Wouldn't it be nice...

A fellow freelancer writes: "The business side of freelancing isn't as appealing to me as the creative side. How can I get into a business mindset?" Here's my take:

While it's appealing to think, "Gee, wouldn't it be nice if all I had to do is the creative stuff," getting better at the business end of things provides access to more interesting and, ultimately, more lucrative freelance projects. That's your incentive! It's sort of the same principle as forcing a smile making you happier, or standing up straighter making you feel more powerful. Your creative talents are helping someone else succeed in their business, and that's a reason to hold your head high.

One of the specific steps I always recommend is taking a seminar in sales techniques or negotiating, particularly if you've never had a corporate job that taught/demanded those skills. You'll find it helps your confidence, and discover that it's not rocket science. It doesn't have to be specific to your creative field, and it's probably better that it's not--you're looking for a better understanding of the principles, which are universal.