“The Principles of Successful Freelancing” by Miles Burke

I’m ADHD.

And that’s exactly why I love side-projects. My lifestyle revolves around launching and managing my own inventions, contributing to others’ ventures and/or doing some freelance work (whether for profit or not for profit).

If there’s one area in my life I need to pick up, it’s best practices in freelancing. I usually tailor my methods and approach to the client’s need. While, yes, I recognize this as a good thing, it’s always wise to have your own process in place. This exudes professionalism and experience.

This recognition led to my search for a good book on freelancing. That’s where I found “The Principles of Successful Freelancing,” by Miles Burke.

What I really like about Miles’ book is how authentic and specific it is. Miles’ book is real. It’s not some get rich quick book: “How To Make $150k Salary Freelancing.” Rather, Miles takes a refreshingly pragmatic approach. He dives into the most critical principles of freelancing in a logical fashion.

Who Should Read This Book:

This book is intended as a guide to approaching the decision to be your own boss, effecting a smooth transition into a freelance career, and making it a success once you’re there. The book’s holistic approach ensures that it not only covers how to make your freelancing journey a financial success, but also how to do it without risking your health and sanity.

If you’re considering freelancing, and are currently employed or have recently graduated, but are worried about diving head-first into the unknown, this book is for you. And if you’ve recently made the leap into freelancing but are struggling, this book will show you the way.

Miles knows this to be true. He certainly seems to have lived it. And, he’ll show you the way by guiding you over obstacles that he faced when becoming a freelancer.

Like many “how to” books, there are icons that point out important areas of the book:

• “Hey you!” Tips that will give you nice little pointers
• “Ahem excuse me” These are notes that aren’t critical, but valuable
• “Make sure you always…” These are critical points
• “Watch out!” These are highly probably dangers that you must prepare for

One thing that I enjoyed learning about was where the term “freelancer” originated from.

The term freelancer was first seen in Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe in the late 1700s, from the words “free” and “lance.” Scott used it to refer to a medieval mercenary-a sort of roving soldier in the middle ages, who didn’t particularly care for morals, ethics, or even whom he fought.

How do you know if you have what it takes to be a freelancer? Miles dives into four skill areas of successful freelancing skills: Technical, Business, Organizational, Interpersonal

Detail is another great thing about Miles’ book. He jumps into how your office should look, characteristics and what your “partner” thinks of freelancing.

I’m also really glad Miles brings to surface the value of freelancing as a part-time job. It’s a wise move to consider part-time freelancing before you become fully committed (and less diversified).

A hilarious snippet comes from Miles’ words to choose your domain name wisely. Check out these domains closely:

• Experts Exchange: expertsexchange.com
• Therapist Finder: therapistfinder.com
• Powergen Italia: powergenitalia.com

In the end, though, he suggests going with your gut on what domain name you select for you business.

Another valuable section focuses on determining your costs. It outlines various costs that even I, myself, have overlooked. But, by far, the most asked question when beginning freelance work is, “How much should I charge/hour?”

Miles outlines a nice formula that is quite useful. I’d be doing the explanation a disservice if I tried summarizing it here. To really gain value from his explanation, you’ll have to pick up his book.

Bottom Line:

This is the best book on freelancing. Period.

I’ve perused through most freelancing books (at Borders), and they can’t compare in terms of detail. It tackles everything that you can think of in the freelance world: finances, selling, service, work-life balance, etc. And not only that, it dives deep into each sector with practical, real-life examples.

I highly suggest this book for anyone interested in dabbling in the freelance world. Whether you’re doing some side-project freelance work, or you’re a full-time freelancer, this book is a must. It’s pretty much the freelancer’s bible.

Where to purchase

The book’s blog

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