Finding Permit A 38 aka. My life as a Freelancer (Pt. 1)

For about two weeks now, I've been working as a freelancer. We need a work placement for one of our assignments and I wanted to gain some experience anyway. And hey, I even get paid for this. While the project itself is running pretty well, I discover the bureaucratic difficulties in working freelance. 

It's like finding permit A38. Some of you are probably too young to know what I mean. One of the tasks of Asterix & Obelix in the 1976 (ok, I'm not that old, but I've watched it in my childhood) movie "The twelve tasks of Asterix" is finding the permit A38 in the place that sends you mad. 

You can watch the scene here. The fun thing about that task is that people keep sending him somewhere else and back and forth again to get that permit. And he needs a lot of other permits which eventually almost drives him mad. 

And while I am not looking for a permit A38, I am indeed looking for information on how to work as a freelancer tax- and insurance-wise. Did no one print a leaflet? 

On the website of the HMRC, you can make a test to find out if you need to pay taxes. Well, for that money I earn on my project, I don't need to pay taxes. But don't I need an insurance number? Don't I need to register anywhere? I'm confused. 

But hey, the uni will probably help me with that, won't it? That's what I thought. So I went to Students First, they can usually help you with everything/know who can help you. They sent me to the Employability Desk. The girl there wanted to send me to Students First. Or Solent Creatives. Or the Finance Department. Now you know, why I feel like Asterix with his task.

Source: http://www.midnightonly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/twelve-tasks-of-asterix-11.jpg

I feel like running around with no one being able to tell me what I actually need to do. I struggle with bureaucratic stuff in Germany already, I don't need that in another language...

Maybe I am being too German? Germans need regulations and instructions on everything, don't they?This is one of the few times I actually admit: It does make sense to have regulations like these (if I were to work freelance in Germany, I would need to google it once and know what to do...). I am now in need of clear instructions on how to proceed next. Because I don't want to end up getting a fine for not declaring my (massive) income...(or whatever can happen...)

...to be continued...

How Twitter can ruin your life: Public Shaming 3.0

Last week, I stumbled across this article from the NY Times: "How one stupid Tweet blew up Justine Sacco's Life" and I read it with curiosity, as this topic has bothered me for quite a time.

If you don't know who Justine Sacco is: She was senior director of corporate communications (was...) at IAC at the time she tweeted this:

If she had realised that this tweet would destroy her life, she'd probably thought twice (Read the full story here). 

Some time ago, I found a (German) website that showed the full names and Facebook profile pictures of people along with their racist and nazi posts. Like, really bad posts that have got little to do with freedom of speech and reminded me more of Germany 70 years ago... When I discovered that website, I thought it was amazing and laughed at it. I mean, if people are stupid enough to post stuff like that publicly - why shouldn't they be shamed publicly?

But it seems like things got out of hand considering the Justine Sacco issue. The internet has simplified communications, true. That goes for good as well as for bad communications. One inconsiderate comment can turn into an avalanche that covers you with the world's hate. I mean, it was nothing more than a tweet! 

People have always been saying stupid things. With the help of the web 3.0, the whole world can know (if it's only stupid enough...). Somehow, now the world seems to be really keen on seeing someone being completely destroyed. Do people really deserve this?

On the other hand, shouldn't you be aware that public expression of opinion could bring you opposing views? The thing is that it is mostly not opposing views. What happens here is a communal power dispensing "justice" upon those who did wrong. There are Twitter accounts, Tumblr pages or Facebook sites about Public Shaming. People shame others to make themselves feel good, superior. It's got nothing to do with justice!

I myself will regard public shaming very critically, because often, single statements are taken out of context. What about you? Public Shaming - Yay or Nay?

Why you don't need an Elevator Pitch

The Elevator Pitch. We discussed that in a lecture in late November and our lecturer gave us the "homework" to create an elevator pitch for ourselves. 

For those who don't know what that is: It is a short speech of ca. 20-30 seconds telling everything what a potential client/employer/whosoever needs to know about you. A good elevator pitch makes people keep you in mind. It helps networking. And getting jobs.

Source: http://freelancefolder.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/elevator.jpg

Well, the elevator pitch has been on my "blogposts-to-write" list for way to long now. I have been thinking about it from time to time, but nothing really came to my mind.

So I wrote a post about it last week. When I was about half way through creating my elevator pitch, I stumbled upon this website. After watching her video, I read through my pitch and noticed that she was quite right:

"An elevator pitch sounds artificial. A set of sentences that feel awkward to say, the other person feels awkward because they don't represent who you truly are."

Damn it, now I've put so much work into that blog post and my pitch to notice that it is crap (ok, maybe the instruction how to create an elevator pitch is alright). But then, maybe she just hasn't heard a good elevator pitch in her life? Apparently Dr. Laura Nelson is quite experienced in high performance coaching (and she's even a Neuroscientist...Can't really argue with that, can I?) and to be honest, what she says does make sense: It is important to be able to explain what you do briefly and precisely.

So she mentions a two step process:

1. Talk about your passion
2. Keep talking.

The second step is basically to "practice", but also to reflect on your passion. This in turn will lead to you being able to frame it better; your message will get clearer and clearer and people will more likely remember because you are authentic.

Eventually, it is probably some kind of elevator pitch, but it is not as stiff and artificial like a "real" elevator pitch. Also, it is really important to be aware that the pitch (let's call it like that for the moment) changes with every person you talk to. 

So, think about what you love (from a professional point of view - it would be awkward if you were talking about getting wasted every weekend...) and next time we'll meet, I will tell you about my passion. 

Sweating like a pig, feeling like a fox: #ThisGirlCan

If you have been to the cinema lately, you may have seen it. It's an advert with the motto "This Girl Can". I haven't, but my lecturer told me about it. She told me that she LOVED that advert because it showed normal girls; no Size Zero; girls with a bit of paunch. The interesting thing is that she didn't know what the ad was for. 

I have heard the term before (in the Facebook Group of the Solent Subaqua Club) so I decided to do a bit of research. You can watch the video HERE (YouTube):

The message is clear: Women shouldn't bother about how they look while doing sports. Their "not perfect" bodies shouldn't keep them from being active and having fun. And of course, they shouldn't be ashamed of their body!

On the WEBSITE it says: 

"This Girl Can is here to inspire women to wiggle, jiggle, move and prove that judgement is a barrier that can be overcome."

The campaign is being run by Sport England to encourage women to be more active. According to Sport England, 75% of women would like to exercise more but are put off by issues ranging from body confidence to motherhood. The This Girl Can ad celebrates women in all forms and shapes.

And because I think this is a fantastic campaign, I share my #ThisGirlCan picture with you:

15 July 2014, Munich, Germany

This was last year when I finished the 6.4 k Run for my company. I was nearly dying but so proud of myself that I did it (I took part to prove myself that I can do it in the first place!). Indeed, I was sweating like a pig, but feeling like a fox after that!