Archive for June, 2009
Written on June 30, 2009 by Will Irvin
Filed Under: Working To Live
Adding Value is a frequently-used phrase these days, but how many people really know what it means? I’d wager not many. It just sounds like a typical buzz-phrase used by management-types who have no idea what the working people actually do. Adding value is actually a key ingredient for your success, whether you are an employee or an entrepreneur. First of all, it means that there is more to working than making money. It also means that people, clients, and consumers alike are looking for hope in uncertain times. By consistently adding value to their lives, your rewards will be far greater than you possibly could have imagined when you first started. Read More
Written on June 26, 2009 by Will Irvin
Filed Under: Job Hunting
Once you’be dazzled a potential client with your brilliance (or baffled them with BS), the next step will usually be the discussion of how much you will be paid to do the job. Do not let this part be a stumbling block for you, and be prepared for it, or you will come across as unprepared and unprofessional. In preparation for this, remember that your time is valuable, and you have a skill (or set of skills) that is worth a decent rate. Use the art of bracketing to ensure that you get the fairest rate you can get for the job, a rate that both sides are happy with. Read More
Written on June 25, 2009 by Will Irvin
Filed Under: Working To Live
There has been for many years (and probably will be for many more years to come) a debate over the best operating system, software package, or other set of business tools. You have the Microsoft camp, the Linux camp, and the Mac camp. You have those that swear by laptops, and those that only use desktops. There are those that will only use Craftsman tools, and those who will only use DeWalt or Kobalt (Yes, these are business tools, if you’re in the business of building or repairing things). Each side makes a compelling argument why their set of tools is the best. Guess what people…they’re just tools. Don’t buy into the hype too much from one side or the other. Read More
Written on June 23, 2009 by Will Irvin
Filed Under: Working To Live
I like to refer to myself as a jack of all trades, and a master of some. In my almost twenty years of working, I have acquired at least some skill in several different areas. I have worked in virtually every major job area there is: sales/marketing, engineering, manufacturing, retail, service, maintenance, data entry, web design, even construction. However, as an entrepreneur, having so many tools at your disposal can sometimes be more of a distraction than a help. Read More
Written on June 19, 2009 by Will Irvin
Filed Under: Working To Live
More and more people are negotiating remote work arrangements these days, allowing them to do their jobs from home on a part-time (and sometimes full-time) basis. If you approach it correctly, and present it well to your boss, it will work for you. Here are the steps you need to take to make this happen. Read More
Written on June 17, 2009 by Will Irvin
Filed Under: Simple Living
OK, we picked on the women yesterday, so today we’re going to pick on the men. Yesterday, we established two main principles regarding simplifying your clothing:
1. If you haven’t worn it in a year or more, chuck it.
2. Women generally have approximately twice as many clothes as men.
I can already hear men saying, “Well, if she just gets rid of half of her clothing, then we’re done.” That’s not how it works. After the simplification, women will still likely have approximately twice as many clothing options as men. See the article on Simplify Your Clothing – Guidelines for Women for the reasons why. Read More
Written on June 15, 2009 by Will Irvin
Filed Under: Simple Living
If you really stop and think about it, you probably have too much clothing. You dont’ need a bigger closet…you need to get rid of some of it. I will have more detailed guidelines later in the article, but a couple of general guidelines are as follows:
1. If you haven’t worn it in a year or more, chuck it.
2. Women generally have approximately twice as many clothes as men. Read More
Written on June 15, 2009 by Will Irvin
Filed Under: Working To Live
The question is not whether or not freelancing will work in this economy. Freelancing will work as well in the current economy as it would in any economic climate. In fact, a weaker economy may actually be better for freelancing opportunities. The real question is whether or not you have what it takes to make freelancing work for you. Read More
Written on June 11, 2009 by Will Irvin
Filed Under: Working To Live
Another great concept I picked up from Tim Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Workweek (4HWW) is the 80/20 principle, a concept first put forth by Vilfredo Pareto, an economist/sociologist who lived during the late 19th and early 20th century. His concept was primarily that 80% of the work is being done by 20% of the resources. This doesn’t make sense? Let me explain. Read More
Written on June 10, 2009 by Will Irvin
Filed Under: Working To Live
At the risk of sounding unpatriotic, I’m going to put an idea out there for everyone to chew on…outsourcing is not the enemy! In fact, it is all but vital for entrepeneurs and freelancers alike to obtain the freedom they truly desire. Let me put it this way. Even you, the one who lost your job because it was farmed out to a foreign country…would you willingly outsource some or all of your next job if it meant you could have one extra day a week off? How about three days extra a week, or four? I’m thinking you probably would. Read More