Although often considered applicable to economics, it has also been used in biology to understand evolution, and more recently applied to business and decision-making by customers and others.

There are people who appear to fizz with new ideas, throwing them out every other day, or so it seems. We can all develop our innovation skills with a bit of practice.

Good marketing brings the right prospective customers to you, and enables you to meet their needs when they arrive.

For many, chasing up unpaid bills is so challenging that they might even just let a bill go unpaid rather than risk upsetting a client or getting into a confrontation.

As a freelancer, your network is perhaps your most important tool for obtaining work because it allows you to create and validate a reputation.

Overprice your work, and you will price yourself out of the market. Undercharge, and you will not be able to afford to live, never mind carry on freelancing.

The key is to find a balance between work and your household chores, or the distractions available.

Many more companies are now recognising that people value the flexibility of home-working, and that it can often make them more productive and happier. Others are simply reducing their office space and encouraging home-working as a result.