Three years ago my partner
Gina and I hit on an idea to build a marketplace connecting women with deep
expertise to companies looking to fulfill project-based work. We had no formal background
in recruiting or business development—I am a former journalist and Gina comes
from marketing—and neither of us had any tech experience at all, but we knew we
had a great idea and we had enough confidence to take the risk that it could
work.
There have been many, many
days since then that we have questioned why we ever thought that we could do
this. There were moments when we wondered if anyone would take us seriously.
But ultimately we decided from the start to live by the motto, “Fake it ‘til you
make it” and it has served us well.
So much has changed since
then—we now run a tech company for gig workers! When we started I thought
sending someone an invite to a meeting meant a handwritten note. Back then, I
couldn’t tell you Lean from Agile. What Gina and I did have was the courage of
our convictions and the comfort in knowing we had a good idea and could figure
out the rest.
This idea of having the guts
to go after your dreams is the same for us as it is for the women in our
network. In our case, our product is our expert talent pool. Our members,
however, have to sell themselves, and we know that’s not easy. As anyone who
works entrepreneurially will tell you, getting good work is not as easy as
hanging a shingle on LinkedIn and getting business cards printed. You must
think like a salesperson and consistently look to sell your best product—you—at
the right place, and at the right price.
Not everyone is good at this
game, but there are ways to get better at it, starting with the ground rule
that nobody can do it better than you. Here are my tips to help gig workers and
entrepreneurs increase their presence, apologize less, and win more business.
Get Out There!
Nobody is going to find you
if you are not out there making yourself known. Go to networking events in your
area. Join Facebook groups for your industry. Use LinkedIn as an inexpensive
way to connect with peers and ex-colleagues. Let anyone and everyone know that
you are available and interested.
Be Strong!
Women often feel diminished
when they step off their career path. It is hard to go from the corner office
to working on your laptop at Starbucks. Never apologize or excuse the choices
you make in your life. Instead, own them and sell the experience as a positive point
of differentiation.
Stay Positive!
It may take a while to close
a deal or get your career back to where you left off. Those are the facts. Being on your own is
demanding and unpredictable. Get used to it, and realize that what you are
getting in terms of life balance more than makes up for the uncertainty.
Tread Water!
Let’s face reality. If you’ve
been out of the workforce for some time, you can’t cherry-pick your way through
projects. Just because you were a high-level strategist does not mean that you can
get gig work at that level. You may have to lower your expectations and take
what’s out there to keep your resume and skills fresh and sharp. Sometimes you
take work to just keep working.
Brush Up!
It is easier than ever to
take classes online and learn a new skill or keep your existing skills fresh.
There are You Tube videos for everything—for example, Gina built our first
website after watching tutorials.
With all these resources, it’s
truly possible to create a working life that incorporates flexibility, freedom
and meaningful work. Just remember to always think of yourself as a valuable
product, stay positive, and be adaptive enough to close deals.
And when the going gets
tough, don’t let the negative voices in your head win. Be like Gina and me—just
put on a smile, look strong and confident, and then become a master of quickly
learning what you need to know!
– Jenny Galluzzo