One Thing Every Freelancer Should Do This Week
As it relates to workflows, there are two types of freelancers.
There is the ‘set it and forget it’ freelancer, who set up their internal processes when they first began and have not changed anything since.
Then there is ‘the tinkerer.’ These freelancers are constantly testing a new & improved system for everything. They can quickly lose 4 hours of productivity on any given weekday, totally overhauling a workflow in the name of increasing productivity.
Ironic, huh?
In reality, neither approach is ideal.
As freelancers, it is essential for us to protect our productive hours. However, we must also leverage our agility as a competitive advantage — utilizing the latest technologies and SAAS tools to keep us lean and focused on the value we provide.
For these reasons, I set aside time at the end of each year as a season to reassess, improve, and solidify my workflows. As a tinkerer, it ensures I have an opportunity to test new solutions once per year — and only once per year — both protecting my productivity & keeping my workflows as efficient as reasonably possible. As a ‘set it and forget it’, it allows you to periodically put my finger on the pulse of the tools available to you — ensuring you remain lean & mean.
Plus, the new year is the perfect time to assess changes, because you can implement them on January 1st. Your accountant will thank you, and your tax preparation will be much easier (and likely cheaper) when you are not combining invoicing & time-tracking data from four different systems — not that I have ever been guilty of that. 🤥
As you reassess your workflows this new year, let me know what changes you are making in the comments below.
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