The Lifestream of Jon Moss

Oops! Your Attitude is Showing…

May 8 2009, 12:30pm

What’s your attitude like? It’s a good idea to think about the answer, because your attitude is one of the keys to your success as a freelancer. Take this example, for instance. If you were in the hiring seat, would you want to work with a freelancer who answered you like this? “I guess I could work on this project. It’s a a tough job, but I might be able to work something out. The worst that can happen is that we have to take another look at it after I try. Does that sound okay?”

I wouldn’t. That person sounds uncertain, unsure and under-skilled. What about this freelancer? Say you’re just talking shop over coffee. What would your impression be? “You ever have those days where it feels like you’re dragging one foot in front of the other? That’s what I feel like. It’s so hard to get started. It takes me a long time and I really have to work at it. But after a couple of hours, I’m okay.” I’d probably nod in sympathy - hey, I’ve been there - but I might not want to hire this person to do work for me. How about this? Say you’re reading a blog’s comment sections and you notice this comment. Would you feel compelled to click through and check out the person’s services? “Boy, can I ever relate to this post. Most of the time I feel so scared someone’s going to tell me my work SUCKS. I know it’s all in my head and I’m working on it, but hoooo yeah!” I wouldn’t. Each of these examples may seem far off, but situations like these that give off a poor impression or that scare away potential clients are common online, probably far more than any of us realize. We’re told to be personable and genuine, after all. Be yourself! But even while being ourselves, we’re still freelancers looking for work, and that means we need to monitor how we come off to people. The problem is that once we become accustomed to being online, we begin to have the sense that we’re amongst friends or that we’re in a “safe” place. We become comfortable. We relax. We interact in our favorite hangouts like Twitter, forums and blog comment sections. We communicate so constantly with friends, peers and colleagues that we often forget we’re still in the public eye marketing ourselves. Never forget that. Every minute of the time we spend online we’re marketing. You could be chatting on Twitter or commenting on your favorite blog after hours, but you’re still marketing, whether you realize it or not. There is no punch-out clock on the internet. 24/7, people - your customers - are watching. Do you sound positive? Do you sound tired? Are you crabbing about a bad gig? Complaining about a difficult client? Cheering for joy? Which comments sound smart, and which sound silly? When you take a step back and analyze how you project yourself online to people who don’t know you personally, you may realize you’re creating a different impression than you intended. Here are just a few examples:

You might sound worried about the economy - which might sound like your business is doing poorly. You might sound overtired and stressed out - which might sound like you’re overworked or out of control. You might come off as overexcited and having fun - which might sound like you don’t take work seriously.

Examine the attitude you convey, and make sure it’s the one you want people to notice. How do you find out what people notice about you? It’s simple: Ask. Find people who know you and who would offer an honest opinion. Don’t ask family or close friends that know you very well, as they’ll have a hard time telling you the truth. Ask people that you trust to be objective, and get them to talk to you about the attitude you convey. Start with overall impression. Do you sound stressed? Uppity? Excited? Downtrodden? Tired? Have them analyze your tone and style and tell you what they think. Is it upbeat and happy? Or is it worn out and worn down? Even more, how does your online attitude make them feel? Do your comments make them feel happier? Discouraged? Determined? Disappointed? Inspired? That doesn’t mean you need to self-censor to the point of discomfort or try to be someone you’re not. Becoming too private or putting on professional airs doesn’t work well, because it just isn’t you. It comes off stiff and fake. Potential clients smell that a mile away. But remember that your attitude shines through in everything you do - for better or for worse. Know exactly how you appear to others, because everyone who notices you is a potential client - even peers in the same line of work. What’s your take on it? Do you let ‘er rip? Or do you tread carefully? Do you embrace your personality and show it off? Or do you hide the darker sides to only show the light? What about self-censorship - do you feel it’s worth it when it’s in the name of business? About the Author: James Chartrand is co-author of The Unlimited Freelancer and the smokin’ copywriter with attitude over at Men with Pens. Go check it out today.