Author Archives: Elaine Pofeldt

Freelancing: Life on the Fringe

I’m lucky enough to have an amazing group of friends whom I’ve known since kindergarten or thereabouts. We grew up in a small town on Long Island. On a rare “girls night out” last week, I met them for dinner … Continue reading

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Bummer: Getting a Dental Insurance Quote

I try not to react emotionally when I get quotes for any type of health-related insurance for my family–but it is hard not to. With four small children, my husband and I decided recently that it would be a good … Continue reading

The Lifestyle, Your Back Office , , , , , , , ,

Declutter Your Way Better Productivity

In my town in New Jersey, there’s an annual garbage pickup that people call  junk day. For a small fee, residents can put out their bulky trash. We missed the permit deadline in 2011–and regretted having to go another year … Continue reading

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3 Tips for Smarter Quotes

We’ve all made rookie mistakes in quoting our rates to a client who asked for an estimate–and kicked ourselves later as we toiled through a project where the pay just didn’t cut it. Fortunately, there’s a lot of good advice … Continue reading

Growing Your Business , , , , , , , , ,

HBR Looks at Freelancing Stars

It’s not surprising that the Harvard Business Review article The Rise of the Supertemp has been sparking passionate discussion since it was published in the May issue. It’s a very inspiring look at the prospects of high-caliber freelancers. That means … Continue reading

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Get More Client Referrals

During my first few months of freelancing, I spent a lot of time pitching new business. Each day, I’d get up and invest three hours a day in reconnecting with contacts in my field, polishing my LinkedIn profile, establishing a profile … Continue reading

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Key Health Insurance Questions Remain Unanswered For Self-Employed

Over the next few days, we’ll hear from  many healthcare experts about what the Supreme Court’s decision about Obamacare means. I’m wondering how it will affect self-employed people. Presumably if citizens are required to buy healthcare or face a penalty, … Continue reading

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Is It Time to Overhaul Your Schedule?

If you’ve been looking forward to summer to take more long bike rides, hit the beach, catch lightening bugs with your children or otherwise enjoy the summer weather, you probably face the conundrum we all do: How do you balance … Continue reading

Growing Your Business, Reviews, The Lifestyle

Top Freelancing Hotspots: Where Do You Like To Work?

In the middle of a very big deadline project, my Internet went out today. And it stayed out for hours. In nearly five years of freelancing, I’ve learned one thing: Don’t wait it out when this happens. The more urgent … Continue reading

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The Secret to Freelance Happiness … Lies at Machu Picchu

Life as an indie professional sometimes reminds me of a ride I took back from Machu Picchu on a tourist bus. Shrouded in fog that made everything seem mystical, the ancient Inca site connected us to a reality far from our … Continue reading

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