??#@&@ Freelancing Makarand Pandit mp@vsnl.com
Session 2 :-) • 35 minutes - Presentation • 10 minutes - Question Answers
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
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
Today • Strength 7 + 3 • Offices 2 • Business this year 2000k • Telephone lines 3 + 2 • Connectivity ISDN • Computers 7 • Goal - still the same!
Opportunities • Technical Writers • Graphic Designers • Animators • Content Developers • Translators • Courseware Developers • Programmers • Instruction Designers • Trainers • Marketing agents
Assignment Life Cycle TOC & Quote Inquiry Study Negotiations & Approval Rs / $ Payments Drafts & Corrections Delivery
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
Finance Issues • Standardize your monthly earnings and keep them aside • Get a credit card, now! • Ask your banker for a cashcredit account • Ask your banker for a loan, straight or against investments / deposits • Ask for at least double the salary • Save for gaps and downtime
HR Issues • Don’t compare your earnings to others doing job • Study your output Vs Efficiency curves • Short term disability insurance • Public Provident Fund • Long term & accidental insurance • Mediclaim Policy for you and your family • Train yourself on new tools and techniques • Train yourself on marketing and business skills • Plan at least 15 days leave every year • Plan at least 30 days training every year
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?
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”
Limits to growth! • Limits personal growth • Builds monotony • Increases Frustration • No peers - No envy - No growth
Estimates - The Technowrites Way! • 365 days - 52 weeks - 104 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
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
Comparison • In-house Writers • Consultant Writers • Writing Agencies
Time to Setup • In-house Writers: More • Consultant Writers: Less or none • Writing Agencies: More
Time to Establish • In-house Writers: Less • Consultant Writers: More • Writing Agencies: More
Time to Wind-up • In-house Writers: More • Consultant Writers: Less or none • Writing Agencies: Most
Driving Force • In-house Writers: Need • Consultant Writers: Opportunity • Writing Agencies: Market
Client’s Resources • In-house Writers: Uses • Consultant Writers: Uses or pools in • Writing Agencies: Pool in
Investments • In-house Writers: High • Consultant Writers: Low • Writing Agencies: High
Team Formation • In-house Writers: Must • Consultant Writers: Difficult • Writing Agencies: Must
Personal Development • In-house Writers: High • Consultant Writers: Low • Writing Agencies: High
Entrepreneurial Development • In-house Writers: Low • Consultant Writers: Very High • Writing Agencies: High
Stability • In-house Writers: High • Consultant Writers: Extremely Low • Writing Agencies: High
Business Generation • In-house Writers: Not applicable • Consultant Writers: INR 8k to 1000k • Writing Agencies: INR 1000k upwards
Comparison • Indian Freelance Writers • Writers in Developed Countries
Formal Education in TW • Indian Freelance Writers: None • Writers in Developed Countries: Yes
Opportunities • Indian Freelance Writers: Yes • Writers in Developed Countries: Yes
Market • Indian Freelance Writers: Developing • Writers in Developed Countries: Matured
Competition • Indian Freelance Writers: Low • Writers in Developed Countries: High
Quality in TW • Indian Freelance Writers: High • Writers in Developed Countries: High
Language Advantage • Indian Freelance Writers: Yes • Writers in Developed Countries: Depends
Business Generation • Indian Freelance Writers: INR 1-1000k • Writers in Developed Countries: US$ 50k Plus • (Book writers earn millions!)
Trans-Opportunities • Indian Freelance Writers: Yes, but limited by visas and work permits • Writers in Developed Countries: Yes, but limited by economical growth
To Summarize... • About Technowrites • Opportunities • Assignment Life Cycle • Rules & Issues • Traps • What’s wrong in being your own boss? • Limits to growth • Estimates • Comparisons
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!
