When I first started freelancing, another writer said to me: “Busyness begets busyness.”
She was right 18 years ago and she’s still right today.
Here’s how I know …
In July 2006, I spent the first two weeks of my freelance writing career (and what would become a full-fledged content writing business), waiting for the phone to ring. Why wait? Because one potential client, a former employer of mine, said they’d call.
They didn’t.
They were under no obligation to follow up. That was on me. Later, I did quite a bit of work for them. The point is, I was passive and that go me nowhere.
Back to the story …
After feeling dejected by the torture of their silence, I remembered the advice about busyness. So, I picked my forlorn self off the floor, started volunteering, marketing, and working my business.
It was the best advice ever.
To be honest, for the first time in 18 years, I had a bit of a slump earlier this year (thanks, AI?). But this time I didn’t wait.
I got busy.
Doing what? Plenty: volunteering in animal rescue, mentoring other freelancers, doing the work that was in front of me, exploring ways to better serve my clients, and marketing my content writing business.
It helped. A lot.
So, if you’re in a slump (freelance, laid off, or something else), I’d like to reframe that sage advice my way:
“Busyness begets business. Now get busy doing business.”