Are you thinking about a career in freelance writing or design? Have you already launched your freelancing career, but you don’t really know the best way to approach the industry? The truth of the matter is that there is no single “best” way to go about running your business, but we can take look to a couple of our furry friends for inspiration.
Pet owners will tell you that cats and dogs have very different personalities and they interact with the world in vastly different ways. It’s not that one strategy is any better than the other; they just happen to be different. As you look toward your career in freelancing, are you taking on the feline approach or are you more inclined to go with the way of the canine? Let’s have a look at some of their key characteristics.
Mastering the Craft, Honing the Skills
Cats: While there are certainly some exceptions to this rule, most cats don’t want to bother with learning any tricks. They’re much more inclined to just follow their instincts and get good at doing kitty things. For the freelancer, this means that you may not jump on any emerging trends, sticking to what you know and honing your skills in that specific area. Outside training and prevailing winds don’t influence your mindset and approach very much at all.
Dogs: We feel much more inclined to teach “tricks” to our dogs, getting them to sit on command, heel, and maybe even offer a paw. Our pooches enjoy this kind of interaction too, because it gives them a sense of purpose and is great for mental stimulation. For the freelancer, this means that you may partake in more formal training and learning opportunities when business is slow. You want to learn as much as possible.
Interacting with Clients and Owners
Cats: Probably the more independent of the two, cats have a much greater focus on themselves and their specific needs. They don’t need to feast on the attention of others, because they are perfectly satisfied with their solitary situation. Freelancers with the cat approach are more comfortable sitting in front of a computer, keeping interaction with clients to the bare essentials. They’ll respond to feedback, but there’s no need for idle chatter.
Dogs: Being the more social of the two, dogs want as much contact with their owners as possible. They’re willing to go beyond the call of duty to ensure that the relationship continues and remains amicable. Freelancers with this dog approach are more likely to become friends with their clients. It’s more than business; it’s a pleasure.
Building A Sense of Duty and Obligation
Cats: I’ll do everything that you expect me to do, but nothing more and nothing less. We don’t expect all that much from our cats and they know that. From a business perspective, feline-inclined freelancers will eventually get the job done, but they don’t feel quite as compelled to get it done right now. Taking on a slower and more methodical approach, they believe “it” can always wait until tomorrow.
Dogs: Without a provided sense of direction, dogs can develop all sorts of behavioral problems. This is at the root of many issues described by the Dog Whisperer. Fido and Spot need to know what you want from them at all times, because it gives them a sense of purpose. They want to feel that sense of duty and the same can be said about canine-inspired freelancers. They feel a sense of obligation, happily accepting the requests of their clients.
Protecting What is Rightfully Mine
Cats: A cat can be very possessive of its favorite toy, protecting it with its life. In doing so, the cat may hide this favorite toy somewhere so that no one else can access it. They can be elusive and secretive. Freelancers like this will also hide their trade secrets and keep business relationships as impersonal as possible, keeping their valuables (personal information) hidden from the public eye.
Dogs: A dog in the hunt doesn’t stop to scratch its fleas and a dog protecting its favorite toy will also develop a one-track mind. While some may hide the toy, many others have no trouble with a public display so long as the target item is heavily guarded. Freelancers like this may have a public blog that invites collaboration with others, but they can turn aggressive when select areas are approached by others.
Are You a Cat or a Dog Person?
Taking a look at your business or freelance career, do you think that you lean more toward the cat approach to freelancing or do you subscribe more to the dog approach? Which do you think is best for professional career in the long run?
I think I’m a little of both. I like collaboration, but I have my secrets that I use to fix computers, software, etc. I’m willing to share with others in my field, but I don’t want to be the big dog giving away everything for the bone of adulation.
I do as much as I can, more than expected. I am very proactive, in that I get things fixed before they break, or maintain them so they don’t. I watch the webjet admin to see when a printer is low on toner and needs replacing.
A Trig professor once said to me, “get your work done and more. Then you can play as much as you want because you are ahead.”
Here is something else to think about in that vein. On Star Trek Scotty always saved the day when he said it would take longer than what he fixed it in. It’s called fudging. He knew he could get it sooner, but wanted to look like the hero so he fudged the time to make himself look good. Any good tech support will quote more time than is needed and then get it done ASAP so they can goof off, look good and get the raise because they are the superstar.
I’d definitely take the dog approach. I like to get things done and keep ahead.
After watching how my cat behaves, I couldn’t act the same way when it comes to business. She sleeps almost all day and all night. My cat is like the unemployed college dropout equivalent of a human. lol