family or leisure time? Do you want to do that?
If your desire to make changes or try something new is strong enough, you will find that you are willing to rearrange things a little in order to get some time to do what it is that you want to do. It does not always take much time, either. For example, a freelance writer can spend a little time looking at job postings and apply for a couple of small yet interesting and profitable projects in an area that they have not had much experience with but would like to try. If one of the jobs comes through, great. If not, maybe try again another time. Either way, giving yourself a little time to approach your work from a fresh angle can help you to enjoy your regular work more or grow your business in a new direction if you find that it is more suited for you.
Photo by markmiller on morguefile.com.