Comments on: Masters of Earning More: Why Designer Ben Bleikamp Still Freelances on the Side (with a Great Full Time Job) http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/ Personal finance blog for college students, recent graduates and everyone else -- including entrepreneurship -- for getting rich. Featured in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:46:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Martin http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/#comment-127907 Martin Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:37:37 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/?p=5965#comment-127907 1) make it on the name of your wife 2) not married-make it on the name of your mother or father 3) find a friend or partner 4) find some more excuses not to do it ;-) 1) make it on the name of your wife
2) not married-make it on the name of your mother or father
3) find a friend or partner

4) find some more excuses not to do it ;-)

]]> By: Jpcobalt http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/#comment-127705 Jpcobalt Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:33:20 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/?p=5965#comment-127705 This sounds very interesting. I wish I hadthe money to invest in the course he describes on the link down at the bottom. This sounds very interesting. I wish I hadthe money to invest in the course he describes on the link down at the bottom.

]]> By: Curious Cat Investing and Economics Carnival #9 at Curious Cat Investing and Economics Blog http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/#comment-127697 Curious Cat Investing and Economics Carnival #9 at Curious Cat Investing and Economics Blog Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:31:50 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/?p=5965#comment-127697 [...] Masters of Earning More – “Ben actually loves his full-time job, but still freelances on the side. Earning more isn’t just for people who hate their job or are in severe credit-card debt. He freelances because he enjoys it.” [...] [...] Masters of Earning More – “Ben actually loves his full-time job, but still freelances on the side. Earning more isn’t just for people who hate their job or are in severe credit-card debt. He freelances because he enjoys it.” [...]

]]> By: Chris (from L.C) http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/#comment-127491 Chris (from L.C) Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:53:35 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/?p=5965#comment-127491 I am pretty much this guy. I work full time for a great company, handling SEO and some PPC for mostly industrial clients. I make pretty good money doing it; easily enough to get by. However, I and another former co-worker and I freelance have been doing web design for a pretty specific niche, and to be honest, we kill it pretty hard. The last site we did (it's actually still in content population, but basically done), we each put in about 8-10 hours of work on it. My partner and I manage the process, and leave the heavy lifting to others. Our equal takes on it were about $1800 each. If we have fast and clear communication with the client, we can turn over a medium-sized site in about 2-3 weeks. I've found that getting feedback from people is the biggest timesink, and subsequently, this one particular site stretched out to around 4 weeks. That being said, one thing I've discovered about making side work go easy is having clearly defined boundries. Whether it's re-writing your contracts to catch that time-sinking "one little extra thing" that always seems to pop up with clients, or coming up with a very defined process for how a certain thing is dealt with. It's a constant refinement, but it's always worth it. What I'm getting around to is this: if you actually want to make more money, you will find a way to do it. You'll stay up an extra hour, or make a call on your lunch break, or whatever. You'll get it done. If you're doing it half-heartedly, it'll be easy to flip over to Hulu and watch back episodes of The Office, and subsequently lose your entire evening. @Erica Douglass: I know exactly what you're talking about. To play devil's advocate, one thing that some folks fail to realize is that they aren't that freelancer's only client, and that they do NOT get to take up every non 8-5 hour of that freelancer. I've quickly cut ties with overly needy clients that chose not to understand this. If you want someone to be available full time, hire a full-time employee. Otherwise, I'll get done what I said I would when I would. It only takes one bad client to ruin your work/life balance. Unfortunately, many freelancers don't know how to deal with that sort of thing properly, and end up disappearing, or driving themselves crazy just trying to appease every ridiculous request. (I'm not saying you're this type of client, Erica. Just working off of what you said!) I am pretty much this guy.

I work full time for a great company, handling SEO and some PPC for mostly industrial clients. I make pretty good money doing it; easily enough to get by. However, I and another former co-worker and I freelance have been doing web design for a pretty specific niche, and to be honest, we kill it pretty hard.

The last site we did (it’s actually still in content population, but basically done), we each put in about 8-10 hours of work on it. My partner and I manage the process, and leave the heavy lifting to others. Our equal takes on it were about $1800 each. If we have fast and clear communication with the client, we can turn over a medium-sized site in about 2-3 weeks. I’ve found that getting feedback from people is the biggest timesink, and subsequently, this one particular site stretched out to around 4 weeks.

That being said, one thing I’ve discovered about making side work go easy is having clearly defined boundries. Whether it’s re-writing your contracts to catch that time-sinking “one little extra thing” that always seems to pop up with clients, or coming up with a very defined process for how a certain thing is dealt with. It’s a constant refinement, but it’s always worth it.

What I’m getting around to is this: if you actually want to make more money, you will find a way to do it. You’ll stay up an extra hour, or make a call on your lunch break, or whatever. You’ll get it done. If you’re doing it half-heartedly, it’ll be easy to flip over to Hulu and watch back episodes of The Office, and subsequently lose your entire evening.

@Erica Douglass:
I know exactly what you’re talking about.

To play devil’s advocate, one thing that some folks fail to realize is that they aren’t that freelancer’s only client, and that they do NOT get to take up every non 8-5 hour of that freelancer. I’ve quickly cut ties with overly needy clients that chose not to understand this. If you want someone to be available full time, hire a full-time employee. Otherwise, I’ll get done what I said I would when I would.

It only takes one bad client to ruin your work/life balance. Unfortunately, many freelancers don’t know how to deal with that sort of thing properly, and end up disappearing, or driving themselves crazy just trying to appease every ridiculous request.

(I’m not saying you’re this type of client, Erica. Just working off of what you said!)

]]> By: Cathy http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/#comment-127485 Cathy Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:19:42 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/?p=5965#comment-127485 PS, your contract may say you can't do other work, but the clause is most likely illegal - that is, unenforceable. At least, that's the case in Australia. (Ramit, perhaps you could look into this as I'm sure it applies to a lot of your readers?) PS, your contract may say you can’t do other work, but the clause is most likely illegal – that is, unenforceable. At least, that’s the case in Australia. (Ramit, perhaps you could look into this as I’m sure it applies to a lot of your readers?)

]]> By: How To Do What You Love And Get Paid – $1,000 or More a Month http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/#comment-127466 How To Do What You Love And Get Paid – $1,000 or More a Month Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:02:05 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/?p=5965#comment-127466 [...] day job (he actually loves it) but simply because he wants to. How does HE manage the workload? We interviewed him to get the inside scoop here.“Wait, first I have to set up my company Facebook and Twitter accounts!” PLEASE READ [...] [...] day job (he actually loves it) but simply because he wants to. How does HE manage the workload? We interviewed him to get the inside scoop here.“Wait, first I have to set up my company Facebook and Twitter accounts!” PLEASE READ [...]

]]> By: Stanley Lee http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/#comment-127441 Stanley Lee Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:24:07 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/?p=5965#comment-127441 Fairly fortunate situation for Ben to be working in a full-time job that he loves while working on freelance projects for existing clients. I know many people who are just grinding through their "9-5". However, I think specific boundaries need to be set as a freelancer as far as how much I am willing to sacrifice. For example, staying up an hour later each night may turn into staying up 2 to 3 hours later each night if the discipline is not there to limit the tradeoffs on job performance and health. That's just my 2 cents. Fairly fortunate situation for Ben to be working in a full-time job that he loves while working on freelance projects for existing clients. I know many people who are just grinding through their “9-5″. However, I think specific boundaries need to be set as a freelancer as far as how much I am willing to sacrifice. For example, staying up an hour later each night may turn into staying up 2 to 3 hours later each night if the discipline is not there to limit the tradeoffs on job performance and health. That’s just my 2 cents.

]]> By: Moneymonk http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/#comment-127421 Moneymonk Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:59:25 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/?p=5965#comment-127421 Same here I have a day job that is so flexible it enables me to freelance on the side. I can have my cake and eat it too. The stability of a day job + benefits and freelance income (more money to save and enjoy an above average lifestyle) Same here I have a day job that is so flexible it enables me to freelance on the side. I can have my cake and eat it too. The stability of a day job + benefits and freelance income (more money to save and enjoy an above average lifestyle)

]]> By: Tim Rosanelli http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/#comment-127386 Tim Rosanelli Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:05:55 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/?p=5965#comment-127386 I forgot to mention that the answer service was particular helpful when I was working full-time and teaching karate at night. I gave my school the look and feel of a full-time facility and was very affordable. I forgot to mention that the answer service was particular helpful when I was working full-time and teaching karate at night. I gave my school the look and feel of a full-time facility and was very affordable.

]]> By: Tim Rosanelli http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/masters-of-earning-more-why-designer-ben-bleikamp-still-freelances-on-the-side-with-a-great-full-time-job/#comment-127385 Tim Rosanelli Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:58:43 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/?p=5965#comment-127385 Good point Erica! Any freelancer that starts making money should consider getting ancillary services to help them manage their time and still provide high service levels to clients. Some that I've used, Answering Service for booking appointments, Aweber for automatically collecting leads, a full automated billing system that downloads everything to Quickbooks, and a marketing system that sends automatic e-mails to new prospects. I used these services to free my time up to work on curriculum and upgrade system development within my karate school. Good point Erica! Any freelancer that starts making money should consider getting ancillary services to help them manage their time and still provide high service levels to clients.

Some that I’ve used, Answering Service for booking appointments, Aweber for automatically collecting leads, a full automated billing system that downloads everything to Quickbooks, and a marketing system that sends automatic e-mails to new prospects. I used these services to free my time up to work on curriculum and upgrade system development within my karate school.

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