[sheraz]

Keeping the pipeline full for when projects end or go on hiatus.

The dumbest mistake I've made has been this.

That slack time in between paying gigs can really kill financial momentum. Also, If I'm idle for more than two weeks that wastes not only money but also mental bandwidth. I go from thinking about work to thinking about how to get work, and that is stressful.

Always be networking. Always take meetings even if you are fully booked. Stay visible.

[decasteve]

I would add to that by saying taking advantage of slack time is difficult. Taking breaks, holidays, sabbaticals, is tough when the mind is used to thinking about getting more work in between projects.

[chatmasta]

Conversely, keeping the pipeline full while engaged on other projects. This applies especially if you are booking in one-month blocks. How do you keep incoming leads hot when you won't be available for at least 60 days?

[sheraz]

I'm very upfront about my availability. I also let people know weeks in advance when I will be available. And in between that time I stay visible at my favorite events/meetups and in social media (publishing little open source things), asking questions, etc.