Who wrote the book on freelancing?

If you're thinking about getting ready to take the leap into a freelancing career for yourself, you may be wondering...who wrote the book on freelancing? Is there a definitive source of information for all the complex quandries you will have - all the scenarios running through your brain, all the excitement? All the fear?

Well, I've taken a peek at How to be a Rockstar Freelancer and I think it does a pretty solid job! It is written by some guys who really have some great experience in freelancing and have an obvious passion for it. You get the vibe from the opening quote in the book:

"Beginning a freelancing career is one of the most exciting things you'll ever do. Maybe it's the thrill of giving your nine-to-five the flick, maybe it's the prospect of being your own boss, or maybe it's just the knowledge that you are the master of your own destiny."

Here are a list of the chapters and topics that are covered in this book:

1. Getting Started - what is freelancing, your job and freelancing on the side, etc.
   
2. Your Brand - what is branding for a freelancer, what can branding do for you?, etc.
   
3. The Working Day - home or office, a happy workplace, equipment, etc.
   
4. Getting Your First Projects - your portfolio, your first leads, referrals, etc.
   
5. Project Scope and Timing - taking a brief, documenting a brief, estimating timeframes, etc.
   
6. Pricing Yourself - your costs and your break-even rate, calculating your hourly, etc.
   
7. Doing the Project - setting expectations, tracking your hours, communication, etc.
   
8. Clients - leads and clients, essential client skills, etc.
   
9. Getting Paid - invoicing, cash flow, bookkeeping and accounts, etc.
   
10. Marketing Yourself - positioning yourself, marketing cycles, etc.
    
11. Expansion - subcontracting, partnerships, hiring staff, etc.

Notice that doing the project is #7 on the list! That is very true! There is much preparation that needs to be done - and much that I wish I would have done when I first first getting into this - in order to have a smooth ride along this path.