"Do as I say, not as I do"

I wanted to take this time to talk about things that I have learned along the way. May be you know them already or there are a few things you didn't know. That's the thing with being self employed, it's a learning process. You make mistakes, you learn by them. You take advice and create your own path. You have the freedom of working by your rules but you first have to make them. So I've collated a few rules that hopefully I will start to live by.

1. Start devising an system for your invoices and receipts. This will make the end of January tax returns sooooo much easier.

2. When you are given a business card, make sure you write on them who they are and what relevance they have to you. YOU WILL NOT REMEMBER!

3. Always record conversations. I don't mean walk around with a dictaphone recording every last word. I mean, when you talk to someone over the phone and important information was exchanged make sure you record this information in an email and confirm what they have said. PROMISES MAY BE BROKEN!

4. Follow-ups. Be sure to send an email across to the person you last met, thanking them and re-capping what was said. It's just polite.

5. Be honest but not too honest. People who keep their cards close to their chest really annoy me but I have made the mistake of being to honest and that can come round and bite you in the bum.

6. Talk to people. The dreaded networking. Most people hate it and for the lucky people who love it must come so easy to them. I would not have got to where I am today without talking. Even if this is virtual. Your blog is a great place to start a conversation. No one will know anything about you if you don't talk about it.

7. Organise your business cards. Not your own but other people. Devise a system that allows you to i) remember who they are and ii) know who to contact for certain things.

8. Bookmarks! The amount of times I think I will remember something that I have seen online only to come back to it and not remember a bloody thing. There are so many applications now that can remember everything for you USE THEM!

9. Back-Up. My life is on my computer, if I were to lose it I would have a meltdown. Be sure to back up every week/ everyday?

10. Always thank the people that help you along the way. People love recognition and hate when others claim all the credit.

11. Do your research. This is so broad, but when it comes down to it, it's your own mistake. You can prevent things by researching. But I guess somethings can only come down to chance. 

12. READ! Read books, tweets, blogs, newspapers, facebook. (I have to be honest, there is only three things I read on that list, wonder if you can guess what?).

13. Comment! This is where your virtual networking comes in. Comment on other peoples blogs, comment on tweets, comment on articles you've read. These will strike up a virtual conversation and will ultimately get people looking at you and your work.

14. This follows on from 13. Social networking. Time needs to be spent on this and when your boyfriend, wife, mum or dad comment on the amount of times you check twitter/facebook. You can actually call it working :)

15. Take notes but you have to devise a system! I have notebook upon notebook but I have no idea how to find all the useful information I have written down (I've still to conquer this one and if anyone has any tips let me know).

16. Learn to use a spreadsheet! This will ultimately make your life easier.

17. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours! This one doesn't always work, you can constantly scratch and not ever get your itch satisfied. But it's nice to be nice and you would hope that most people return the favour. 

These are just a collection of my thoughts. I can't lie and say I do them all but "do as I say not as I do."  I'm sure this list will keep growing but if anyone has any more they would like to add then leave a comment.

Vanilla Ink 

xx