freelancing

Samuel Goldwyn said, “A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.” It’s certainly a good quote, but it isn’t strictly true. In fact, a verbal agreement in which one person agrees to do something in exchange for payment, whether in person or on the telephone, is legal binding.

“I tend to be known as a personal and business coach,” says Fiona Harrold, a world-renowned life coach and the bestselling author of Be Your Own Life Coach, The 10-Minute Life Coach, Reinvent Yourself, Indestructible Self Belief and The 7 Rules of Success.

Workhubs may be hot on the lips of many startups and freelancers and are creating a buzz around London but how do you go about finding them around the world and getting access if you aren't in and around the debate in your freelance circles?

Ok, so it’s not spring yet, but this is probably a better time of year to do a big rationalisation than March anyway. Why? Two reasons:

1. The weather is going to be better in March (oh, come on, it will be! Have faith!) so you won’t want to be holed up inside; and

Traditionally, this is the time of year when we set new business and personal targets. Business coach Linda Denny 10 steps to achieving those aims

A bright spark

“It has gone stupidly busy,” says John Crowther two weeks before Christmas. “What happens with my work, is that, at this time of year, everyone wants everything done before the festivities come – and builders want to finish off their jobs so they can have their Christmas shut-down.”

According to the International Freelancers Academy 2011 Freelance Industry Report in the US, more women (65%) than men (55%) feel strongly that being freelance is the right thing for them. Perhaps this is because, traditionally, women have juggled their paid work with bringing up children.

These days, with established clients drying up and long-term security a thing of the past, it sometimes becomes necessary to take on a full-time job to make ends meet. This can pose dilemmas for long-term freelancers, who will have spent years building up a client base and a name for themselves.