Mechanical Turk Work: A little experiment

Registered recently to work as a mechanical turk for Amazon. Will post here progress and supply feedback. don't know what I am in for. Other than getting paid to wile away the hours on the internet.

So far the interface is a bit of a pain. The list of available HITs (human intelligence tasks) is not very friendly. Keeps resetting to the top of the list after viewing then rejecting tasks from later pages. Does not recall tasks that have already been performed (for which you are no longer eligible in some cases).

But to date I have earned $1.60.  Almost as much as my blog.....

Infographic: the Freelancer’s Game of Life

The folks at FreshBooks posted this infographic on their blog.

Infographic: the Freelancer’s Game of Life

Of course it is fun to imagine that freelancing is all rainbows and kittens, but in the game of life there are often more pitfalls than the few move back # spaces possible landing areas.

• You realize that taking vacation is the same as UNEMPLOYMENT lose 2 moves
• Selling time for money means you never have any time move back 3
• There are 24 billable hours in each day, land overseas account, tele-presence and move forward
• Tax deductible is not the same as free, pay the bank $2000
• Your non-equity partners make off with your account, move back 1 space
• You finished the job, now get them to pay you, sit out next round
• You need find a contract house to manage the project move forward 5 spaces

Being successful as a freelancer is still something that eludes most who try. I doubt there are stats out there, but I would not be surprised if more than 75% of freelancers have to resort to going native after the first 2 years. Having survived 7 myself before getting a J.O.B. it is not always a sunny as this infographic makes it sound. First of all, i don't know many freelancers that even know the meaning of retirement.

SethG: 16 questions for free agents

Seth Grodin's Blog recently post the questions that I had long sought to consider in this blog. But of course since he is Seth and I am not he gets props for saying to more people. I would however like to consider his post:

16 questions for free agents

1. Who are you trying to please?
2. Are you trying to make a living, make a difference, or leave a legacy?

8. Which: to invent a category or to be just like Bob/Sue, but better?

11. Choose: teach and lead and challenge your customers, or do what they ask...

15. How close to failure, wipe out and humiliation are you willing to fly? (And while we're on the topic, how open to criticism are you willing to be?)
16. What does busy look like?

I wish I had posted it first, but it is a good list.
Check out Seth's Blog or search here for other consulting and free agent suggestions.

Freelancing: Techni-HOs unite

In a recent post Seth Godin ("the Dip" Dude) covered a favorite topic here Freelancing and Value they provide. Sure we often reduce the bottom line (we have lower overhead than those who are part of the SYSTEM; but they often overlook the value of being from outside the mainstream and the passion that freelancers have for their chosen Vocation (just the fact that they live off it makes the a in avocation silent).


Hire based on passion when passion matters, if cost comes along for the ride even better.

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