Hi Reader, I've recently sat in on a few conversations about how AI has changed the way people work, including taking away jobs. And as a writer who knows people who have lost writing jobs to AI, I can't help but wonder if I'll be next. So far, I'm pretty fortunate to have a full schedule (where I have clients asking if I can take on even more work, which is when I shed a tear and open my calendar to see if I can squeeze their project in). But will all this go away? Not yet, I think. There...
25 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Have you heard of the idea that you should be a "T-shaped" worker? In other words, you have a range of skills and expertise (which is the horizontal part of the letter "T"), while going deep into one specific area (which is the vertical part of the "T"). It's quite a well-known concept. But how's this for an alternative: be a comb instead. Be good at not just one, but many things If you specialise in one thing, you might be a "T"—which has only one "tooth". But if you're good at...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hey hey hey Reader...I'm back! I spent a big chunk of August on holiday in California, because the Pokémon World Championships were happening, I'm a big Pokémon fan, and I managed to ballot for a spectator pass, so I had no choice but to go. :') It was a great time. And I learnt some things that could apply to running a business, too, which I wanted to share. Put yourself out there During the event, I attended a talk where two artists, MINAMINAMI Take and OKUBO, shared how they started...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, It’s that time of the year again…tomorrow, it'll be my third year of full-time freelancing! Three years on, the fun times continue to continue I'm still: Stressed when I'm stressed (because my schedule is full), and Stressed when I'm not stressed (because my schedule is not full). 😂 Feast or famine, as that common phrase goes. I'm currently in the "stressed when I'm stressed" season, because I have an upcoming trip and am working to wrap up projects before then. I also still...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, While most meetings are held virtually now, I'm still not a big fan of them. Why? Because of all the work that goes into attending a meeting. When I have a meeting, I set an alarm for 30 minutes before so I can prep for the meeting (e.g. updating my Zoom app, reviewing emails/notes) and ensure I join the call on time. Then, after the meeting ends, I might clean up the notes I took during it and send a recap email. I also need to shift gears and go back to what I was doing before...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Whether you're working on getting new projects or are in the thick of completing them, projects take time to "cook". (i.e. to do well, according to Gen Z slang.) Because unless you have a long line of people queuing up to work with you, you have to get your name out there to get projects. Not every person you approach will be interested in hiring you. You have to keep at it until you clinch those precious projects. But getting a project isn't the end of the story: it's the...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Konnichiwa! I'm back from my holiday in Japan and have been easing back into work. Gotta get that bread! Today, I want to show off these booklets. Because they're not any booklets, but booklets written by me for a client. And, they're published in hard copy, which is a big thing for me because most of my stuff is published online. So, behold. These booklets are on the Tripartite Standard on Contracting with Self-Employed Persons (TS-SEP), which is a set of recommended practices...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Things can be tough if you're a small entity in the market. Just like how: Freelancers, as individuals, may get pushed around by clients that are bigger organisations with more bargaining power Small businesses are forced to close shop after landlords raise their rents sky high It's not a great position to be in. So, the next question is: What can we do about it? While it seems the answer is "nothing much", there are still some things we can do. So, rather than just throwing up my...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Last month, I was a guest speaker for the Arts Acceleration Programme, jointly organised by the National Arts Council Singapore and United Overseas Bank FinLab. The session I was in was called "The Art of Business as an SEP", and it covered strategies for turning what you love to do into a profitable business. While I wasn't the main speaker (startup instructor Patrick Ng was him!), I shared my freelancing journey and facilitated a breakout session for identifying your target...
6 months ago • 2 min read