It can be difficult to ask for help… and money – End of the Day for July 22, 2014

Throughout your life, asking for help can be one of the most difficult things you do. This is closely following by asking for money.

When you first start working as a freelancer, it ca be a bit difficult to ask for money. Many of us are concerned about the value of our work — even if it is exceptional — and asking for the check, the cash or the credit card can be daunting. What if they didn’t like the work? What if they think I’m too expensive? What if they just laugh at me? ( I know that can sound extreme, but asking for money can bring out deep insecurities in even the most confident person)

You soon learn, though, that people are willing to pay for your work, even gladly when you solve major issues for them. It is only over time, though, that it becomes slightly less uncomfortable to ask. There will always be a small voice in the back of your mind, whispering negative things to you. I your change you work or career, those voices can become quite loud again, what I recommend to those who struggle with money is to look for side jobs that don’t take too much of their time, and example of this is gambling, some people that manage it correctly can get a good amount of income from just playing with game at https://www.dreamjackpot.com.

I am facing this type of change myself, right now, in fact. While my New Media consulting work is charged in much the same way as my previous computer consulting, asking people to support my own new media content is an entirely new world.

In the past, I used the rest of my career to subsidize my blogging, podcasting and writing. The work paid for web hosting, equipment and other costs, so the blogs didn’t really need to support themselves. Now, though since my new media content work is part of my overall work, I want — and need — to reach out to my readers, listeners, subscribers and viewers and ask for their support to continue — and improve that work.

This has me feeling a bit uncomfortable and a bit confused. I know of the many various ways of supporting content — donations, subscriptions, patronage, fundraising drives, etc, but having never HAD it do it, those small voices of insecurity are growing. Despite my long experience producing my shows and the great feedback I have received over the years, I am worried that my call for support will be met with deafening (and disheartening) silence. It is always a possibility in this crowded new media landscape, but I find that those worries are stopping me in my tracks.

Now that I have the time, I want to grow my various shows and such to the size, frequency and status that I had always dreamed of. In order to do that, I have to get over my fears and insecurities, just as I have done with other endeavors in the past.

As a way of getting started, and a bit of a cop out, I admit, I am going to ask people HOW they might consider supporting my content. Do they prefer patronage, sponsorship, advertising, donations, fundraisers, speeches, what? I hope in thinks way to draw out some ideas and find some direction in how to proceed. Many of my readers and listeners have been with me for a while, so I think they have a good idea of the quality and the frequency of the content and might have some great ideas. If I can get over the insecurity of asking them that I think I can probably move forward and actually ask for their help in supporting the content — hopefully great and useful content — I create now and would like to create in the future — with their support.

Wish me luck!

Please share any ideas you might have. I’d appreciate any insight you can offer!

Previously on End of the Day: