On January 29, IRG Websites hosted a freelancer networking event at PICO Jerusalem, featuring a panel of 3 successful entrepreneurs who shared their experience and wisdom about the self-employed experience. The event attracted a diverse group, including Israeli freelancers, who came together to connect, learn, and exchange insights about freelancing.
Jacob Share: Founder and Senior Vice President, Share Select Media, an Internet media company specializing in building and growing authority blog-based communities. He created the critically acclaimed JobMob and nurtured it to become one of the biggest international job search blog-based communities in the world. Additionally, he innovated and developed Group Writing Projects, recognized as the only blog of its kind on the Internet.
Tali Tarlow: Founder and Owner of Jerusalem Scavenger Hunts / Israel ScaVentures program, which is a popular and educational way to learn about and enjoy Jerusalem. She is an experienced teacher and informal educator.
Zev Stub: Owner and Founder of Janglo, Israel’s largest online community for English speakers.
(Couldn’t make it to the event? Listen to the full audio here!)
Here are our top takeaways. Do you have anything to add to the list? Leave it in the comments below!
On Work/Life Balance
- Focus on how you really need to be spending your time. Don’t let your inbox guide your day. Your inbox is all these things that other people are asking you to do – not necessarily what you want to be doing. – Zev
- Recommendation for a free online course for learning how to reduce time spent on e-mail at www.firedupandfocused.com. – Zev
- Try to keep e-mails as brief as possible and try to limit the amount of time you spend going through e-mails (for instance only checking twice a day). – Jacob
- During slow periods, make sure to do other things you enjoy and take a vacation! – Tali
On Management
Learn at least the basic how-tos of every part of your business, such as how to update your website. – Zev
- Successful businesses can grow and adapt and listen to their audience. – Jacob
- Figure out your priorities based on what makes you the most money. Even the value of activities such as education and business development can be quantified. – Jacob
- You must learn negotiation techniques. Some recommended books: Getting to Yes and Getting Past No by William Ury. – Jacob
On Pricing
Whatever you think you should charge – double it. – Tali
- Practice selling your product or service so that you sound completely confident about yourself and your price. – Tali
- If you don’t feel at least a little bit nervous about your price quote, you probably aren’t charging enough. – Jacob
Major Lessons Learned Along the Way
- Understand that there will be some clients who will not pay, even if you do your best to pre-screen for this. It’s usually best to just accept it and let it go. – Jacob
- Be nice! What goes around comes around. – Tali
- You need a support network of family and friends in order to be successful. – Tali
Being self-employed is a “full body experience”, that involves every aspect of who you are. – Zev
- It’s important that you love what you do because the business encompasses every aspect of who you are. – Tali
- The best time to start your own business is when you are employed by someone else, so that you have a backup if the business doesn’t succeed, even though the long hours are very difficult. – Jacob
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are some tips for Israeli freelancers to maintain work-life balance?
Israeli freelancers can maintain a healthy work-life balance by scheduling downtime first, focusing on personal priorities instead of their inbox, managing email effectively, and taking breaks during slow periods to recharge.
How can Israeli freelancers improve their management skills?
To improve management skills, Israeli freelancers should learn the basics of all aspects of their business, stay adaptable to audience needs, focus on income-generating tasks, and invest time in learning negotiation techniques.
What pricing strategies work best for Israeli freelancers?
Israeli freelancers are encouraged to charge more than they initially think is reasonable—doubling their first instinct—and to practice pitching their services confidently. They should also feel comfortable with pricing that challenges them, as it often reflects the value of their work.
What are the challenges Israeli freelancers might face?
Some common challenges for Israeli freelancers include managing unpaid clients, balancing long work hours, and dealing with the all-encompassing nature of freelancing. Building a support network of family and friends is vital to overcoming these hurdles.
How can Israeli freelancers adapt their businesses to succeed?
Successful Israeli freelancers focus on growing their businesses by listening to their audience, continuously learning, and staying flexible to market changes. They also prioritize what brings the most value, such as education or development that directly contributes to income.
