I like the freelance life, but man, do I miss having someone tell me what to do. I love structure.
I am an enthusiastic follower of rules.
Not long ago, I told a shady ex-client that I was a rule follower—after he’d asked me to use someone else’s photography without paying—to which he sneered, “well I’m not!” This was the same meeting he also mentioned his love of oxycontin. Don’t keep clients that make your stomach hurt, okay? Moving on.
Although I’m confident in my ability to get client work done, I struggle sometimes when it comes to my own writing. I have goals, but without anyone checking on me, I’ve been letting them slide. There are accountability groups all over social media, but they didn’t work for me.
I needed someone real. Someone who knew me.
My longtime pal Megan is working on launching her side business as a copywriter. She’s talented, wise, and able to strike the delicate balance between kind and firm I’ve so been longing for.
We’ve always chatted about the work we’re doing, but recently, we decided to start meeting on a regular basis to exchange guidance. A think-tank of two. It didn’t take long before I realized: she’d make for a great accountability partner. Someone to help me keep my commitments and maintain progress toward my goals.
So, like the start of all good partnerships, I cried and I begged until she said yes.
I’d offer some “best practices” (professional Tina alert!) for accountability partners, but Megan and I are just getting started. For now, I’ll say, I really like our burgeoning system: we give ourselves an assignment with a deadline, email them to each other on the due date and give each other feedback. We meet once a month, where we can talk more in-depth about challenges, goals and…*googles “business terms”* scalable ROI? That can’t be right.
I already feel so much better, knowing I have someone like Megan who’s going to hold me to my word. Plus, she hasn’t brought up oxycontin. Not even once! Bonus.