Freelancing Makarand Pandit

4 December Session 2 :-) 35 minutes - Presentation 10 minutes - Question Answers

4 December What This Session Covers About Technowrites Opportunities Assignment Life Cycle Rules & Issues Traps What’s wrong in being your own boss? Limits to growth Estimates Comparisons

4 December The Beginning Started November 1994 Strength 1 Goal - Specialize in Technical Communication Business in first year 8k Got first telephone in 1995 Bought first computer in 1997

4 December Today Strength Offices 2 Business this year 2000k Telephone lines Connectivity ISDN Computers 7 Goal - still the same!

4 December Opportunities Technical Writers Graphic Designers Animators Content Developers Translators Courseware Developers Programmers Instruction Designers Trainers Marketing agents

4 December Assignment Life Cycle Inquiry Study TOC & Quote Negotiations & Approval Drafts & Corrections Delivery Payments Rs / $

4 December Thumb Rules Rule 1: Develop thumb rules Rule 2: Minimum 10 Pages a day Rule 3: Maximum 100 Pages a day Rule 4: One order is no good Rule 5: Judgement after 1000 days Rule 6: Be in a network Rule 7: Be on the move Rule 8: Learn from Marwaris, Sindhis, British & Americans

4 December Finance Issues l Standardize your monthly earnings and keep them aside l Get a credit card, now! l Ask your banker for a cashcredit account l Ask your banker for a loan, straight or against investments / deposits l Ask for at least double the salary l Save for gaps and downtime

4 December HR Issues l Don’t compare your earnings to others doing job l Study your output Vs Efficiency curves l Short term disability insurance l Public Provident Fund l Long term & accidental insurance l Mediclaim Policy for you and your family l Train yourself on new tools and techniques l Train yourself on marketing and business skills l Plan at least 15 days leave every year l Plan at least 30 days training every year

4 December Traps Late Payments Home Office Time Flexibility Shelf Space Administrative Work (non- productive work?) Risks & Personal Protection Decrease in efficiency with load Ahead of time?

4 December What’s wrong in being your own boss? No excuses You can take a leave when you want! You have to work when you don’t want! Growth is limited by your vision & luck You can not argue “The boss is not going to agree”

4 December Limits to growth! Limits personal growth Builds monotony Increases Frustration No peers - No envy - No growth

4 December Estimates - The Technowrites Way! 365 days - 52 weeks Non-working days- 20 National & Other Holidays 45 Days - Leaves & Training 196 Days to earn Rate * No. of Days + Overheads + Expenses = A = Base B = Multiplication Factor A * B = C = Quote

4 December Estimates - The Pvt. Ltd. Way! Identify Resources Rates for every resource Summation of (Resources x Rates) = A = Base B = Multiplication Factor A * B = C = Quote For Opportunity Assignments quote ad hoc

4 December Comparison In-house Writers Consultant Writers Writing Agencies

4 December Time to Setup In-house Writers: More Consultant Writers: Less or none Writing Agencies: More

4 December Time to Establish In-house Writers: Less Consultant Writers: More Writing Agencies: More

4 December Time to Wind-up In-house Writers: More Consultant Writers: Less or none Writing Agencies: Most

4 December Driving Force In-house Writers: Need Consultant Writers: Opportunity Writing Agencies: Market

4 December Client’s Resources In-house Writers: Uses Consultant Writers: Uses or pools in Writing Agencies: Pool in

4 December Investments In-house Writers: High Consultant Writers: Low Writing Agencies: High

4 December Team Formation In-house Writers: Must Consultant Writers: Difficult Writing Agencies: Must

4 December Personal Development In-house Writers: High Consultant Writers: Low Writing Agencies: High

4 December Entrepreneurial Development In-house Writers: Low Consultant Writers: Very High Writing Agencies: High

4 December Stability In-house Writers: High Consultant Writers: Extremely Low Writing Agencies: High

4 December Business Generation In-house Writers: Not applicable Consultant Writers: INR 8k to 1000k Writing Agencies: INR 1000k upwards

4 December Comparison Indian Freelance Writers Writers in Developed Countries

4 December Formal Education in TW Indian Freelance Writers: None Writers in Developed Countries: Yes

4 December Opportunities Indian Freelance Writers: Yes Writers in Developed Countries: Yes

4 December Market Indian Freelance Writers: Developing Writers in Developed Countries: Matured

4 December Competition Indian Freelance Writers: Low Writers in Developed Countries: High

4 December Quality in TW Indian Freelance Writers: High Writers in Developed Countries: High

4 December Language Advantage Indian Freelance Writers: Yes Writers in Developed Countries: Depends

4 December Business Generation Indian Freelance Writers: INR k Writers in Developed Countries: US$ 50k Plus (Book writers earn millions!)

4 December Trans-Opportunities Indian Freelance Writers: Yes, but limited by visas and work permits Writers in Developed Countries: Yes, but limited by economical growth

4 December To Summarize... About Technowrites Opportunities Assignment Life Cycle Rules & Issues Traps What’s wrong in being your own boss? Limits to growth Estimates Comparisons

4 December The Prayer I asked for Strength, God gave me Difficulties to make me strong I asked for Wisdom, God gave me Problems to solve I asked for Prosperity, God gave me Brain and Brawn to work I asked for Courage, God gave me Dangers to overcome I asked for Love, God gave me Troubled People to help I asked for Favors, God gave me opportunities I received nothing I wanted… …but everything I needed My Prayers have been answered!