I think you absolutley belonged in that class if this is what you took away from it. That insight and discipline as a freelancer (especially a new one) is really difficult to achieve especially when you are working toward name recognition in your field. If you have skills outside your initial branding of yourself you can offer them to clients who already trust you for IT support. It’s also nice to hear that you were in class with people who offered personal advise and not just criticism. Also nice that you’re open to it. Learning the hard way is not fun – and sometimes expensive.

Thanks for writing. It’s tempting — especially for “green” freelancers like me — to say “yes” to any job, just to secure the income. While all that work may look good on your spreadsheet, the same can’t be said for your portfolio.

The class was called “Smart Start” and it’s offered by the Lower Cape Community Development Corporation. Talk to Lisa over there. I recommend it.

http://www.lowercape.org/pages/programs_and_services/small_business_programs/

I call that becoming ‘that guy”.

Dave Caolo should be “that IT Guy” for small business.

BTW – where was that business class? Sounds useful.

Thanks so much! I’m glad you got something out of it.

As for Dunkin’, some are stand-alone, some are inside gas stations (Mobil mostly) and some are in the Stop & Shop super market. We don’t have Baskin Robins or Togo here on The Cape, so we don’t see that grouping.

And, I have to admit, I went out and bought a donut after writing this.

Now, I haven’t had Dunkin Donut’s pizza, but I did have one of their bagel sandwiches once — it was quite good — but again, it wasn’t what I expected from DD (I think that it was the only thing nearby or something).

Are Dunkin’s still standalone in Massachusetts? In Atlanta, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins and Togo are all usually in one location — all owned by the same franchiser. It’s bizarre getting Rainbow Sherbet and a whole wheat donut at the same time, but oddly satisfying. That doesn’t really fit with your analogy, your entry just made me think of Donuts. Mmmm. donuts…

Exactly. I imagine you’re better off because of that decision, right?

Thanks so much. Your answer to that question, “What do you do?”, is crucial (as I learned). If you can develop a 30 second version of your pitch, even better.

I work at a sign shop; when I started the boss had just bought the business the year before and hadn’t done signs before. Over the last 12 years, we’ve learned stick to what you’re good at and don’t do the stuff you aren’t (or doesn’t make money for you.)

When people ask me what I do now, I simply tell them I’m a web developer. More and more folks know exactly what that means. To the ones who ask “what’s that then?” I simply say, “Oh — it’s like property development, but for spiders.”

“Oh right”, they say.