Freelancing is still a relatively new concept for many people. It didn’t exist when our parents were searching for jobs, and it’s only been around for 20 or so years, even though it seems like centuries in the fast-paced age of tech.
But even though freelancing has become more common in recent years and is expected to continue to grow over the next decade, there are still some widespread myths about the practice that just won’t seem to go away. Below, I’ll debunk 15 of them:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Freelancers can enjoy flexible schedules and work when they are most productive. |
| Freelancing is not limited to creative professionals; it spans various industries. |
| Digital nomads face challenges related to visas and time zone differences while traveling. |
| Freelancers can collaborate with clients from different parts of the world. |
| Freelancers need to arrange their benefits, including health insurance, but have the freedom to choose suitable options. |
1. Freelancers Are Lazy
The myth that freelancers are lazy is so wrong! Freelancers work more hours than salaried workers, both in terms of weekly and annual hours. The average full-time freelancer works 47 extra hours each year, as compared to 40 extra annual hours for salaried counterparts.
If you’re a freelancer who doesn’t put in the time, you’ll lose out on opportunities and revenue and be less likely to get hired by clients who value your skillset.
Revealing too much to clients can sometimes lead to misunderstandings and jeopardize a freelancer’s professionalism. In our article on 13 Things Freelancers Should Never Reveal to Clients, we share essential tips to maintain a strong client-freelancer relationship without oversharing.
2. Freelancers Are Rich
This is one of the most common myths about freelancing. The term “freelancer” conjures images of glamour, wealth and fame: people who get paid so much money by companies that they don’t even know what to do with all of it.
While this can be true for some freelancers (and we’ll tell you how to make it happen), it’s not necessarily true for everyone who works as a freelancer.
Freelancers can be rich, but not all of them are. It depends on what you do, how much time you spend and how much you charge.
If your passion is writing but you only charge five cents per word for your articles or blog posts then chances are that even if you work every day for 10 hours a day for 365 days a year (which equates to approximately $15k) then chances are that won’t make anyone rich because there aren’t many businesses out there willing to pay such low rates!
Freelancing is a great way to earn extra income while working from home in your pajamas; however, if someone tells me they want to become a freelancer so they can retire early without ever having saved up any money or invested wisely then I would probably show them some basic financial literacy resources before encouraging them further down this road!
3. Freelancing Is Easy
Freelancing is easier than you think.
We get it, freelancing can sound terrifying at first. You might think that you need years of experience, connections, and formal education to be able to become a successful freelancer. But the truth is: none of those things are needed!
Freelancing is rewarding and fun. There are many benefits of freelancing: for instance, you can work from home, or anywhere else in the world where there’s an internet connection; you can set your hours (or have no specific schedule at all) and make enough money just by working on your terms with people who share similar passions as yours.
Freelancing may offer flexibility, but it certainly isn’t an easy path to success. Discover the realities of freelancing and how to overcome challenges in our detailed piece on Why Freelancing Isn’t Easy.
4. Freelancing Is A Waste Of Time
Fact: Freelancing is an incredibly popular career choice at the moment. According to Upwork, freelancers are expected to make up more than half of the U.S. workforce by 2020!
Because opportunities for part-time or full-time work exist in every industry from writing and design to research and development freelance workers can carve out their niche within their fields by offering something unique or special that people want.
Whether you’re looking for a side hustle or planning on quitting your day job altogether, there are plenty of ways you can make money while working from home or even while traveling around the globe (think Uber drivers).
And if you prefer a quieter type of career, there are plenty of remote positions available where all you have to do is sit at home with your laptop in front of you (and maybe some snacks).
5. You’re Stuck At Home
There’s no need to be stuck at home. You can work from anywhere. If you’re a digital nomad and want to travel, that’s fine. Or maybe you live in a small town without any local freelancing opportunities, but can still access Wi-Fi or have an unlimited data plan on your phone (if so, I’m jealous).
Or maybe you just don’t feel like setting up shop in your kitchen on this particular day because it’s too messy and also who wants to look at their desk every time they try to get some work done? There are plenty of options for where people choose to do their jobs; it all depends on what works best for them.
6. You Don’t Get Free Time
As a freelancer, you’re available 24/7 and yes, that includes weekends and holidays. You’re also expected to work at any hour of the day or night if your client needs you to.
This can be tough because we all have lives outside of work; many people like me have children or other family members who depend on them for care and assistance in times of need.
But as a freelancer, you potentially risk losing money if you don’t meet your client’s deadlines (or at least try).
Curious about which freelance jobs pay the highest wages? Check out our comprehensive article on What Freelance Jobs Pay the Highest Hourly Wages to explore lucrative opportunities in the freelancing world.
7. You Can’t Afford To Live A Normal Lifestyle
You can still have a normal lifestyle.
You don’t have to live in a basement and eat ramen noodles every day; you can still buy a house, have kids, go on holiday and go to the gym. You can even eat out and see movies!
8. You Have To Do It Alone
You don’t have to do it alone.
There are many freelancers out there who will be happy to help you, and who can teach you a thing or two about how their industry works. There are online communities where people exchange tips, tricks, advice, and more and this is invaluable if you’re just starting.
You may even want to join an organization like Freelancers Union (a union for independent workers) that can help you find clients or keep tabs on new trends in your field.
You should also check out the many freelance websites available online today: platforms where businesses post jobs that need doing, and freelancers bid on those jobs. T
these sites often include a feedback system so clients can rate the quality of work they’ve received from freelancers; this makes them ideal places for finding good talent quickly while also protecting yourself from bad experiences with unskilled workers who might not do what they promise or deliver poor results when hired by others before now!
9. Freelancing Is For People Unable To Find Jobs In The Corporate World
This is one of the most common myths about freelancing, and it couldn’t be further from the truth. There are many reporters, writers, and editors working as freelancers who have spent years working in publishing.
Some freelance writers have previously worked for newspapers or magazines but found that they wanted to work on their schedule and make more money than they were making at a newspaper or magazine (or both).
Many freelancers choose to freelance because they’re attracted by the freedom of being their boss they don’t have to answer to anyone else but themselves!
Freelancing has revolutionized the way people work, providing unprecedented opportunities. Learn more about the positive impact of freelancing in our article on Freelancing: The Best Thing to Happen to Work in a Long Time.
10. Everyone Can Be A Freelancer
You don’t need any specific skills to be a freelancer. You can make money in any industry. You don’t need a degree either. Some of the most successful people in the world were not schooled beyond high school or even college, as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are prime examples of this myth being busted.
You also don’t have to be creative or come up with ideas (in fact, if you’re good at selling yourself and your services then the idea never has to leave your head).
And it doesn’t mean that you should work all day every day in fact, many freelancers find that they have more time on their hands than they did when working full-time jobs because they are no longer commuting between home and work every day!
11. You Need Specific Skills To Be Successful As A Freelancer
If you have a skill, great! It will help.
You don’t need any specific skills to be successful as a freelancer. If you want to write code, go ahead and do it! You can be successful at anything as long as your passion and drive are there
Freelancing is a great way to learn new skills – even if you’re doing something completely unrelated to what’s on your resume right now. For example, if I had never been a writer before getting into this business I would have never learned how to write well enough that people would pay me for it (and enjoy reading what I wrote).
12. Becoming A Freelancer Means You Can’t Pursue Other Passions
When you become a freelancer, you can still pursue other passions. You can still have a social life, a family, and hobbies. Your freelance business is simply one of many ventures that you want to pursue and it doesn’t mean that this is the only thing you should be doing with your time.
When I decided to become a writer full time, my husband said the following: “Just because we’re married doesn’t mean that our lives will be over.” (This came after I told him about how much money I’d be making each month.)
He was right; even though I’m now working from home as a writer, there are still plenty of things left for me and my husband to do together outside of work like spending time with friends or going out on dates at least once per week!
13. You’ll Have No Work-Life Balance
What many people don’t realize is that, even if you work from home, you can still have a social life and stay in touch with friends and family. You can also take time off to do other things if you want who says your 9-to-5 has to be 9-to-9?!
While it’s true that freelancers often work more than 40 hours a week due to deadlines or extra projects (and we’ll get into why that’s not necessarily a bad thing later), there is still time for leisure activities such as exercise, meditation and socializing.
Some studies have shown that working from home increases productivity because employees are less distracted by office politics or gossiping coworkers!
Freelance writing not only offers a career path but can also have positive effects on mental health. Dive into our exploration of how freelance writing contributes to well-being in our article on How Freelance Writing Helps Your Mental Health.
14. It’s Not A Real Career Choice
It’s not a real career choice.
Saying that freelancing isn’t a real career choice is an ignorant myth that needs to stop immediately. Freelancers are some of the most successful people in the world, with millions of them earning six figures or more per year from their work.
Freelancing gives you the flexibility to choose your schedule and work on projects that interest you most, which can be great if you want to travel more often or spend more time with family and friends.
None of these myths are true!
15. Freelancing Is Not A Scam
You can make more money freelancing than you would in a regular job. Most successful freelancers make much more than they did when they worked for someone else. They’re able to work from home or anywhere else, pursue other interests and have a normal lifestyle with time for family and friends.
A lot of people take up freelancing because they want to work fewer hours but still make ends meet and that’s possible!
It also allows you to choose your projects rather than having them assigned by an employer or client who may not understand the importance of what it is exactly that YOU want to do (or how skilled YOU are).
Conclusion
So there you have it: 15 myths about freelancing, debunked. There are countless reasons to become a freelancer, whether you want to make more money, move away from the 9-to-5 workday or pursue a passion that can’t be fulfilled in your full-time job.
Freelancing can be as rewarding as it is challenging; it takes time, patience, and some serious hustle. But if you go into it with the right mindset (and a few of these tips in mind), you can set yourself up for success.
Further Reading
Debunking 13 Crazy Freelancing Myths: Explore and dispel common misconceptions about freelancing in this informative article.
15 Stupid Myths About Being a Digital Nomad: Learn the truth behind the myths surrounding the digital nomad lifestyle and discover what it’s really like to work remotely and travel.
Common Myths About Freelancing Debunked: Uncover the reality of freelancing by debunking some of the most widespread myths in this insightful blog post.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Freelancing?
Freelancing is the act of doing work on a contract basis instead of working for one employer. It’s becoming increasingly popular as the number of freelancers continues to grow.
You can freelance in any industry, but there are some industries where it’s more common than others. For example, around 70% of all graphic designers are freelancers, while only about 5% of lawyers do their work as freelancers.
How Does It Work?
The most important thing to understand about how freelancing works is that there are two types: short-term and long-term contracts. Short-term contracts are typically for projects like writing an article or designing a logo;
Long-term contracts mean you’ll be working for someone for months or even years at a time. Some people prefer one over the other some like having variety in their work, while others like having a consistent paycheck from one client but either way, being able to offer both kinds of contracts makes you much more valuable as a freelancer!
Can I Work From Home?
Yes, you can work from home and if you’re a freelancer, you probably will. However, it’s important to remember that you need to keep your workspace clean and organized.
You don’t have an office manager with a strict dress code or a team of co-workers to help you stay on top of things. You have to make sure everything is in its place so that you can focus on your work.
What If I Don’t Know How To Do Something?
If you’re new at freelancing, don’t worry! There are lots of resources available online that can help you learn new skills or brush up on old ones. You can also ask other people in your field what they recommend or search for tutorials on YouTube.
How Do I Get Clients?
It’s simple: just start reaching out! There are plenty of ways for businesses and individuals alike to find freelancers these days you just need to know how those methods work and what kind of results they produce so that you can decide which one(s) are right for your business needs and budget constraints based on your goals for the future (or even just today).
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.