Category Archives: Freelancing/Self-employed

So You Want To Be A Reputable Journalist?

July 10, 2019 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , 16 Comments

*Collaborative post.

When you want to become a journalist, it’s safe to say that you’re never really going to want to be any old writer. You want to be successful, well-known, and great at your job too. And more importantly, you want to be reputable. A reputable journalist is famous for being good at their job. Here’s how you can do it.

 

Learn The Ropes

 To start with, you’re going to want to learn the ropes as much as you can – and as quickly as you can. When you graduate from college, get an internship – or even while you’re at college. A summer job would be great too. Even when you get your first job, learning the ropes is important, so that you can begin to establish yourself in the right ways.

 

Practice Your Craft

But then also, you need to dedicate yourself to this. It’s really not just enough for you to learn in college and then never look at a piece or writing education ever again. The best writers are those that are constantly learning. So make sure that you’re reading leading work, and that you’re practicing your craft constantly too. Practice makes perfect! Never forget that. 

 

Avoid Fake News

Finally, as tempting as it can be to get suckered in by different news articles and sensationalism. But if you know that you want to be a reputable journalist, then you just cannot get sucked in by it all. Instead, you have to make sure that you’re picking out fake news, as seen in the infographic below, and aiming to make your work a lot better. This will make sure that your career is not only successful but rewarding too. Reporting fake news never ends well. Don’t be tempted no matter what. 

 


Infographic Design By University of Southern California

 

Beauty is in the eye of the keyholder: tips for keeping your salon secure

June 4, 2019 By in Beauty, Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , 20 Comments

*Collaborative post.

 Crime against small businesses costs more than £12 billion annually, but this figure still does not account for the full cost of crime. For salons, in particular, crime is a significant drag on their ability to grow as a business, leads to reputational damage, as well as lost hours and days. Common crimes include robbery, burglary, and employee theft.

If you own or manage a salon, security should be one of your primary concerns. Here are our top tips for keeping your salon secure.

 

Research your employees

 Before hiring a member of staff, make sure you have performed sufficient background checks. This doesn’t mean that you don’t trust them, but you need to ensure that job applicants don’t have a history of theft or other criminal activity. It’s just good sense!

 

 

Hair salon image

 

 

Brief your employees

 Once you’ve hired trustworthy employees, make sure that they know the rules and procedures within your salon. Write an employee handbook which lays everything out for them and have regular meetings to discuss security measures. If an employee disregards salon rules (for example, by leaving a door unlocked), make sure you address this problem quickly.

 

Safety in numbers

 Try to avoid a scenario whereby there is only one employee in your salon. A salon with one staff member is a prime target for crime. Ensure that two or more employees work each shift, which will minimise the threat of internal employee theft and decrease the chances of burglary or assault.

 

Monitor the till

 The cash register should be touched by as few people as possible – eliminating the potential for mistakes or theft. Decide whether a salon receptionist will handle cash or another designated employee – they can even work shifts. Money can then be counted by that person at the end of the day, with them documenting the total and informing management.

 

 

Hair salon picture

 

 

Safety measures

 You can decrease the risk of night-time crime by installing both interior and exterior lighting. Back doors should be locked and bolted, whereas front doors should also have a warning device. Something like a bell can alert the salon when someone enters. CCTV cameras canhelp identify perpetrators in the event of a crime. An alarm system can also prevent or deter late night vandalism or burglary.

 

Cyber-security

 Salon owners often assume that their business is too small to be targeted by cybercriminals. The idea of cyber-crime may not even enter their heads. However, online hackers often view small businesses as easy prey. It’s important to remain vigilant and protect your online activity. Make sure all of the salon’s devices are password or PIN protected, use anti-virus software, electronically backup your salon data, and use two-factor identification.

 

Insure your salon

 Salon insurance is designed to protect your business in the event of an accident or incident. From stock cover, to contents cover, to business interruption costs, salon insurance ensures that your business is not crippled by an unforeseen event.

 

 

How to Cope as a Freelancer by Ageing your Money

April 29, 2019 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , , 12 Comments

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I left traditional employment after having my twins, and I have been freelancing ever since. The decision of not going back to my old job after pregnancy was kind of made for me. Going back to my old job was not going to be worthwhile so I created jobs I could do from anywhere for myself. Being a freelancer/self-employed is not easy but it is worth it. I always weigh all options in life, and the pros of working for myself from home massively outweighs the cons, which is why I am still doing what I know how to do best.

 

How Many New Year’s Resolutions Have You Ticked Off 6 Months In Image

 

 

How to cope as a freelancer by ageing your money

Coping financially as a freelancer has been a learning curve. I have had to learn how to ask for the right amount of money for what the job I do. I have also had to learn how to manage my money so it covers all my living expenses and a bit more. Having some kind of savings is important for every one of us, regardless of the work we do. But it is really important when you are working for yourself, as you really have no guaranteed income. The only income that is guaranteed is what you currently have in your bank account. It is very possible to not make £1 for a whole week, only to make as much as £1000 the next week. Which is why you have to learn how to age your money.

 

Ageing your money

Ageing your money is something I have always known about and I have put into practice for as long as I have been earning money. However, I became more aware of this after reading the Wall Street Journal Bestseller – You Need a Budget by Jesse Mecham, earlier in January. The book really resonated with me. It was so good, I couldn’t stop reading it. I finished reading the entire book on my Amazon Kindle within 3 days.

I picked up a lot of tips from this book and I recommend it to all business owners, freelancers, self-employed, and even those doing traditional jobs. The book opened my eyes to ways of really making my money work longer for me, and I picked up many vital tips that I have now implemented in my life.

The whole idea behind ageing your money is you not spending your income as soon as it hits your bank account. It can feel like a delaying tactic but it really works. All you need to do is to try it for a month and see the difference in your bank balance and your mental health. Ageing your money stops you from living pay check to pay check. It helps you get out of debt and stay out of debt.

 

You Need a Budget: The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle, Getting Out of Debt, and Living the Life You Want image

 

Having a budget helps age your money

Having a budget helps you stay on top of your income and expenses. Your outgoings are all planned and you are in control of your finances. Being a freelancer means you never really know how much you would make from month to month, so having a realistic budget is important because it gives you that peace of mind.

My income varies from month to month. I have been freelancing for a few years, so I know on average the minimum I would make, so I plan my bills with that in mind. Also, I make sure I keep any extras I get for months when I am short. I age my money by spreading my bills so they all don’t go out in the same week. That way I am never short of cash, and I can keep aside payment for each bill weekly.

 

Ageing my money is how I am smashing my freelancing/self-employed world. It works great for me.

Are you working for yourself from home? How do you stay on top of your finances?

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