I overwhelmed people. Becoming skilled at marketing her business took time, but eventually she learned the importance of relaxing, making a connection and establishing a rhythm for a new-business call. Kathi Simonsen of Sierra Madre, Calif., had built a successful career as a sales professional, but she struggled initially in marketing her own sales and marketing business. Her breakthrough came after building a reputation, but this took time. Seeds that I planted often took several years to turn into business.
Clients appreciate that client-centered approach.
As I developed my programs and fine-tuned them more and more to clients' needs, it got easier. Networker Surprisingly, the biggest challenge for some free-lancers isn't the money. Sally Kuzernchak, a former staff writer for Self magazine, who's now a free-lancer in the Chicago area, says she longs for the social aspects of her former workplace. Some days, the only people I see are the mailman and the UPS guy. She makes a point of taking one excursion every day, even if it's just to the post office or library.