Lessons from the BattlefieldWorking on the web

Kristin Wille

about me

@kristinwillepushpull.methedaylightstudio.com

agencies

fall in love with...

• A Great Team

• Opportunities for Growth

run away if...

• there’s a “nap room”

• none of your coworkers have worked on what’s in the site’s portfolio

So... how do I get a job?

magic

agency survival

• Don’t be a hero

• Communication

• Don’t get bored

freelancing!

(freelancer)

To be great...

1. Do Great Work

2. Be Driven & Self-Motivated

To be great...

3. Be Professional

4. Be Accountable

To be great...

And most importantly

4. Be on time

So...how do I get work?

magic

getting work

• Every job is an interview

• Networking takes a long time

• Join user groups, contribute to the community

• Your own past clients

“don’t half-ass two things, whole-ass one thing”

- Ron Swanson

Types of work

• Direct with businesses

• Subcontracting with agencies

• Long term contracts

when sh*!? hits the fan(and bursts into flames)

When you’re in over your head

• Walk away (bad)

• Walk away, and give them another qualified and vetted freelancer to complete the work (better)

• Hire another freelancer to do the work and take all the credit (best)

When to turn down work

• don’t work for friends or family (if you value the relationship)

• don’t work for trade, for free, or for “equity”/“stock options”

• don’t take on something you’re not interested in learning

freelance survival

Survival: The business

• Become a master of time estimation

• Get (and understand) a contract

• Running a business is expensive

• Outsource what you can

Survival: Personal

• Set boundaries, and stick to them

• Live with blinders on

• Keep the passion

THE LONG ROAD

thanks!@kristinwillepushpull.mekristinwille.com

resources

• The Freelance Web - http://www.thefreelanceweb.com

• Contract Killer - http://stuffandnonsense.co.uk/projects/contract-killer/

• PDX Mindshare - http://pdxmindshare.com