When I first
dreamed of beginning my freelance career, I had fantasies of how great it would
be. I'd be my own boss, work on projects that would actually interest me, and
set my own work hours.
Suddenly
that afternoon workout wouldn't be out of reach, and I could release my
wardrobe of work clothes into the wild, never to be seen again.
At the time,
I was so tired of the 9-5 grind, the pointless meetings, and unfulfilling work
that consumed most of my career. I knew I needed a change. During that period of
my life I began reading a lot about the growth of the freelance marketplace and
envisioned freelancing as a means of control: I choose the projects and people
I work with, and I choose when and where I work. I decided then and there that
if so many others could do it, I could too.
I've never
regretted my move to freelancing, and it is one of the most rewarding things
I've ever done. It has a number of unique perks, and when freelancing goes
well, it's incredibly satisfying.
However,
there is so much about freelancing that I didn't know at the time, and, in many
ways, it's much harder than my old job. It changes the way you work and the way
you live, and you have to be ready for that if you want to succeed.
Here's the
ugly truth about freelancing:
1. You don't
work full time
One of the
best aspects of freelancing is that in the past 10 years, I've worked on
countless projects. I've done work for non-profits, local boutiques, and even a
handful of enterprises. The variety is refreshing and engaging, but between
projects there is often a lull.
I remember
early in my career I once spent two months looking for work before finally
landing my next paid gig. Now, not every gap between paychecks will be that
long, but they do happen, and they happen frequently. If you don't have enough
savings to get through to the next paid gig, you'll be in trouble.
I wasn't
prepared for the stress of these pay gaps at first, nor the hustle required to
find new gigs. Being a successful freelancer requires a knack for selling yourself
and convincing others to work with you.
2.
Freelancing isn't just about your expertise
Speaking of
the need to sell yourself during interviews with new clients, there are many
other skills you must learn to freelance long term. Not only did I have to
learn how to impress during client meetings, but I had to set up those meetings
in the first place, which meant I had to figure out how to market myself (and
trust me, this is more involved than creating a great resume).
I tried
several freelance platforms, but over the years, I found that a professional
website brought me the most clients, and that's how I get most of my work
today. However, this isn't the end of it, either. As a freelancer, I also have
to handle all of my finances, create invoices for clients, and handle all of my
taxes.
The truth is
that most of my time freelancing doesn't even go to the work I was hired to do
— finding clients and handling financial or administrative tasks take me more
time than anything else.
3. The start
of your freelance career is the hardest part
Make no
mistake: The path to freelancing is difficult. No matter what your background
is, no one will pay you for work at the start of your career. If they do, it
will be very little. I ended up doing my first few projects for free in order
to convince clients that I could work successfully in a freelance capacity.
Vetting
processes are also very common, whether a client is hiring for copywriter,
illustrator, or even running an ecommerce site for them. Even when you have a
portfolio of freelance projects pulled together, it takes years to build trust
and reliability with your clients in order to charge higher fees. In my 10
years of freelancing, it's only in the past three that I've earned more
annually than I did at my old job.
4. It's
lonely
While the freedom
of freelancing has many perks, among them no commute, no cubicles, and no
schedule, you also don't have coworkers. There are no after-work drinks, chatty
lunches, or even catching up with colleagues in the hallways.
As a
freelancer, you work alone, and that can take a toll on you mentally. In the
course of my freelance career, I've found that my social circle has grown
smaller, and I have fewer friends than I used to. On the other hand, I spend
more time with my family than I did while working at my office job.
The truth is
that freelancing requires fortitude. You must be able to stay on task without a
boss looking over your shoulder and remain happy with diminished socialization.
I have discovered ways to mitigate the loneliness, such as working at a cafe or
co-working space, but even so, freelancers must be prepared to accept a
diminished social life in exchange for the flexibility and freedom of their
work.
Much has
been said about the benefits of freelancing. I haven't really focused on them
in this post, but they exist, and they are wonderful. However, I feel that not
enough attention has been given to the tougher realities of freelancing. It's
hard and risky work. Despite the negatives, I wouldn't trade almost a decade of
freelancing for anything in the world!
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