The new year is coming. As 2007 looms closer and closer, we all feel that urge to take a look at life and ask, “Am I going where I want to go? Am I achieving what I want to achieve? Am I closer to being the person I want to be?”
I’ve already written about my desire to earn more money in the coming year. I’ve established that goal not out of greed, but out of necessity. Fact is, I want to contribute more to my family’s earnings than I’ve been able to so far as a full-time writer. Money’s also the key to achieving more flexibility in our lives — enabling us to live where we want to live, for example.
I’ve already written about my Plan A for boosting my income as a writer: finishing the contracts I have in hand, proposing three new books in the first quarter of 2007, and wading into writing for magazines. These efforts may pay off. But what if they don’t? What if, despite my best efforts, I can’t earn enough money as a freelance writer to reach my goals?
That’s where Plan B comes in.
Right up front: some folks I know will say, “Wait … Plan B? You haven’t even given Plan A a chance to succeed yet … and you’re formulating a Plan B? How negative! Isn’t that planning for failure?”
Nah. Having a Plan B — or a Plan C, D, E, and F, for that matter — is practical, reasonable, and critical. Having a Plan B gives me flexibility. (If Plan A doesn’t work, I’ve got options that are still in line with my larger goals.) Having a Plan B gives me security. (If Plan A fails, I’ve got an alternative route mapped out and ready to go.)
What’s my Plan B? Going back to work, of course. That may sound odd, coming from someone who’s prided himself on being a full-time writer these past few years.
Being a full-time writer has its advantages. When we want to take off a week for a last-minute trip to Bangkok, we can. We we need to reschedule a family vacation due to unexpected illness, my schedule isn’t a factor we have to consider. I don’t have to save up vacation days. I don’t worry about sick leave. When my father-in-law fell ill last month, I could go be with him without stressing out over how my absence would impact things at work.
To be honest, though, full-time writing also has its downside. Staring at a video monitor all day is lonesome work. Checks for your work may take years to arrive, making it difficult to foresee how much you’ll make in a given year. Projects that take a long time may pay very little. And, if you’re writing primarily for niche markets (as I’ve done), you can find yourself with several books on the market (I’ve got eight out there now, six of which are, in theory, capable of earning royalties each month) but very little money coming in.
So: while I’m going to put my all into meeting my current obligations (a novel and several chapters for a publisher’s 20th anniversary book), and while I’m going to work hard to snag four new contracts and a magazine article or two in the first quarter of 2007), and while I’m going to create and produce at least one video seminar that I can sell to fans of my books, just to see how that goes …
… I’m also authoring a Plan B.
For me, Plan B involves sacrificing some freedom and flexibility in order to achieve more income and security … by going back to work full-time for someone else. A salaried position has a lot to offer: regular pay, the ability to know exactly what you’ll make and when you’ll make it, immediate feedback on the quality and value of your contribution …the list goes on and on.
For me, Plan B means finding a place where I can put my skills and talents to work in new ways. I’ve got credentials that would allow me to teach creative writing, composition, literature, technical writing, and business writing in a college or university. I’ve got decades of experience as a training manager, designer, and facilitator. I’m also an experienced writer, with published books, magazine articles, and an extensive portfolio of newsletters, video scripts, professional blogs, speeches, press releases, and websites under my belt.
And, in reality, I can put my Plan B into motion without giving up my writing. I wrote my first book while working full-time for a huge telecommunications company. Heck … thanks to the way I respond to time pressures, I may get more writing done when I have less discretionary time to spend on my writing!
Plan B isn’t an alternative goal — it’s an alternative route, a different way of achieving the goals I’ve already defined for myself, without sacrificing what I want to do or who I want to be. So: even as I pursue my Plan A, I’m also pursuing my Plan B: beating the bushes, contacting my network, and looking for a job I could do with enthusiasm and joy.
Today, with an eye toward maximizing flexibility and security, why not ask yourself: “What’s my Plan B?”
Mark,I am a big fan of Plan B. But, I subscribe to the “lurking plan b”. What do I mean? Well, I think motivation is usually found in magnification of situation. Like Cortes or (rather not like him, since it is a misinformed legend) I subscribe to the burning boat approach which focuses the mind and body on the ultimate goal. Some will undoubtedly think this is reckless, however, in my mere 37 years I have found that this approach has propelled me to more success than failure by great measure, and that success is usually wild.
I think you are right to have a plan B, but I would challenge the method in which you are setting it up. To keep a plan B and still maintain a focus (not working on plan B) on plan A, I usually set target dates to abandon Plan A. This focuses the mind, while allowing you to still have a safety hatch.
Finally, the likely result of working on plan A and B simultaneously, as you suggest, is that you will do neither justice. We found this out when we got to the UK, working on plan A and B (I agreed to this as a concession to my partner) is dangerous and less productive than Plan A first with time target. Then plan B.
I remind my clients all the time that focus on single minded objectives (without blinders) is better than management of multiple options.
Options + Information lower your risk. But, you must be careful not to work on several options simultaneously as it inversely affects your risk. (chance of success).
Apologies if this sounds admonitory (sp?), I only seek to set another approach before you…to review.
Good Luck with your plans. We are rooting for you in the UK.
Cheers,Todd