Comments for BizCoachDeb's BizBuzz -

Comment on Why Buy the Cow? by Deb Kolaras

Deb Kolaras — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:41:40 +0000

Hey Amy, I think you’re right — we are all freelancers in one way or another. I suppose we’re the only ones that can save us from ourselves and it’s good to vet people before sitting down and spilling our guts I’m interested in how you shut people down, once you figure out the true intentions?

Comment on Why Buy the Cow? by Deb Kolaras

Deb Kolaras — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:39:00 +0000

When you wrote “borrowed”, I knew exactly what you meant. It’s a sad thing that people are not original enough to develop their own content and then stoop to thievery. I had someone local actually ask me to “fluff” content they sent me so they could add it to their website. Skeptical of what I received (it looked quite finished to me, not draft-like at all), I dumped part of it into a search, and VOILA — the content belonged to their competitor. How sleazy. That said, I give away ideas in my blog, but it’s far from what an actual consulting session consists of. My thinking is potential clients and other professionals need to have some kind of idea as to my skills and capabilities, so this is a place for them to sort of “test drive” me. Part of my work here is to establish some trust and dialogue get people thinking about things a bit. Once in awhile, I get lucky and have some great conversations like this one

Comment on Why Buy the Cow? by Amy Cesario

Amy Cesario — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:42:08 +0000

Hi Deb –

This happens everyday in Real Estate. To Brokers, Agents, Lenders, Stagers, Interior Designers, I guess we are all freelancers in some way. I like to give and share thoughts I am good about telling people no for coffee if I know it is one sided but I really love this: “is this coffee chat for collaboration’s sake or a meeting for competitive reconnaissance? I’m fully on board with meetings where we come together and bring something of value to the table, and can collaborate in a more dynamic way than we could solo.”

Comment on Good Vibrations: Two Cause-Marketing Tools by Sue Macaw

Sue Macaw — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:46:02 +0000

Very happy to find this post. I’m new to the idea of using a web application for getting donations, so you’ve given me something to think about and take back to my board.

Comment on Copywriters Can Be Your Best Social Media Value by Joseph Farris

Joseph Farris — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:07:11 +0000

We’ve been deliberating for some time over who to use for our social media posts. Everyone is maxed out and it’s hard to designate a person from our small staff. This actually gives me the idea that maybe we can get a local freelancing copywriter to do it. Are there some questions you might suggest I ask in choosing one? thanks.

Comment on Money Talks and Foursquare’s Getting Louder by Paul Nelson

Paul Nelson — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 06:55:42 +0000

We’re just getting the swing of using Twitter for our business and the response has been pretty positive. Thanks for this post, because it gives me another way to use it that I hadn’t heard of. I’m wondering if my competitors or even other businesses in my area are using this yet. Do you know of a simple way for me to find out?

Comment on Why Buy the Cow? by Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:36:15 +0000

Deb – There’s another thought I’ve been bouncing around. It involves blogging and intellectual capital. I’ve actually been blogging less — not blogging on a some topics or business practices. Reason? It’s like giving away 25 years of experience for free. And I’ve seen my blog material “borrowed.” That said, I know there are two sides to this. I know that my blogs do help people connect with me or my thinking. To come full circle, it helps to have trusted relationships to bounce around thoughts just like this.

Comment on Why Buy the Cow? by Deb Kolaras

Deb Kolaras — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:46:17 +0000

Thanks Jeff and you raise what I think is the initial thought that should come to mind: is this coffee chat for collaboration’s sake or a meeting for competitive reconnaissance? I’m fully on board with meetings where we come together and bring something of value to the table, and can collaborate in a more dynamic way than we could solo. Those meetings usually reveal themselves early on, though, IME. The tone is different, the request is more like, “I want to meet and talk to you about a project you might be interested in working with me on.” Those are great moments. In either scenario, we have to be more guarded — not only for what we say, but for what we spend in time and energy. Those lopsided relationships are exhausting!

I love how you finish this up, too, and your reminder that relationships of all kinds are necessary, because indeed they are. My money is on the trust-based ones

Comment on Why Buy the Cow? by Deb Kolaras

Deb Kolaras — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:37:04 +0000

Angela, ugh, that’s one of those worst case scenarios, and I’m sorry you’ve experienced it. There’s this awful sense of betrayal, coupled with a bit of sadness and anger. Why would a person do something like this and why did they think so little of you? Sadly, I’ve empowered my share of competitors this way and really, it’s no different than a fellow employee running around taking credit for your work or ideas. People like this are eventually exposed, sometimes simply because their slight knowledge doesn’t compare to your deep knowledge.

Stand your ground and if you get tempted, call me and I’ll talk you out of it

Comment on Why Buy the Cow? by Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:59:42 +0000

Deb – Other thoughts:

1) Explore if you can team or share work, especially if you have complementary skills that could add more value to your respective clients…or help add more clients. The “stronger together” model.

2) Treat “rate” information the same as intellectual capital; it’s market research.

Finally, if it’s an exploration, sometimes you do take a chance. A PR firm in Chicago recently asked me for a proposal, which I developed and delivered. The “principal” chose not to buy the proposed services…but did take the ideas and use them. (They’re working, too).

Lesson learned: Do explore relationships. Do build trust. So, do coffee as a way to start a relationship, where you can add an ally. Freelancers need business supporters, networks, coaches…and friends, too. And, in my opinion, social media tools make introductions and networking easier – like sharing a virtual cup of coffee.