Hey Rey. I'm autistic and shy, so in-person events are usually not my jam. However, I have been trying to think of new ways to reach out to potential clients. I've tried many things. Sometimes when a strategy doesn't seem right, I listen to my intuition and change it a little bit. I've began to reap some results. I've only just begun doing things this way (letting go of the desperation), so it's too early to tell.
Hi Renata, thanks for reading and commenting! I think that's a great point that neurodivergent entrepreneurs (including myself) have different limitations and sensory needs that may make in-person events highly unpleasant or impossible. What I'm able to do in-person tends to fluctuate but I think it's important for me to take a break sometimes to lessen burnout.
I've had some success with sending emails to local small businesses or filling out the contact form on their website introducing myself, my services, and my enthusiasm for helping. Most business will not respond to such emails but once in a while someone will say I'm exactly what they're looking for.
Would you be interested in sharing what you do here or in an email to me? (hello at reykatz dot com) I'd be happy to add you to my referral list for if a client asks me to recommend another freelancer.
I really appreciate you sharing your approach, thanks!
Sure! Thank you so much. I'll email you ASAP. And it's important to keep at it, as you're doing. I think when our enthusiasm and our professionalism shine through, small business owners eventually answer, even if our offer is not exactly what they're needing right now. I've got a couple of replies from people like that recently, and that made me really happy. It feels like I'm on the right track.
This is such important wisdom, Rey. We all need opportunities to practice these skills because they are not innate. Oddly enough, I just had a conversation with a good friend who asked about a project of mine. It was easy to talk to him because we're friends and there's so little to risk there. But it still helped me realize that I was completely underselling myself, my work, my mission, and my goals. It turns out I haven't been taking myself very seriously, and that comes across to anyone else who might want to be involved. And wow, that's really not what I want happening!
Hi Robin, thanks so much for reading and commenting. I can definitely relate to underselling what one does when talking to friends. It's still a good experience, but sometimes I find myself compartmentalizing what I share with real-life friends, not because it's a secret, but because I don't want to infodump my work stuff when we could be chatting about topics of interest to both of us.
It's also hard to share some projects before they're ready. As a writer, I don't like to share my ambitions before they manifest because it makes me feel I have to live up to something. I would never think to share that I'm thinking about writing a book with most people. Or I wouldn't share if I pitched the Washington Post or something.
As guarded as I am with sharing about my writing work, I'm apparently even worse with sharing about my web, tech, and design freelance work! So I'm trying to break that habit of not sharing by going out of my way to talk to people about what I do.
I appreciate you sharing your perspective and experience! I perceive you as someone who takes his work, mission, and goals seriously, and, it feels like important work, so I look forward to seeing you selling your work more!
Hey Rey. I'm autistic and shy, so in-person events are usually not my jam. However, I have been trying to think of new ways to reach out to potential clients. I've tried many things. Sometimes when a strategy doesn't seem right, I listen to my intuition and change it a little bit. I've began to reap some results. I've only just begun doing things this way (letting go of the desperation), so it's too early to tell.
Hi Renata, thanks for reading and commenting! I think that's a great point that neurodivergent entrepreneurs (including myself) have different limitations and sensory needs that may make in-person events highly unpleasant or impossible. What I'm able to do in-person tends to fluctuate but I think it's important for me to take a break sometimes to lessen burnout.
I've had some success with sending emails to local small businesses or filling out the contact form on their website introducing myself, my services, and my enthusiasm for helping. Most business will not respond to such emails but once in a while someone will say I'm exactly what they're looking for.
Would you be interested in sharing what you do here or in an email to me? (hello at reykatz dot com) I'd be happy to add you to my referral list for if a client asks me to recommend another freelancer.
I really appreciate you sharing your approach, thanks!
Sure! Thank you so much. I'll email you ASAP. And it's important to keep at it, as you're doing. I think when our enthusiasm and our professionalism shine through, small business owners eventually answer, even if our offer is not exactly what they're needing right now. I've got a couple of replies from people like that recently, and that made me really happy. It feels like I'm on the right track.
Thanks! Great advice and perspective. I'm glad you got some good replies lately!
This is such important wisdom, Rey. We all need opportunities to practice these skills because they are not innate. Oddly enough, I just had a conversation with a good friend who asked about a project of mine. It was easy to talk to him because we're friends and there's so little to risk there. But it still helped me realize that I was completely underselling myself, my work, my mission, and my goals. It turns out I haven't been taking myself very seriously, and that comes across to anyone else who might want to be involved. And wow, that's really not what I want happening!
Hi Robin, thanks so much for reading and commenting. I can definitely relate to underselling what one does when talking to friends. It's still a good experience, but sometimes I find myself compartmentalizing what I share with real-life friends, not because it's a secret, but because I don't want to infodump my work stuff when we could be chatting about topics of interest to both of us.
It's also hard to share some projects before they're ready. As a writer, I don't like to share my ambitions before they manifest because it makes me feel I have to live up to something. I would never think to share that I'm thinking about writing a book with most people. Or I wouldn't share if I pitched the Washington Post or something.
As guarded as I am with sharing about my writing work, I'm apparently even worse with sharing about my web, tech, and design freelance work! So I'm trying to break that habit of not sharing by going out of my way to talk to people about what I do.
I appreciate you sharing your perspective and experience! I perceive you as someone who takes his work, mission, and goals seriously, and, it feels like important work, so I look forward to seeing you selling your work more!