Tips on setting your freelance rates

Hey Taylor - I’ve just started doing freelance work because I feel like this is the best way to boost my earning potential and take control of my career Problem is, I have no idea what to charge clients for my design and copywriting services Is there a standard for this? - Katie

Hey Katie - Good for you! The first step is usually the hardest, so I feel like you’re on your way to success already As for what to charge, there are all sorts of different standards, and you need to figure out what works for you Some things to think about:

What makes sense for you? I know, I know, I’m responding to your question with virtually the exact same question The thing is, you don’t just get to start at the same level as everyone else. Like with any job, you climb the ladder and earn your raises However, you need to make sure you’re not underselling yourself right out of the gate. In your haste to get clients, you might find yourself overworked and underpaid, and that’s a very common occurrence You need to establish a price that isn’t wildly different from what other freelancers are charging, but still feels comfortable to you and helps you get a few clients

Keep long-term goals If you get too caught up trying to get lots of clients who don’t pay much, you’ll find yourself hating the work, not making enough money, and constantly behind on deadlines If you’re just diving into freelance, it’s best to take your time and give each project the attention it deserves as you find your rhythm Financially, taking your time doesn’t make a lot of sense, as more work means more money in your pocket However, if you stay focused on the business you’re building, it will help you stay patient and produce g content After all, yo want to get by as a fr you want to thrive an going back to a job y love So, while you e rates in the early goin remember the better is, the more you can future

Calculate the cost of your needs You’re going to have a lot of expenses that standard employees don’t have to deal with From supplies to certification programs and tax payments, a lot of the invoices you collect won’t go directly into your bank account That means you’ll have to crunch some numbers before setting your rates to ensure you’re getting enough to survive After you get an idea of what most people are charging, make sure you know what rate will actually be realistic for you

What you charge will evolve over time, and it may vary between your clients As long as you value yourself and the work you do, I’m sure you’ll settle on a price that makes sense Good luck, Katie!

Taylor Kovar, CEO of Kovar Capital Read more about Taylor at GoFarWithKovar com

Disclaimer: Information presented is for educational purposes only and is not an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein To submit a question to be answered in this column, please send it via email to Question@GoFarWithKovar com, or via USPS to Taylor Kovar, 415 S 1st St, Suite 300, Lufkin, TX 75901

Living with children

Q: My 7-year-old son, an only child, is giving me fits He’s overly active and will not cooperate in any instruction I give him In addition, if I tell him not to do something, it’s a guarantee he’s going to do it as soon as my back is turned I’m a single mom and I’m embarrassed to admit that he runs the house I spoke to his pediatrician about him and she is recommending ADHD medication I don’t want to go in that direction; besides, he has no problems in school, and never has His teachers love him and are constantly telling me how smart and mature he is for his age It’s like I’m dealing with a person with a split personality If he’s not crazy, I’m slowly getting there Can you give me some tips?

A: The completely unscientific nature of the ADHD diagnosis aside, your son is not a candidate for medications that have never reliably outperformed placebos in clinical trials. It never fails to infuriate me when I hear of pediatricians whose knee-jerk response to discipline problems is a prescription Having said that, I understand completely the pressure they are under to do something “helpful” during a ten-to-fifteenminute office visit There ought to be a parenting specialist in every pediatric office, someone who can take the time that the physician probably doesn’t have Your son doesn’t have a split personality either He’s simply figured out that some adults have claimed their natural authority over children and others, including you, have not Proper adult authority has a profound calming and focusing effect on children, an effect that no medication can match

In your description of the problem, you used the word “cooperate ” My consistent finding is that parents who use that word actually want their children to obey, but instead of giving clear, authoritative instructions are instead making requests and suggestions, as in, “Would you please come to the table so we can have dinner?” and “It would really help me out if you’d stop what you’re doing and feed the dog, okay?”

When it comes to the discipline of a child, consequences will be necessary at times, but the key is a proper presentation of oneself as an authority figure, and that is primarily a matter of how you speak Using the above examples, the proper words are “It’s time for you to come to the table for dinner” and “You need to feed the dog now” The fewer the number of words contained in an instruction, the more authoritative it sounds

The reader might be amazed at the number of parents who’ve told me that simply learning how to properly give instructions and communicate decisions (in both cases, use the fewest words possible and answer “Why?” or “Why not?” with “Because I said so”) has completely turned their kids’ behavior around I call it “Leadership Speech” or “Alpha Speech” because it communicates to the child in question that the adult is in charge, and a child’s natural reaction to the proper delivery of authority is obedience

Now, you’ve obviously got some lost ground to make up for, but you can do this Keep in mind that there’s nothing “wrong” with your son If there was a BIG problem, his teachers would be begging you to medicate him

In my next column, I’ll describe a rehabilitative method I call “Kicking the Child Out of the Garden of Eden ” You’re going to need to do something to get your son’s attention and convince him that life as he has known it with Momma is over What I have in mind should turn the trick Stay tuned!

Family psychologist John Rosemond: johnrosemond com, parentguru com

John Rosemond has worked with families, children, and parents since 1971 in the field of family psychology In 1971, John earned his masters in psychology from Western Illinois University and was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society

Texoma Patriots meet tomorrow

The Texoma Patriots' first May meeting is Tuesday, May 14 - 7 p m at Buck Snort BBQ, 224 E Jefferson St, Van Alstyne TX The speaker will be John Antal whose topic will be the D-Day Invasion of Europe

Colonel (US Army, retired) John Antal is a soldier, leadership trainer, author, TV and radio personality, video game producer, military historian, and master storyteller Currently he is a member of the US Army Science Board working on future war fighting solutions for the Secretary of the Army He is Executive Producer of a Triple-A video game company with studios in Frisco, TX, and Quebec, Canada, and is co-founder of How2LeadUS leadership team which, in their probono efforts, has trained and educated more than 3,000 Army ROTC Cadets in leadership since 2010 John recently returned from Normandy One of his latest leadership books is 7 Leadership Lessons of D-Day: Lessons from the Longest Day - June 6, 1944

Band announces annual awards

Band Beau & Sweetheart: Joseph Brennan and Kindle Catching

Most Spirited Boy & Girl: Jordan Griffin and Kelsey Pierce

Rookies of the Year: Kevin Bateman and Alyssa Sharp

Outstanding Volunteer Award: Kaden Bateman and Bethany Van Deren

Outstanding Brass Award: Mikayla Doty

Outstanding Woodwind Award: Jordan Griffin and Kelsey Pierce

Outstanding Percussion Award: Bethany Masters

Band Award: Bethany Masters, Taylor Thurman, and Kindle Catching

John Philip Sousa Award: Kelsey Pierce

Bulldog Run set for Saturday