Life as a Freelancer
Life as a freelancer is really tough and easy at the same time. The word freelancer is often used in close connection with the word ‘freedom’ since they are closely linked. Though partially true, the life of a freelancer is definitely not all gay and full of merriment. Millions of people out there are deciding to quit the boredom and lethargy that come with a 9 to 5 job and are opting to work as a freelancer. When I took the decision myself, I had to garner a lot of courage and the initial days did not seem to be troubling at all. I had the choice of not working when I didn’t want to, working from anywhere I wanted to and more importantly to get to decide how much and what kind of work I want to take up as a freelancer.
Having said that, you must also know that what disturbed me and has a similar effect on any other freelancer are the times when I did not get work, the days when I kept pitching for one project after the other, but they were awarded to someone else. There were weeks when I had to curtail my grocery shopping since I wasn’t sure what kind of project I will be getting. On the other hand, I always knew that good work will be appreciated irrespective of whether you are a freelancer or a full time employee in an organization. It feels great to know that someone is hiring you because they know you will be doing the work, only because they have faith in your abilities and like what you do. This is the biggest reward for any freelancer.
There are certain features which identify the life of any freelancer and while freedom is one of the most discussed ones, there are others which contradict the concept of freedom of choice. When I started to work as a freelancer, I didn’t know that there would be no time boundaries. There aren’t any. The credibility of a freelancer is largely dependent on his or her ability to deliver on time and this is what made me very tense. Work as a freelancer meant not having any starting or ending time and even today I have to wait for client feedbacks and make changes whenever they want me to. This includes working on Sundays and public holidays too, if need be! A freelancer is also responsible for finding work on their own which means that the time which you won’t be spending on work might be spent after getting some. I worked out an easy way around this once I had a steady base of clients – I created a schedule for my work and told myself that a freelancer needs her free time too!
Risk is another major issue causing many sleepless nights to a freelancer but what good was ever achieved without it! Risk is likely to crop up more in terms of the financial side of your work as a freelancer. You might even have to do some charity during your initial days to prove your worth. Once you are confident about your skills, it is best to ask for an advance payment for your freelancer projects. Remember that a good client, who has no intentions of cheating you, will be willing to send it without much hassle. However, to prove your worth, a freelancer must indulge in constant marketing. I took every opportunity where I met strangers to talk about how I work as a freelancer.
In this regard, it is definitely important that you have a website or at least be very visible on the internet through social networking sites. Clients who are looking to hire a freelancer are almost always looking for them online these days. In fact, there are many websites which offer work opportunities to a freelancer and this does not include the writing and translation industry but also graphic designing, website designing, data analysis and much more. In fact, you might be surprised to know that certain finance companies and HR companies need a freelancer too! Get a business card printed and mention that you are a freelancer when handing it over. Most people are fascinated by the idea of freelancing even now and will remember it.
The biggest kick that I get everyday out of my life as a freelancer is how I am in control of everything. This also means that I am the one responsible for it all. Thus, on days when I am sick, I end up wishing for someone who would fill in for me. A freelancer is also in charge of his or her own development and this is what will determine whether or not you will have a sustainable base of clients. If you are a writer, you have to read and increase your stock of words and improve your writing skills. If you are freelancer in website designing, you have to be aware of the different software being launched and at the same time do research to find out about the latest trends in the industry. This is both an enticing and a stressful idea – there is no one to tell you what you are doing wrong expect maybe your clients who might just take the project away from you!
Connectivity is what keeps everything smooth for a freelancer. You must be available, even if not for work, for a chat or a feedback. You never know when a potential client is looking up your profile on a site and wondering whether or not to hire you! In order to make it big as a freelancer, you must divide your time but not be stressed if work intrudes into your free time. A successful freelancer always responds to phone calls and messages or at least gets back to them in time, checks email on a regular basis and replies to them. Don’t be shy of meeting new people and interacting with them about your freelancer work – anyone can be a potential client for a freelancer!
