If I’ve learned one thing over the years, it’s that your best new-business technique isn’t advertising, or networking, or picking up the phone.
It’s scheduling a badly needed vacation.
In 1.5 weeks, I’ll be somewhere in the vicinity of this boulder.
Need work? Plan a trip.
Once you’ve actually purchased the non-refundable plane ticket, clients new and old start pouring out of the woodwork. It happens every time.
The response is inversely proportional to your state of mind; the more you need the rest and relaxation, the more clients call.
I leave April 29 for a long-awaited fishing trip, and I’ll be typing pretty much non-stop until then.
Of course, one of the reasons I’m taking the trip is because I need the rest, creating a delightful (and stressful) paradox whereby the pressure builds on you at the time when you’re least able to handle it.
In truth, I’ve been remiss posting my last couple Friday Fifteen Minute Pitch Posts because I haven’t sought any new work.
No freelancer is ever unhappy to see a fully booked schedule, and I count my blessings when that’s the case, but I wanted to share this unorthodox (and cruelly effective) new business tip with my readers right away.
Keep writing (I know I will), Tom Chandler.
[tags]freelancing, copywriter, copywriting[/tags]
Looks like a great spot, Tom!
I hope you have a fantastic break. Well-deserved no doubt.
Where is that boulder? It looks really nice. I’d like to put it in my backyard. No seriously, that place looks like Washington?
David: Thanks!
Chris: Tennessee (of all places). The Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Tom-
Although I am an occasional freelancer your post rings true. Before my last vacation I also had an unexpected jump in biz.
Enjoy your vacation!
Yes, the Vacation Effect is well documented. I’m thinking of booking airline tickets monthly in an effort to boost revenues this year…
You are exactly right Tom. Every summer I move my office to our village house in the mountains to avoid the heat of Nicosia, Cyprus – 40+C! and I always get calls to meetup and discuss work ideas back in the city. It happens so often that my family are no longer surprised that I have to disappear for a day and then return moaning about the heat and how difficult it is working for yourself.
Catch a whopper!
ray