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This was something I had originally posted on the main After Graduation site, when it was set up like a blog instead of an article bank. It’s such a good piece that I didn’t want it to get lost forever, so I decided to repost it here for you all!

Yes, I was a rockstar for Halloween one year in college.

You might be new to this biz, but it won’t be long before you start seeing the term “rock star” thrown around online in relation to writers. Clients advertise wanting a “rock star writer.” Some bloggers call themselves “rock star bloggers.” Just look through the archive of your favorite writing site (other than this one, of course), and you’ll probably find at least one reference to “learning to be a rock star.”

But you know, I’ve read some bad things about that term too. It rubs some writers the wrong way to be called rock stars. Rock stars drink and party and generally participate in a lot of shenanigans. Rock stars produce crappy sub-par music to feed the needs of fans. Rock stars are rarely long-lived, and their careers typically end on an episode of I Love the ’90s or Celebrity Rehab. At least, that’s the pessimistic view of the life of a rock star, and although there’s definitely truth in those statements, that’s not the whole story.

At the end of the day, I’ll admit it…yeah, I want to be a rock star freelancer.

Yeah, you’ve got your rock stars who are washed-out nobodies, hooked on drugs and planning an eighth comeback tour that they hope will work this time. But look at who else is out there. The greats, like David Lee Roth, Axl Rose, Keith Richards, even Elton John for christ’s sake…they’re still around, and they still rock. I’m not saying that these guys are perfect, but I think striving for perfection in life is pretty much a waste of time anyway. And then check out the rock stars of today. Not everyone is wasted all the time or on drugs. Not everyone is pumping out generic music (*cough*Nickelback*cough*).

I want to be a rock star freelancer, because this is what the term “rock star” means to me:

  • People know you, respect you, and try to emulate you. You get to be a role model, and you get to inspire others to reach for their rock star dreams too.
  • You’re paid well for the job you do. No one wants to struggle, and when you’ve reached “rock star” status, you don’t have to worry about debt collectors anymore. You even have enough money to make positive differences in the world.
  • You spend every day doing what you love. David Risley talks a lot about starting a blog to get rid of the “J-O-B” and he’s right - it sucks to go into an office job every day and completely hate your life for eight hours. If you’re a rock star, your J-O-B is to rock out! And for us, that means that we make a living writing. How f’ing awesome is that?
  • You leave a legacy. No one remembers the guys who didn’t make it. Good or bad, though, everyone remembers the rock stars. When you’re gone, don’t you want your writing to live on? I sure as hell do.

There’s a reason people dream of becoming rock stars when they are kids. I think, as we grow up, we realize that there’s bad that comes with the good. At the same time, reaching that “rock star” level means that you’re on the top of your game as a freelancer. Clients advertise for writers who are rock stars because they want that - someone who is the absolute best at what they do and really excited about doing it.

So, to all those who are weirded out by the term or feel rubbed the wrong way when they hear it…listen, I’m not trying to make enemies here. Certain terms have certain connotations to people. But in my world, being a rock star is awesome. And awesome? That’s my middle name.

Rock on, readers. \m/


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    Escaping the 9 to 5 Maren Kate's site is all about leaving the rat race to own your own business. She talks a lot about gaining freedom from the traditional work atmosphere and using virtual workers to achieve your entrepreneurship goals.

    Kommein An important part of job-hunting in most industries is social networking. Deb Ng's site is my favorite resource for learning more about using Twitter, Facebook, and other sites for more than telling people what you had for lunch and sharing party pictures.

    JobMonkey If you're at a loss when it comes to knowing what you want to do in life, JobMonkey is a great site to learn about career options. Their guides cover everything from truck driving to banking. They also have info about the training you'll need to work in these fields.

    Brass Tack Thinking At Brass Tack Thinking, Amber and Tamsen walk you through the process of making things happen, from developing your personal philosophy and brainstorming ideas to implementing those ideas to see real results in your life.

    Lifebeat Lifebeat is a weekly podcast from Nathan Hangen with music by Oleg Mokhov. Every Tuesday, you can listen to some energizing music along with motivational conversation and debate/discussion about concepts applicable to entrepreneurs and employees alike.


    You can find reviews I've done in the past at the following places; I'm always interested in doing more, so if you have something you'd like me to review, feel free to contact me.

    Higher Education This book by by Kenneth Jedding is about the feeling of failure you might feel as you're struggling to find the right path after graduation.

    Billing Boss If you're a freelancer or entrepreneur, Billing Boss is a tool you can consider to meet your invoicing needs. There are both pros and cons to the Billing Boss system.

    How to Write a German CV This ebook is specific to those job-hunting in Germany, but gives you a lot to consider for the non-US job application process in general.

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