Please tell a few words about yourself, your qualifications and your  work history.
I am a graphic designer specializing in the area of presentation/communication graphics.  I design and create graphics for large-format speaker support shows as well as graphics/visuals for smaller clients both corporate and non-profit.  Often times I serve as an on-site operator actually setting up the equipment, rehearsing and running the visuals for the live presentation.  I received my B.A. from Lake Forest College where I won an internship with Genigraphics Corp. my senior year.  My minor is in Computer Science.  I have been able to combine these two fields into a very rewarding career.  I have been working on my own since 1991.  Clients include McDonald's, Walgreens, Sprint, Caribiner, Image Base, Calabria, DSG Consulting, Radik, KPCB and Robert Crown Center for Health Education.

How did you become a a freelancer? How did the internet help you in this process?
I began freelancing because of a layoff in 1991 from Image Base - a company I had worked at for almost 3 years - and with whom I still freelance for.  Back when I started, the internet was in its infancy, so I had to find work the old fashioned way - by doing sales calls and word of mouth.  Because of the recession, work was scarce, but I ended up freelancing for McDonald's Corp. and everything started blossoming from there.

How did you find the elance.com web site and what was your first  impression?
A fellow freelancer told me about elance.  I was quite impressed when I saw it and thought the site would be a great way to help supplement my work during my slow periods.  I had two small children at home, so I wasn't travelling to show sites and had cut down on my work hours as well.  Elance helped me do what I wanted to do most - be able to juggle a family and work from my house.

Think back and describe how you won the first work assignment at elance and how managed to increase your earnings at the marketplace?
My first "win" was with Calabria - work with Loren Spurgeon.  He is such a wonderful person and I enjoy working with him immensely.  Winning that first job only about a month after I joined elance was a great boost to both my self esteem and to my business.  Back then, there weren't many providers in the presentation graphics arena, and I was soon receiving invitations to projects as well as winning more bids.  I was definitely NOT the cheapests artist out there, but Loren wanted quality work and was very impressed with the designs I came up for him.

Do you advertise your services elsewhere / use other marketplaces?
I am on Guru.com, but that is it.  The other marketplaces - in my opinion - aren't up to the standards that elance.com has.  I don't make a living off of intenet marketpalces, I just supplement my work.

Tell a few words about organizing your work (do you share assignments with others or do everything on your own, how much do you work a day, your schedule, etc.)
Well, it varies greatly.  I do have a group of freelancers I work with when I have big projects.  I have found a few fellow elancers to help me with various assignments.  But for my work, I do almost all of the design - that is what I like to do and where I think I excel.  I try to keep most jobs in house, but just with any other business, I vendor our when necessary.  I have had a banner year and just finished up a 4 month  project with Walgreens where we travelled to Nashville to assist with their Managers Meeting.  I try to average between 20 and 30 hours a week, but back in the old days,  a 80 hour work week was not unheard of.  I did have to put my children in daycare this summer for 2 days a week to help me concentrate on my workload, but I do try to take Fridays off to be with them, and I work when they nap and after they go to bed.  My day may seem pretty hectic to some people but who wouldn't want to draw up sketches/designs while sipping lemonade poolside watching the children play.  Yes, there are plenty of perks!

Do you think it makes a difference where you and the buyer of your  service live, or geography has absolutely no importance today? Do you miss  personal interaction with your clients or  telecommunications technology totally make up for it?
I have clients all over the country. Yes, I do miss interacting with individuals one-on-one, but I do get out to see local clients a great deal.  I have worked with some clients for almost 2 years and still haven't met them!  Phone conferences do come in handy as does email and FedX.  Since I live just outside of Chicago I have access to many companies who have corporate headquarters either in Chicago or in the suburbs.  Geographically it's great!  I think that if I lived somewhere else, my business would not have been as successful.  As for clients through elance, only a few have requested being local, and of course they were all in the Chicagoland area. But with today's technology, it isn't a necessity.

How does the fact that you  work at home affect  your lifestyle?
Well, my house is a mess!  You would think that working at home would mean a neater home, but that isn't the fact.  Since I work and live here, I make twice the mess - not to mention 2 small children running around as well.  My office is full of toys and computers (we have 5 in all - my husband is a web designer) and many times I'm working and the children are playing, coloring or fighting - which does happen.  Working at home with children can be hard work, but it can be very rewarding.  Learning how to juggle and to keep on a schedule is extremely important.  The kids know that if I work for a while, then I will take a break and play.  We always have lunch together and enjoy visits to the park, zoo and friends houses.  But, there are still times when I need some dedicated "client time" so baby sitters do come in handy!  There was one time when my daughter picked up the other line while I was on a conference call - she was babbling away as a 1 year old would do - and the client did get a big kick out of it.  "So, how many children do you have?" he asked.  Most people are extremely understanding - but I have run into a few who frown upon the idea of me working at home with children.  Fortunately, they are the minority.

What would you suggest to people who want to start a freelance career and work independently from home?
My first bit of advice would be to make sure that you can afford to work at home.  Insurance, phone lines, electricity are all expenses that you will need to handle on your own.  We had to upgrade our electrical service to keep all of the computers running.  Second, don't forget to estimate your taxes!  I learned that one the hard way.  Third, if you have a passion for what you do and have excelled in the working world, then by all means, give it a go.  It isn't for everybody.  It does get lonely at times.  I think for women especially, it is a wonderful way to juggle a career and family.  I haven't lost my skill sets and when my children are in school full-time, I can  merge my way back into longer hours and the possibility of expanding my  business.  It can be very hard at time, and you will have some VERY slow periods as well.  If it is what you want to do, then you will succeed.  I firmly believe that if you set your mind to it, it will happen.  I have been doing this for 10 years - and I haven't regretted it for a minute!  Where else can you work in your fuzzy slippers, watch Nickelodeon and play at the park all while earning a living?  Think about it :)

Profile of Caroline's Business: Reflection Graphics on eLance.com