Did you have a favorite Dr. Seuss book growing up? I sure did. It was Green Eggs and Ham. I could read that book over and over and never get tired of it.

But beyond the“Whos” and“Thing-a-ma-Jiggers” is an author with more advice relevant to freelancing than most.

Known by Dr. Seuss for his delightful and whimsical children’s books, Theodor Seuss Geisel was also an advertising ace– spending his early career in the advertising industry.

Urging us to keep moving forward, to learn a lot, and not to worry – here are just a few of the fun and insightful quotes from the poet behind classics like,The Cat in the HatandHorton Hears a Who.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.

You know this already. After all, you’re here at Freelance Switch! So first of all…good job. You are on the right track. The more you read about how to be a successful freelancer, the more you will become one.

For example, when I decided to take the leap into freelance writing, I was reading more than I was actually writing! I had no clue how to work from home, work as my own boss, or even where to start getting clients. But the more I leaned, the more I applied this knowledge. I started actually doing the things other freelancers were guiding me to do. More refined services and better queries were the start for me.

But this tip doesn’t just go for new freelancers. No matter what stage of your career you’re in, there are always new things to learn. From learning new CSS techniques to researching a particular subject for a writing assignment, reading is an integral part of our work.

The more you know, the more you can be a leader in your niche.

So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.

Freelancer writers, listen.

It’s probably not going to be that long novel you wrote that’s going to get you that copywriting job. Instead, it will be a punchy article written simply. Stick with the information your audience is looking for. Present it in the most digestible form.

If you read the blogs of successful freelancers and entrepreneurs, you’ll see that their writing is simple and direct.

People scan when they read. So it’s best to use short sentences, to write informally, and erase flowery language. Clients like to know right away what they’re reading.

There’s a reason why Dr. Seuss’s books are so timeless. The words and structure he chooses are the building blocks of communication.

Just take this passage from The Cat in the Hat as an example:

Have no fear, little fish,’ Said the Cat in the Hat.‘These Things are good Things.’
And he gave them a pat.

The story is told. Can’t you visualize the scene? There’s no need for additional words. For that would just be mean.

No matter what kind of freelance work you do, we are all communicators. For this reason, keep your emails, blog posts, projects, etc. as simple and direct as possible. An overflow of information will only weigh your clients and their audience down.

If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.

You sent out queries. You cold-called prospects. You were referred by your cousin’s friend’s uncle’s great niece. Starting out as a new freelancer you were scavenging. And then all at once you have three substantial projects under your belt! It’s like you’re saying“help!” and“whoo-yoo!” at the same time.

Getting your first job is a terrific feeling. But it can also be overwhelming. Even though you’ve read all the blogs and you’re skills are top-notch, you can’t help but feel a little nervous.

So what can you do to calm your nerves and deliver the best for your client? As Dr. Seuss says, you have to just go right along. See each project as a stepping stone because that’s how it is for every freelancer – regardless of experience.

Working on projects is an excellent way to realize your weak points. That way, you’ll know what to do better next time. Clients like to work with freelancers who search for improvement.

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

As freelancers, we have a lot of questions: from taxes, to clients, to feedback requests about our work. We have more hats to wear than most. But you know what I’ve found? It’s not as hard as it seems. Really! In fact, the answers to our most complicated questions are indeed clear. They’re right at our fingertips.

Blogs and forums are a great place to start. Fellow freelancers share the hard-knock lessons they’ve already learned so you don’t make the same mistakes. You can also ask your clients. Don’t wait until the project is finished though. Ask them throughout the project what you can do to make the process of working with you better.

You may get stumped when you don’t know the answer to something. But it doesn’t mean someone with the answer will be stumped too. Often, people are happy to share answers with you. It gives them a warm feeling and it helps you.

You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.

Isn’t this so true? In fact, most of us are doing that right now. As a writer, I read a lot. I also learn a lot from the things I read. But the time I learn the most is when I just sit down and write.

You may be thinking there’s a lot for you to learn. It may seem intimidating. But the trick is to make a habit of learning something new every day. If you are a designer, try different techniques in Photoshop. If you are a programmer, learn new snippets of code. Writers – write every day. Even if it’s a few paragraphs of a blog post, just get words flowing.

Since a lot of us are“sitting alone in a room” producing exceptional work, make sure you make your devoted space personable and pleasant. Decorate it with art or photos. Paint it an inspiring color. Get a big, comfy chair. Whatever it is that makes your home office the space you can focus, learn, and grow.

So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.

Balance is key to freelancing. Don’t spend too much time on one task if it doesn’t get you the overall benefits you’re after.

Keep moving forward. Keep getting better at what you do. Read a lot and don’t write too much. Learn from others but teach yourself. Remember – it’s okay to take a break too. When you do, pick up a copy of your favorite Dr. Seuss book and discover more serious knowledge found in his fun writing.

Photo credit:Some rights reservedbyivonnewierink.

We’re looking for images of your freelance offices to be submitted to ourFreelanceSwitch Facebook Group. This is for a post to run on FreelanceSwitch aboutReal Freelance Offices of FreelanceSwitch Readers in 2012. We’d love to see how your office looks.

Here are a few home office images we’ve received so far:

When submitting your freelance office photos be sure to include your name and what freelance work you do. We’re looking for 550px wide jpg images for the format.

Upload (or tag) your photo to theFreelanceSwitch Facebook groupto participate.

Networking events can be nerve-wracking.

You’re in a room with a bunch of people you don’t know and you have to make conversation or risk looking like a wallflower. But just because networking events can make you uncomfortable or nervous doesn’t mean you shouldn’t attend. On the contrary—it can be great practice!

Here are some tips on how to make your next networking event a success:

Mingle

The worstnetworkersare those who attend events with their friends and then talk to only their friends all night. It’s one of my pet peeves—you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. So If I see a group of people off to the side of the room talking only to themselves for an hour, I get turned off. I want totalk to peoplewho are open to making new connections, not people who are using the networking event as their own private social gathering.

Dress the Part

You want to look like you belong there, so leave the hoodie and sneakers at home.

You won’t make an impression (at least, not a good one) if you look dishevelled, disorganized, or overly casual. But also pick something that makes you feel good—a great dress or those new shoes you’ve been wanting to wear will help you exude confidence in what can be an uncomfortable setting.—TheDailyMuse

You don’t have to go out and buy a business suit, but be mindful of looking presentable. Dirty fingernails and smelly jeans are a turn off. You want to put your best foot forward, and the first thing people judge you on is your appearance.

Bring Business Cards

I always feel like a real loser when people ask me for mybusiness cardand I forgot to bring them or I ran out. Get yourself a nifty little business card carrying case and keep it stocked—something that’s easy to slip into your purse or your pocket.

Know How to Explain What You Do

“What do you do?”is the most frequently asked question at a networking event. Have your spiel down pat and keep it short. If people are interested, they’ll ask you to elaborate.

Be a Good Listener

Does striking up a conversation with a complete stranger fill you with dread? The solution is simple – just ask them something about themselves. People love to talk about themselves, so questions like “what do you do?” and “where do you work?” are simple and effective ways to get a conversation started at a networking event. —NetworkingStrategyGuide

The most annoying thing I can think of when talking to a stranger (well, anyone in fact) is one-upmanship. While it’s tempting to make connections with a complete stranger, try to avoid taking over the conversation and making it all about you. Instead, really listen to what the person is saying and ask questions. You will learn a lot more about someone with your mouth shut and your ears open than the other way around.

Get Around the Small Talk

Ask open-endedquestionsto get beyond small talk.

The goal here is to always ask people questions that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no. Pick questions that demand a real answer, like, “How has your industry changed in the past 10 years?” “What are your customers asking for the most?” and “Why do you think that is?”—Mashable

Make Eye Contact

It’s always uncomfortable when you are talking to someone, especially someone you just met, and they’re constantly looking around and over your shoulder. That’s when I can tell the conversation is over. And I walk away from the person offended.

Follow Up

Don’t put all of those business cards you collected in a drawer and forget about them. Follow up! Did you meet someone you really connected with? Remind them that you exist and see if you can make the relationship more meaningful.

Send your new contact an email telling him or her it was pleasure to meet them at the event, what you learned from the conversation, and why you think it would be good to keep in touch.—MediaBistro

Perhaps you could meet for lunch or a coffee sometime during the week. Don’t let a potentially great new contact fall by the wayside just because you are too lazy to follow up.

Photo credit:Some rights reservedbyxilius.