I don't think I'm even close to being qualified to be sharing business tips as I'm fresh into the industry, but I've learned enough from personal experience and from watching friends and coworkers to know what to do and what not to do at this point in my life. And I wanted to pass it onto all y'all that are in a similar position.

01. Take criticism. Everyone has opinions and many people are not afraid to express their opinions. Putting yourself out there (especially on the internet), you're going to get critiqued, be it good or bad. No matter what, you can learn from what people say, and you should never take it personally. Criticism is everywhere you go. Try to look at it as a way to grow; that mindset will take you far.

02. Communication is key. When you take on a job, communicate. Be it freelance or even full time, make sure everything is discussed fully up front. If you're confused, don't be afraid to ask questions and make everything clear. You'll feel more dumb producing a wrong end result than asking too many questions too avoid that wrong end result. Talk it out.

03. Don't be afraid to contact anyone. Write down who you know or who you'd like to know. Even if you have big dreams, go for it. It's amazing that we live in a time where we can contact people from across the world. People share their emails for a reason - to set up contact. Take advantage of that! It never hurts to reach out and ask questions.

04. Best time to send out that e-mail? This is one of those weird things that I'm still testing out, but apparently the best time to send out emails for job opportunities or general inquiries is Tuesday through Thursday. Sending an email over the weekend can lead you to get lost in the middle of the crowd as soon as people check their messages first thing Monday morning. Towards the end of the week, your email may not even be checked until the week after. The best time to send something is in the middle of the week. It's something to keep in mind taking into consideration business days.

05. What do you have to lose? This has been becoming my motto. It helped me move across country. Then again, everyone is in a different position, so I understand not everyone can up and move. But it's the little things that count too. Going back to a previous point, if there's someone you want to contact about a question, new job opportunities, etc., send that email. You have to start looking at the world as a place with endless opportunities. So much is accessible, you just have to reach for it. Seek out those opportunities. What's the worst that can happen, you're denied or ignored? I think life can be much worse. Do as NIKE says.

06. Don't burn bridges. Something didn't turn out the way you planned? Disagree with someone? Job experience went sour? Don't lash out! I personally believe you should move on and keep your mouth closed. You never know when you're going to run into someone you don't like - sometimes avoiding is not as easy. The really crummy people also seem to have the best contacts, and you never know if you'll need to contact said crummy person to ask for help. Even a reference letter may be something you need. You never know. The world works in funny ways and it's never a good idea to burn bridges.

07. Don't always rely on others. Oh, I could go on for days about this one topic. Just the past few months alone I can tell you how horrible it can be relying on others. Keep in mind that everyone has their own life they're taking care of first. But at the end of the day, everything is always a waiting game because you're always interacting with other people; it's unavoidable. Have you been waiting on someone else to help you out with something? Don't wait. Find a way to make something work for yourself. If you held your breath waiting on others, you'd be dead. Take action yourself.

08. Don't be afraid to dive in, but be prepared with a backup plan. I don't think being impulsive is a bad things. Sometimes you just have to go for something whether you're prepared or not. But I have learned the hard way that a backup plan may be good to have. Things don't always work out the way you want and it's not so bad to have something to fall back on.

09. Underselling yourself can sometimes do more damage than good. If you take on a freelance job, charging too little may make you come off as a person who doesn't know what they're doing, or the work you produce isn't great. It can be uncomfortable talking numbers. Just remember, aim high because you can always work your way down. Most of the time there are negotiations, and it's better you worked together to reach a reasonable number than something you can't go back on from the beginning.
But there are exceptions, like in the next point...

10. Don't be afraid to compromise and satisfy others. Sometimes you have to work within peoples budgets, and small businesses have small budgets. If you're doing work for local companies, it's okay to work under your price range every so often to help the locals. In this cut throat world full of competition, small businesses are putting up such a fight to make it out alive. Every so often, it doesn't hurt to help out.

11. Follow your gut. I like to think of your gut as your sixth sense. It's an internal feeling that can help guide you when you're feeling indifferent. Following my gut helped me take on a lot and I feel comfortable saying it hasn't failed me yet. Who knows how many horrible decisions you've dodged by following your internal feelings. It's important to listen to yourself.

12. Always thank people for their time. To ask for someone to stop and put their attention on you, it's always respectful to thank them. It's just as easy stand out as a polite person as it is to stand out as a rude person. Between the two, I think we can all agree, be the polite person.

And one more bonus: a tweet from Tina Roth Eisenberg from Swiss Miss.

These are all points I have learned over the past year alone. With the new year coming, it's good to keep these in mind to apply them to future scenarios you find yourself in. I know I'm excited for the new year to start fresh and dive more into the business aspect of the freelance industry.
I'm sure this list will change and for sure grow, but I'll just have to wait and see!