What Is Your USP? How to Define It for Yourself and Others
by Chris King

The way the economy is today with all of the downsizing, we should, as independent professionals, be in demand and busier than ever - filling in those important spaces that have been created in so many companies. To make ourselves as free agents, independent professionals and freelancers marketable, however, we must define what our USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is.

In other words, what makes us special and different from everyone else out there? What will a company gain by hiring us to do the job? What's in it for them? In this article, I will share some ways to determine what your USP is and how to define it.

The Definition Dilemma Faced by Living Freelance
by Chris King

I find one of the most challenging situations I face as a free agent, independent professional, and freelancer is telling people what I do. I have mentioned that I have a "Portfolio Career" (many different careers at the same time), so when I am asked, "And what do you do?" I don't have a straight-forward answer, like "lawyer, doctor, or football player."

I feel that this can be an advantage, if approached properly. Therefore, in this article, I am going to discuss this definition dilemma, ways to attack it, and pose some questions that can help direct those of us who love living a freelance life.

The Ins and Outs of Having and/or Being a Mentor
by Chris King

Every self-help tape I've heard and every book I've read on how to become a success - and there are many of both - suggest finding a mentor. What is a mentor? What is a mentor's role? Where do I find one? Should I become one? Should I have only one mentor? What should I expect from a mentor? In this article, I will tackle some of these tough questions.

What is a mentor and what is a mentor's role? I decided to look mentor up in the dictionary and found the succinct descriptions: "trusted counselor or guide," "a wise, loyal advisor," and "a teacher or coach."

Use the Power of Meaningful Networking to Create Client Contacts
by Chris King

Years ago when I attended what were termed as "Networking Events" we basically walked around smiling and exchanging business cards. When I got back to the office, I would look through my handful of cards, not remembering any of the faces that went with the names on the cards, and eventually threw most of them away. I don't remember anyone ever calling me because of this time-wasting ritual. Networking when performed with a plan and with panache, on the other hand, can reap huge benefits including client leads, helpful referrals, needed information, or business. Let's take a look at networking with a purpose that produces results.

Start with knowing why you are networking. Before attending any kind of event, trade show, and/or gathering, ask yourself why you are taking the time to do this and what you hope to gain from the networking.

Many professional poker players fulfill the dream of working your own hours and being your own boss. Many of these play poker full time but there are also those who visit the online poker rooms as a part time job, their real passion being the their freelance work. Part time or not, one online poker player won an entry ticket to the World Championship of Poker (WSOP) online and ended up winning the whole thing along with the 8 million dollars in prize money. Most poker rooms host qualifications to the WSOP these days, and we can thank this player for that.

Excellent articles, which are still archived although they are not adding new ones, unfortunately. A fun and informative site, however.

A fun and informative blog hosted by writer, Alicia Sparks. She includes an excellent list of Freelance Resources in the right hand margin. Check them out.

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