I am looking at the possibility of working as a freelance web designer…designing web sites for small businesses and individuals. In order to make this affordable, the websites will be pre-made and customized per order. That way, it will keep the cost down for the client as the site could potentially be sold to multiple businesses. I have started designing some sites and figuring out the going rates for designs such as this. I have seen samples of web design that in my opinion have completely undervalued what they are doing by not charging enough. And I have seen those whose designs are so ugly that they shouldn’t even be given away. So the prices seem to run the gamut, as expected.

The next few weeks, I will be cleaning up the sites I have designed and design more. I plan on offering a variety of sites from very simple HTML sites, to more intricate HTML sites, sites with Flash menus and full-Flash websites. I am designing into the sites, ways for the client to upkeep the website themselves, if that is what they want to do. I am also designing the website for the business.

The next step after that will be to figure out a marketing plan.

Still trying to figure out some ways to bring some money into my accounts. Freelancing is tough simply because clients are just lining the streets. But I’m still brainstorming ways that I could do this and am considering several options:

• Recruitment agencies – basically you work for the agency and they find you temporary and contract work. Problem is, you have to take a cut in hourly rate because the have to tack on I guess about 20% over and above your going rate.
• Obviously, my greatest strength right now is as a web designer. However, I don’t know that I want to market myself as a designer who creates custom, unique websites for each client. But there are other alternatives, like marketing website packages that I have already developed, “canned” so to speak;  and marketing/selling them to small businesses, artists and individuals. That way, the prices for the sites can be lower (because they aren’t 100% unique) so the time is also cut down on the customization – a win-win for me and the potential client. It would be sort of like buying a website “off the rack” as opposed to haute couture (made to order).
• Selling illustrations to stock photography sites

Isn’t that the theme of my life? I seem to be a generator of ideas but ultimately lack the energy, motivation or wherewithal to make it happen. I think I get overwhelmed by all the possibilities and all the steps. Then I get distracted and start focusing on something else. My mind racing a hundred miles a minute. So it is constantly coming up with new ideas and “what ifs” but lacking the ability to actual figure out HOW to do it!! I’m sure I’m not the only creative person with this problem.

The other problem I have is that I can see the validity and possible success in each idea and each path. Again, I don’t have time to pursue them all…at least not all at once. So I end up running in circles trying to figure out which one, ultimately choosing none of them.

Finally, a big problem I have is fear of failure. Again, not alone in this department. I can see potential in almost all of my ideas, but can just as easily see – or should I say eventually see – the sure possibility of failure. Maybe that is why I keep jumping around from idea to idea. I think of something, get excited about it and see its potential…see it potential for total failure as well and then jump to the next idea. Maybe its not quite like that. But its just as tiring whatever form it takes.

I’ve already made a list a few days ago, but I’ll make another one – just in case there are some deletions that are needed or perhaps some needed additions.

• Children’s book author/illustrator
• Digital Artist working on commissioned portraits
• Freelance digital illustrator
• Freelance web designer, multimedia developer, illustrator and graphic designer
• Multimedia/Flash developer working for an educational publisher
• eLearning developer specializing in online courses
• Online business

I’m not certain what my “dream job” is. Not yet anyway. It’s not that I don’t have any ideas on the subject; it’s that I have TOO many ideas. I am all over the place as to what I want to do with my life and my career. Let’s list some of them:

• Instructional Designer (but working in a more creative environment)
• Illustrator
• Web Designer
• Multimedia Developer
• Develop some sort of technology teacher curriculum site
• Be a consultant to schools and school districts, mainly concerning Web 2.0 stuff
• Children’s book author/illustrator
• Create collages and jewelry and sell them; and teach at craft shows and even online
• Create digitally enhanced/created commissioned portraits

See what I mean? And those are only the one’s I will admit to in writing – on a public blog.