I’m new here at The Bee, so I’d like to start by saying hello. I am the new Chief Buzzologist, which means I am responsible for making as many people aware of our fantastic product as possible so that they will sign up to use it and reap the amazing rewards. But what’s also new is that for the first time in my entire career, I am providing my services in a freelance (1099) capacity.

In this economy the practice is becoming far more widespread. For some reason companies are happy to pay a higher hourly rate in exchange for the flexibility managing freelancers provides. I’m all for it–I get to work from home, focus on work I love doing for a company I really respect, manage my own environment and process, and success is all based on simple, well-planned goals and milestones. But it was not a totally easy decision, I must say.

When I was researching and planning the proposal I would make to the team here at The Bee , I thought about what would need to be in place for it to work. What were the five or six major contributors to successful freelancing that would determine success or failure? Here is my take:
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