Help for the Inexperienced Networker

B

B Ryan

New member
I have made a good living for the past 10 years editing and "producing" for one major client as a vendor, with a few other large corp. clients sprinkled here and there. I definitely have all my eggs in one basket right now, but it has worked up to now and I don't see an end to the road yet. (Do we ever see that brick wall coming, though?)

I want to branch out to enjoy my work more (getting very bored and unchallenged), make more money (making in the $60-ish range per hour now), have more freedom (l go to the client's facility 80% of the year, so I am basically a glorified employee).....and build a real business for myself. I will say I am grateful for the work and know others may give their eye teeth for such stability, but even with the steady work and steady money, I want something more and need something different. (I have a family to support, so walking away just to make myself happy isn't an option!!)

If I must say so myself, I have great talent as an editor (can do it in my sleep), and although have not been paid as the "producer", I have produced hundreds of projects over the past ten years. Very high end projects - commercials, marketing pieces, documentary-style productions, training, and musical After Effects openings/motivational pieces.

Because I have had this one huge client for 10 years, as I approach 40, I have done very little networking, and to be quite honest, am afraid of it. I work very well with people once I get to know them, but have a fear of meeting new people and just making small talk. This always makes me very self conscious when I have a social event (whether personal or business), but once I am there, I am OK with it.

Maybe this is a job for a therapist(!), but I thought I would see if anyone has suggestions. I know I am a valuable talent as the client I work for has called me back for this many years and now relies on me and my knowledge base. I know my own talent , but don't know how to begin to sell it to my own new clients. I am not an introvert or like isolation, either....

I have often thought a partner would be the best solution, but haven't met the right person. I know others must be in some similar boat. I see myself running a company with my own hired help, but have no idea how to get from where I am now to there. I have business experience (Business Management degree), just not the networking skills to meet the people I need to meet and "sell" myself and my talents.

I feel I am worth so much more than my current rate (even though money isn't my greatest motivator), but it is very hard to keep raising my rates with this one client. I don't think that is the ultimate answer anyway as I want to have a more satisfying work life, not *just* make more money.

ANY help from you confident pros would be *greatly* appreciated. :thumbsup:

Thanks for listening.
 
Look for local Toastmasters group in your area.
Take a Dale Carnegie Sales training class.
Get over it.

If you want a business and employees, it just goes with the job. You have to be teh contact person. After a while you may even like it better than editing. It is certainly easier.
 
I would definitely not give up on honing your own socializing skills. There are lots of things you can do. Maybe there are some workshops in your area or support groups for people with the same issues? I know there are tons of books out there, but if you go that way, they you really need to discipline yourself into practicing the techniques. Even the established political and business leaders still pick up books here and there on improving their way of connectinng with people.


if you definitely recognize this isn't your strength, yes, a partner who picks up on where you lack is a good thing. many business teams can work that way.

good luck.
 
Do telephone support. That an instant way to work on your social skills and it really helps you learn how to talk to people because that's all they are judging you on.
 
SilverWolf said:
Do telephone support. That an instant way to work on your social skills and it really helps you learn how to talk to people because that's all they are judging you on.
Click to expand...
That, and your appearance, posture, shoes, breath, mannerisms, clothing, ability to listen, haircut, handshake, jewelry, smile, patience, assertiveness, and eye contact.
 
When I said judging i was referring to the people on the phone. That way you can just work on that portion and not have to worry about the other things.
 
anytime you change positions ( as in editor to: producer , director . Dp or what ever except editor ) you more then likey will take a pay cut ( you might earn more per day but you'll work less days ) .. if you start your own business ?? well unless you have clients that will go with you when you start it you will take a HUGE pay cut .. a company that i know had to bank roll 200K before they turned a profit ( took about a year) ...
if you are earning 65k or more well more then likely you are not going to earn that ?? but you know it may come down to your market(area) ..

IMO the business is a who you know .. you need to network ..go to whatever group meetings are in your area that persons/company's in your area get together.. is there a editors group? producers group ? sometimes a company will have a open house - go to it ...

i know a couple of persons that just changed classifications .. one was head of a film school making 85K they wanted to be in production = they got job producing commercials 55K a year ... another was making 45k doing corporate videos ( director,editor, producer) they are now editing only at 65K = the offer came from new company started in town....
 
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