Do you remember when you were younger and you had all sorts of ideas on how you were going to make money? Maybe those thoughts stemmed from a new bike you had your eye on, or maybe you had just discovered the opposite sex and wanted to impress. Whatever your reasons for the newfound aspiring financial freedom, you ventured forth with gusto. This is the beginning of a series I will be writing for the coming weeks about how to market yourself and gain success, as you  apply the excitement and expectations of a child.

Kids do surprisingly well with their business ventures, by kids financial standards. If someone could find a way to temper down their fickleness towards professions, we could be looking at the next generation of megamillionaires.

We can learn a lot from children by the watching the way they tackle projects. They’re excited. They do all they can to make sure people know what they’re offering. They become fixated on the project. Everyone they come in contact hears about their great plan and when it will be launched. Before they even set up their stand, everyone in the neighborhood knows what’s going on. Next time you see some kids set up on the side of the road with a lemonade stand, take notice of what they do when they see your car approaching. Most likely you will see them jumping up and down as they yell out to you that they have lemonade. The stand will be festively decorated and their excitement will shine. Neighbors will find themselves drawn to get that cup of lemonade they’ve been hearing about. It’s hard to resist that kind of confidence and eagerness from a salesperson.

Even as teenagers, they still possess that gusto. Seen any fundraiser car washes lately? Maybe it’s just a nice excuse for them to but on their bathing suits and make spectacles of themselves by the roadside, but whatever the reason, they get attention to the activity. It’s all in the approach.

Somewhere along the lines of maturity we lose our zeal and uninhibited expression of excitement. We need to find that inner child again and bring a new refreshing approach to business. As a freelancer, you have the variety of everchanging projects and clients, but if you’re steadily busy, monotony and ritual can silently seep into your routine as you put on your blinders and plug straight forward just to make it to the next days goal.

So find your excitement, emulate your eagerness to serve, exhibit your pride in what you do. The neighbors will come flocking.