Table of Contents Introduction Secret to Success Getting Started Operating Your Business Points to Remember References

Secret to Success = Y-O-U

You are the main ingredient necessary for your success. It is critical that you possess several characteristics that aid you in this pursuit.

  1. Be Proactive.
  2. You must believe in and trust your unique capabilities so that you can meet and greet new prospects or initiate new business alliances. Persistence, confidence, and self-motivation are absolutely necessary.
  3. Plan for the desired outcome.
  4. As you develop the goals for your consultancy, engagements with new clients, or plans to expand your services, keep in mind the results you need to achieve. This visualization effort can aid you in mapping out a sound strategy to accomplish your objectives.
  5. Foster collaboration in your business relationships.
  6. Identify the values of prospective clients and potential business allies so that it will be possible to develop strong win-win relationships that are financially and professionally satisfactory. This effort can make it easier to determine the other business partners’ level of commitment. It can also aid you in “weeding out” those client prospects who are not seriously committed to getting the work defined and done.

You can bet that first impressions still count in the 21st century, so let your self-image drive your professional persona. Whether meeting for coffee at Starbucks or visiting a traditional office environment, dress in a style appropriate for a business appointment. As you develop a rapport with clients, they may invite you to dress more casually for future meetings. When in doubt, dress in business casual:

What Will be the Focus of Your Business?

Let’s begin with what interests you. Develop a list of the types of tasks related to writing that you enjoy doing and those that you find less desirable. Take time to think about experiences from work, volunteer efforts, hobbies and even your youth, that may shed light on a particular writing specialty. As you identify your interests, seek out established writing professionals to learn more about their experiences in the field. Research your areas of interest and rank no more than three based on the perceived business potential—the opportunity to attract and retain clients.

Your choice may require that you supplement your academic preparation with additional professional development. This effort can increase your marketability and the odds of your entering your chosen writing specialty. There are a myriad of choices available from online education, traditional classroom instruction, workshops, conferences, and teleconferences.

If possible, talk with someone who is already working within your writing specialty. Often, people are willing to share their insights on what they do, how they got started and what they would do differently. It may also be possible to shadow a specialty writer to gain a better feel for what their job duties entail.

Joining the Society for Technical Communication (STC), the National Writers Union, and other organizations can be most beneficial. Affiliations with these groups can yield opportunities to network with other writers, volunteer for special projects, gain a mentor, or land a writing assignment. Other organizations outside your discipline may provide a chance to encounter prospective clients. Joining the local business chamber in your community or technology-based organizations may provide just the impetus you require to “jump-start” your consultancy.