Freelancing Can Mean the Difference Between a Great Career and a Great Life
How much can you quit your day job and pursue a career as a freelancer? Many people dream of having the freedom to create their own schedule and work from home when they want. For many, that means launching their own business. But before you get too excited — freelancing can be a great career move, but not if it’s done the wrong way. Freelancing is the act of contracting with an external party to provide services within a set period of time. This could be as simple as providing editing assistance for an article writing project or creating marketing content for your business. It doesn’t have to be high-end either. You can become a freelance writer by writing blog posts or articles for your company’s website or providing speechwriting services to assist your customers’ speaking engagements. Becoming a freelancer has several benefits that go well beyond just getting your day-to-day tasks completed more quickly and cheaply. Here are some potential pitfalls you need to know about before making the decision to become a freelancer:
Table of Contents
ToggleYou have to be able to find the work
Finding freelance work is easy when you know where to look. There are many websites that list available freelance opportunities, including Upwork, LinkedIn, and FreelanceWriting.org. But if you don’t know where to go, you could end up spending the majority of your time looking for work you’re not interested in. If you’re not actively seeking work, you might accidentally become dependent on finding freelance work. This could lead to stress, burnout, and an unhappy relationship with your clients.
You might not get paid for your work until a client is happy
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to work for free in order to meet a deadline, remember this rule of thumb: Work as much as you would like to have someone pay you. That means, if you’re willing to write an article for $300, then write it — no matter how bad it feels. If you don’t get paid for your work up front, you’ll have to be patient enough to wait for your client to become happy before you’ll be paid. Freelancers are often required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (or “NDA”) prohibiting them from discussing their work or disclosing their identities. But if you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to work for free in order to meet a deadline, remember this rule of thumb: Work as much as you would like to have someone pay you. That means, if you’re willing to write an article for $300, then write it — no matter how bad it feels. If you don’t get paid for your work up front, you’ll have to be patient enough to wait for your client to become happy before you’ll be paid. Freelancers are often required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (or “NDA”) prohibiting them from discussing their work or disclosing their identities. But if you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to work for free in order to meet a deadline, remember this rule of thumb: Work as much as you would like to have someone pay you. That means, if you’re willing to write an article for $300, then write it — no matter how bad it feels. If you don’t get paid for your work up front, you’ll have to be patient enough to wait for your client to become happy before you’ll be paid.
Freelance work usually isn’t set-and-forgotten
If you set out to become a freelancer with the intention of never using your skills again, you might have some misconceptions about what it’s like to be a freelancer. You might think that you only get paid when your work is completed. This couldn’t be further from the truth. You’ll usually get paid when the work is completed, and even then, you may not be paid on the day you’re supposed to receive it. It’s not unusual for clients to hold onto their unfinished work for months or years before paying you. If a client has been paying you for a while and then wants to cancel the project, it might be because they don’t need the work anymore. But if you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to work for free in order to meet a deadline, remember this rule of thumb: Work as much as you would like to have someone pay you. That means, if you’re willing to write an article for $300, then write it — no matter how bad it feels. If you don’t get paid for your work up front, you’ll have to be patient enough to wait for your client to become happy before you’ll be paid.
It’s not for everyone
Some people may be put off by the idea of working as a freelancer for the first time. They may worry about the work being repetitive, meaningless, or simply not worth their time. But these fears are largely unfounded. Freelancing isn’t for everyone. It requires a special type of person to take the plunge and start freelancing. You have to be willing to put in the time and effort to become a stronger freelancer. If you’re not interested in learning new skills, or you’re not willing to put in the effort to get better at what you do, you may want to look elsewhere. Freelancers who are interested in working on a long-term basis might find that becoming a full-time freelance offers greater stability than a single job could have offered. It might also allow you to focus on your work without feeling as though you must constantly be on task.
It requires perseverance and discipline
Becoming a freelance writer takes real dedication. You have to be willing to put in the time and effort to learn new skills and become a more effective writer. But it’s also important not to lose sight of the fact that freelancing can offer a greater career opportunity than traditional employment. If you ever feel like giving up, remember this quote by George Bernard Shaw: “There is nothing more Crusher-like than a man who is working too hard for other people, and not working for himself.” There is still great power in organizing and prioritizing your time, and in the knowledge that works has value. You have to be willing to put in the effort and make the sacrifice so that you can see your dreams come true. It might feel like a sacrifice at first, but in the long run, it will pay off in terms of increased satisfaction, increased productivity, and improved health.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, freelancing is a great way to earn extra money and provide more variety in your schedule. There’s no question that it’s a more flexible way to earn money, and there are many perks that come with the job. Freelancing is an attractive option for people who have a day job that they don’t want to leave. It gives you the opportunity to work on interesting and challenging projects, and you have the flexibility to choose which projects make the best sense for you.