January 2003

Happy New Year everyone! I would like to wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2003. I know this is a traditional time for resolutions, but I know I have hardly had a moment to think about myself and my future. With 15 houseguests for Christmas and the same number for New Year, shopping and cooking took up all my spare time. Time is short for everyone this time of year. I expect that you are able to empathise, so this month I¹ll keep the letter short. It is late, for obvious reasons!

In this issue:

1 Get published
2 What¹s on
3 What¹s new
Get published
Many people claim to want to write a book some day. And, as someone who has been published by major publishers and also branched out into self-publishing, I have seen exactly how powerful being published can be. When my first book was published back in 1985, it was a cookery book called French Tarts. Immediately people believed that not only could I write, Œofficially¹ but that I could cook too. I had became an expert. Yet I was only 24 and this was my first book.

In later years I moved away from cookery and began to teach computers. I soon found myself writing computer handbooks. So I was a computer expert too, which made it much easier for me to convince clients to select me to do their training.

After ten years abroad, reinventing myself professionally, I decided to write a book that would help others to create a portable career too. That was A Career in Your Suitcase. Now I was a portable career expert. Each time I found myself a speaking engagement I would sell books to the delegates. Sometimes as many as three quarters of the attendees would buy a copy. I had discovered the benefits of Œback of the room¹ or passive sales. Not only did the book stand as proof that I knew what I was talking about, but the presentations sold more books.

If you talk to any other professional speakers you will find that they all want to produce a book, booklet, or a recording of their seminar on CD or audio tape. Have you ever been to a concert or a talk and noticed that the musician or presenter has products to sell? Next time, notice how you feel compelled to purchase. If you know that the products are not available through traditional outlets, then you are more likely than ever to part with your cash on the day.

Right now I am doing some work as a publishing consultant. Two of my clients are speakers who want to boost their reputations and back of the room sales. I help them to turn their expertise into words they can sell.

But you do not have to write a book in order to give your reputation a boost. It can be enough to write an article, even if you do not get paid for it. Have copies printed and available for your clients or students. They will be impressed and will have added faith in your abilities.

If you feel that writing is not one of your strengths then promise yourself that you will find yourself a pet journalist, someone who finds writing easy. See if you can exchange services with that writer. See if she can write about you and what you can do for her in exchange. I once wrote an article about a potter for Ceramics Monthly. The magazine paid little for the article but my potter gave me a huge amount of crockery.

There is great power in the published word. So if you only make one resolution this year, ensure it is to get into print during 2003.

Jo Parfitt

PS You will find several pieces about writing on my website, including the new addition of Publish to Impress in the new Getting Published section. And there¹s a piece about Writing as a Career in the Careers to Go section too.

PPS I am delighted to have been invited to run an online course for expatriate writers for Moira Allen at Writing World. It will start to run in March this year. At $100 for an eight week course it represents great value. My course is called The Expatriate Writer, but if you fancy learning some other aspect of writing take a look at the other courses she has on offer at http://www.writing-world.com

What¹s new on the web
A Dutch friend of mine, Marja Kooreman, now based in New Zealand has written about me and A Career in Your Suitcase 2 at http://www.rnw.nl/cgi/?app=expat&sessie=&page=item&id=6002 <http://www.rnw.nl/cgi/?app=expat&amp;sessie=&amp;page=item&amp;id=6002

Or you can read about how to make a career as a speaker on the Weekly Telegraph site by taking a look at an article I wrote recently at http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2002/12/17/elparfit17.xml

I recently met Nannette Ripmeester of Labour Mobility at the Expatica conference in Amsterdam. Nannette¹s company has produced 30 guides that are packed full of local job search information. There¹s some more information about her work in the Getting a Proper Job section of the website. Or you can learn about the company at http://www.labourmobility.com.

I belong to a discussion forum that is run by the Director¹s Centre. Recently we were discussing places to find freelancers or register for work. Elance came highly recommended, so why not take a look at http://www.elance.com. I have also just heard about Freelance Contractors¹ new site, which can be found at www.freelancecontractors.com

Another site that has lots of articles and links to career related articles in Goinglobal. Right now you can read articles on finding work in Norway, Singapore¹s increase in contract work opportunities and outsourcing in Germany. Take a look at http://www.gloinglobal.com.