Will swine flu affect you?

A recent news report mentioned that the impending swine flu outbreak may cause many companies to allow more telecommuting by employees. Hmmm...will that policy stick around after things settle back down? With a renewed emphasis on "being green" how many companies, especially smaller ones, might combine the swine flu temporary changes with more permanent ones? I think there will be some who opt for a four-day work week or other flex hours that save the extra expenses and environmental effects of having employees in the office versus at home.

With cell phones capable of so many functions, how many days do people really need to spend at the office anyway? As a freelancer, I learned early on that I could get double the work done at home as I previously did in an office. Take out all the interruptions, hour-long staff meetings that include 10 minutes relevant to your work, water cooler chatter and commute time and you can get the same, and more likely more, work done.

To my fellow creative types who don't already work from a home office, how would telecommuting change your work life? Will swine flu help you get the ball of change rolling in the right direction?

Internet side-effects...

I'm afraid I'm coming down with some side-effects of internet overkill.

I've been lining up phone calls for a new book project and other client projects and finding it oddly intrusive. With the internet, I control who I talk with and when and I rather enjoy that.

But, email has its limitations. How often have you found yourself sending email clarifications back and forth that one phone call would've take care of? Yup, same here.

And, now with the on slaught of social networking information filling my inbox I wonder if in a few years I'll even have reason to ever meet someone in person! Facebook is redefining "friend" and I wonder how the next generation will feel about phone meetings...or (yikes!) in person meetings.

Do you find yourself hiding behind the internet veil? Is the virtual sandbox the only place we'll meet in the future?

Not the economic change I expected...

First, welcome to all of the new subscribers to the Solution Sandbox! Now that the holiday season is behind us, there will be more regular posts and I sincerely hope you enjoy them and will chime in with your thoughts!

Now, for today's topic...

With all the grim predictions, I'd braced myself for an unusually slow start to 2009. Instead, business is up and clients seem prepared to take on whatever challenges lie ahead. They're not necessarily cutting back on mailings, either.

But with each conversation, I'm noticing there seems to be more detail and thought to the planning process for each mailing. Not that there weren't specific plans before, but perhaps a more determined mindset to make every letter do REALLY well. I'm finding it all quite refreshing and from a skill standpoint a great opportunity to step up to the plate and deliver some seriously good copy.

So, Freelancers and Fundraisers, how has your year started out?

Freelancers: When Does Push Become Shove?

One of the biggest complaints from freelancers is the unsteady flow of work and income. It's a gold mine one month and famine the next, but how you cope with it will eventually determine your longterm success.

After what's been the busiest fall yet for me, I actually have a few hours of breathing room this week and I admit, it's been really tempting to take a much-needed break. In past years I might have done that, but with the economy in such an unsteady state, it seems far wiser to push myself a little harder.

So instead of taking a couple of days off this week, I'll be finishing up a new ebook with a fellow writing friend that we're hoping to have out before year's end. It's on goal setting and success strategies for women, so we're doubly motivated to release it in time for all those New Year's resolution setters.

The economy and a deadline committed project partner have given me a good shove to keep up a busy and productive pace, what helps you?

When everyone screams "economy" will anyone end up hearing?

It's election day and we're all marking our ballots for the leadership we think can fix the struggling economy...among other things. But, long before the newly elected team could get to work, many organizations were adding references to the tough economic times to fundraising appeals landing in donor mailboxes in the coming months. Some included a one line reference, others wanted to lean harder on the grim outlook in hopes of donors understanding that if they're feeling the economic pain, the poorest of the poor were really feeling it.

As a copywriter, it's seemed easier as of late to make a case for an organization's need, because quite frankly, we're all feeling the pinch. Let's face it, even a simple trip to the grocery store means coming home with less, but paying more!

The other trend in recent appeals has been wanting to share something positive with donors. While it's pretty typical this time of year to remind donors of all the good stuff done throughout the year, it's seemed more important to deliver good news because people are weary of dire headlines.

As you open your end of the year appeals, which will be inspiring you to give - the good..the bad...or are your deep donation pockets simply not as deep this year?

How often do freelancers really play hooky?

I'll never tell how often I play hooky. But then again, is it really playing hooky if you're self-employed? Ditching out of the office for "a long lunch" when someone is expecting you to come back is definitely hooky. I mean, it's not likely you're going to show back up at 5 when everyone else is leaving so you can finish the missed afternoon of work.

For freelancers, it's not hooky if you choose to leave the office on a Friday afternoon, with the intention of working on Saturday morning, is it? I've done that plenty, but at some point the work has to get done. If I'm only going to be spinning my wheels creatively on a Friday afternoon, I'll go play instead. But, only if I really am able to reserve Saturday morning for work. And, I've done some great writing over java in my pjs on weekend mornings. When I'm not fighting to be doing something else, the creative juices flow freely. But, like other seasoned freelancers, I've learned there are days when sucking it up and staying in the office can pay great dividends - like a whole day actually away from the office!

So how do you handle hooky time? Are you disciplined enough to stay at the desk regardless or do you go with the creative flow and work only when the mood is right?

What do lapsed donors & lapsed bloggers have in common?

Fall is one of the busiest times in the fundraising arena and one of my many (mostly lame) excuses for not posting as of late. And, like a lapsed donor, it's not that I've lost interest completely, it's just that other things on my plate seemed more pressing .

So, what's brought me back to a commitment to blog more regularly might also be what will bring donors back to your organization...it's that time of year!

As the year winds down, we look (sometimes frantically) to see how we can make up ground on meeting our goals for 2008. And, we're taking a peek at what we'll try to accomplish in 2009. Many of the appeals that have kept me busy the last two months will be landing in mailboxes right when donors are of a similar mindset. Who did they commit to helping this year? What are their priorities? How will their end of the year gifts make a difference?

For donors who have "forgotten" to give as of late, end of the year appeals are the perfect opportunity to remind them of how they "fit" with your organization.

How will you be reminding donors of their belief in your mission and work and how important they are? What will make your well-timed ask a meaningful one?