The world of work is constantly evolving. Between the gig economy, remote work, and the rise of freelancers, it can be hard to keep up with what’s happening next. 

As a freelancer myself for the past three years, I have learned a lot about how to manage my time, make connections in my industry, and network with other companies. 

This blog post will take a deep dive into how freelancing is changing work in all industries by exploring freelance confessions from experts in their field.

Takeaways
Freelancing offers flexibility and autonomy in the modern work landscape.
The gig economy is reshaping traditional employment models.
Technology plays a significant role in the evolution of freelancing.
Freelancers face unique challenges and benefits in their career paths.
Embracing freelancing can lead to transformative changes in the way people work and live.

1. I Like Freelancing, But It’s Not Always Pure Bliss

You may have heard that being a freelance artist or writer is the best thing ever and that you should quit your day job immediately and go live in an artisanal coffee shop where you can sip lattes while writing novels based on your life experiences as a free man or woman.

That’s one way to do it, sure but it’s not for everyone. For example, freelancing isn’t all fun and games (or lattes). It’s also not all sunshine and roses; there are tough days when you feel like giving up on your dreams altogether because things aren’t going according to plan. 

And sometimes and this is the hardest part freelance work feels more like a vacation than a real job, which can make staying motivated hard if you don’t take regular breaks from time to time (also known as “vacations”).

Freelancing in the insurance industry opens doors to diverse opportunities and financial growth. Discover the secrets to becoming a successful freelance writer in the insurance sector by exploring our comprehensive guide on building a career in the insurance industry.

2. You Need To Be Vulnerable (And You Need To Know How To Make Yourself Tough)

You need to be vulnerable to be a good freelancer. You need to know how to make yourself tough and you need to know how to make yourself vulnerable. 

The best freelancers are both, but most people don’t realize that vulnerability is an essential skill for healthy self-care, especially when you’re out there working by yourself. But you also have to learn how to protect yourself from being taken advantage of by clients who want your time and talent but not your expertise or experience in return. 

It’s easy as hell for some people who don’t have much business knowledge at all (and whose only requirement was some technical expertise) because they can just look at the other person’s resume and say “How much do I pay this guy?” Those kinds of clients suck; they’re not worth working with because they don’t value what you bring them (or respect what it took for you).

3. There Are More Options Than You Think (And That’s A Good Thing)

Many people assume that there are only two options: working for yourself or working for a company. But there are also plenty of opportunities to freelance in between those poles for example, as an employee of a large company who takes on some freelance work on the side.

That’s right you can go from being a full-time employee at one company to being an employee at another company while working on your projects on the side. You may even find that it makes sense to work with both companies simultaneously.

If you do so, however, make sure they know about each other and how they can support each other’s efforts so that there isn’t any confusion or conflict among them down the road (or as soon as next week).

Embracing remote work as a freelancer can be rewarding, but it requires specific strategies for success. Learn how to excel as a remote freelancer and find valuable tips in our article on being a successful freelancer without in-person meetings.

4. It’s Harder For Introverts, But Not Impossible

If you’re an introvert, freelancing can be a real challenge. You have to be more social, assertive, outgoing, and flexible than you might be used to. Not only that, but it’s also a good idea for introverts to become more patient, confident, and self-aware.

This is because introverts are often good at working independently, so they don’t always know what they need outside of their head! They may have trouble developing communication skills or interacting with clients effectively until they take actionable steps toward getting help.

5. You Have To Develop A Thick Skin (Quickly)

As a freelancer, you’re going to get negative feedback. And it will sting. The trick is learning how to deal with it so that it doesn’t get the best of you and prevents you from accomplishing your goals.

While we could go on forever talking about all how freelancing can be difficult, we’ve chosen five that stand out as especially important:

• You have to learn how to handle rejection (and criticism)
• You’ll need a thick skin when dealing with clients or customers who aren’t happy with your work
• You need strong communication skills because most of your work will come from relationships built over time (rather than one-off projects).

6. The Decision To Go Out On Your Own Isn’t Easy But It May Be The Right One

You might think that going out on your own is a no-brainer. But it’s not for everyone. Some people are comfortable staying in the corporate world, enjoying the stability of an employer who provides benefits and regular paychecks. 

For those folks, freelancing may not be the right choice. You also have to be ready for some tough times before you start seeing results especially if you’re starting from scratch or investing in new skills (like marketing or programming).

It’s easier said than done, but there are ways to prepare yourself: Volunteer at nonprofits or local businesses while building up your freelance portfolio so you can show colleagues what you can do; take online courses like Udemy or Lynda; and make sure that when things get rough financially (and they will), friends and family are willing to help out until things get better

Aspiring to build a lucrative freelance career? Unleash your potential and discover the key elements to creating a six-figure freelance career in our in-depth guide.

7. You’ll Earn Some Serious Bragging Rights

If you’re a freelancer, you can work from home. You can work when you want and as much or as little as you want. You also have the freedom to work on projects that interest you and with people that are easy to get along with and no one will ask when your last day off was.

In this way, freelancing is more of an ideal than it is an actual job. For example, I recently met with a new client to discuss his needs for web design services, and over coffee, he asked me about my family and interests outside of work (which he had read about on my website). 

He then told me about how his daughter had just graduated from college with degrees in both business and English literature only two years prior but now she was working at Starbucks because she couldn’t find suitable employment anywhere else.

Meanwhile, we were sitting there having coffee together discussing possible ways we could help each other out while discussing what kind of projects would be suitable for us both individually.”

8. Yes, Freelancing Can Pay The Bills And Then Some

You can make a lot of money if you are good at what you do, and willing to work hard. If this sounds like a contradiction, that’s because it is.

Someone can be both extremely talented and super lazy when it comes to their work. If a person was born with an innate ability for something, they will be able to master it faster than those who don’t have that same talent.

But just because someone has an innate talent doesn’t mean they will become successful in that field. They need the discipline to keep learning new skills or improving old ones; otherwise, very few people would ever reach their potential as artists or athletes or software developers or writers, or whatever else they aspire to do professionally!

Most freelancers I’ve spoken with say they enjoy their jobs but not because they’re passionate about what they do (in fact most people aren’t). 

They enjoy being able to set their hours and work from wherever there’s an internet connection so long as it pays well enough for them not having any major expenses such as rent/mortgage payments since those are covered by another source such as their parents’ income taxes depending on where you live during childhood years (if any).

9. Don’t Underestimate How Much Time It Takes

When you’re a freelancer, it’s easy to underestimate how much time it takes to get new clients, set up a new client, complete projects, and follow up with clients. 

Clients need your help but they also need all their other questions answered, so even if they’re actively looking for someone like you there will inevitably be some back-and-forth before things are finalized. 

Plus there are other administrative tasks that come up keeping your portfolio updated, networking, responding to emails, and following up on phone calls (if you’ve got a job in hand).

10. An Understanding Partner Helps

A partner is also a great sounding board. When you’re feeling stuck, or have doubts about your business, they can help you figure out what’s really going on and how to get back on track. 

A good partner will keep you motivated and focused by asking questions like “What do you want? What are your goals? How can we help make them happen?” They know that everything doesn’t need to be done today.

So they won’t push when maybe something seems overwhelming or unimportant at the moment. They’re there for long-term success as much as short-term wins!

Securing health insurance coverage is crucial for freelance writers and bloggers. Find out why health insurance is essential and explore the options available in our article on health insurance for freelance writers and bloggers.

11. Mind-Numbing Busywork Is Going To Happen (A Lot)

You’re going to get busy. It’s inevitable. You’ll have a night where you realize that every client needs their invoice sent in five different ways (I’ve had this happen), and you’ll be looking at your spreadsheet of emails and wondering if it’s too late to move back in with your parents until the workload dies down.

But here’s the thing: if you don’t keep up with all of those little tasks, then nothing will get done, and then there will be no money coming in for bills or groceries or new business cards. So what should you do?

First off and this is crucial make sure there are systems in place that help keep track of all the minutiae when things start getting crazy. 

Whether it’s an Excel spreadsheet or a shared Google Sheet or whatever else works best for you (though many freelancers swear by Asana), just remember that these systems are never fun but they’re essential.

Another option would be to outsource some of these tasks so they don’t fall on one person alone (hint: check out Upwork).

12. Freelancing Can Be Emotionally Draining And Worth It

Freelancing is a lot of work. If you’re in the early stages of your career, it’s tempting to think that being self-employed will be chill and carefree but even if you’re just starting, there will still be plenty of things to do on your own time (and often outside of regular working hours).

You have to be disciplined with your self-care habits. This includes getting enough sleep and eating well, plus making sure you have time for activities like exercise and meditation.

You have to be able to handle rejection as well as success and criticism when either happens in public forums such as reviews or social media interactions with clients/customers/fans/followers/etcetera

13. Know What Your Strengths Are, And Play To Them Constantly

As a freelancer, you should constantly be aware of your strengths and shortcomings. Know what you’re good at, and play to those strengths as much as possible. And know what you’re not good at, and have someone else handle it for you if possible.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help from experts in the field if needed and don’t be afraid to say no when asked something that may be outside of your area of expertise. 

Most importantly, never feel like asking for more money or a raise is too bold or risky; this is where most people go wrong (and get stuck) in their careers: they’re afraid to ask for more money because they’ll seem greedy or entitled, but being able to put a price tag on your services will give clients confidence in hiring you again.”

14. Structure Is Extremely Important Especially When You’re On Your Own

In the past, I’ve been able to work a 9-5 job and get things done because I knew how much time I had to complete my tasks and projects.

But freelancing means that sometimes there’s an opportunity (or client) that you want to take on but can’t accept because it won’t fit in with your current schedule or project load. If you’re not careful, this can lead to late nights and lots of stress as deadlines loom overhead.

This is why having a routine and structure can be key for successful freelancers: it helps create boundaries around how much work they need to do each day so they don’t burn out while also allowing them some flexibility within those boundaries in case something comes up unexpectedly (like an awesome gig opportunity).

15. Sometimes Regular Employees Are Better Off Than Freelancers (And That’s Ok)

Freelance work can be a great option for some people, but it’s not the best choice for everyone. There are downsides to freelancing that make it unsuitable for some people. For example, if you don’t have the right skillset or drive to succeed as a freelancer, then working as an employee will probably be better in the long run.

When you’re weighing whether or not to go freelance, remember that there are benefits of both working as an employee and being self-employed:

• As an employee at least your bills get paid by someone else. You don’t have any risk about whether your clients will pay on time or at all; instead, you have reliable income coming in every month (at least until layoffs).

• On the other hand, working as an independent contractor comes with its own set of challenges like managing your finances and keeping up with taxes.

16. Spreading Yourself Too Thin Is Almost Inevitable At First And Don’t Let Anyone Convince You Otherwise

If you’re just starting, it’s easy to say yes to seemingly every opportunity that comes your way. You want to make a good impression. You want people to like you.

But being a freelance writer means balancing lots of different clients, projects, and deadlines at once sometimes even more than one at a time. In other words: It’s an exercise in learning how to say no.

This isn’t necessarily the most fun part about freelancing, but it’s an essential one for anyone who wants their career as a writer or editor (or whatever type of freelancer) to last long term not least because saying no is actually kind of nice.

It makes you feel good about yourself when someone asks for help with something and then hires another person instead of asking for help with another project from you specifically; 

it gives opportunities to others who are more qualified than yourself, and it allows space in your schedule so that when new opportunities come along.

They can be accepted wholeheartedly rather than feeling weighed down by all the things already on there too!

The best part? Learning how not only say no but also explain why makes all those hard feelings go away almost instantly and that feeling is worth its weight in gold when trying any kind of business communication skill.”

Struggling to attract clients as a freelancer? Our guide on finding clients as a freelancer offers valuable insights and effective strategies to boost your client base and grow your freelance business.

Final Thoughts

Freelancing is a tough, but rewarding career path and it’s not for the faint of heart. It takes time to develop your skills, balance and build your business, and find your groove. You’ll have highs, lows, and everything in-between as you figure out what works best but it will be one heck of an adventure (and a lot of fun) along the way!

Further Reading

Explore these additional articles to gain deeper insights into the world of freelancing:

Inside the Corner Office: A Conversation with Hayden Brown, Upwork’s CEO: An exclusive interview with Upwork’s CEO, providing valuable perspectives on the future of freelancing and the gig economy.

The Future of Freelancing: Predictions for the Next 5 Years: Wanda Thibodeaux’s compelling analysis and predictions on how freelancing will evolve over the next five years.

5 Ways Freelancing is Changing the World: Discover the transformative impact of freelancing on the global workforce and economy in this insightful article.

People Also Ask

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Freelancing?

It’s important to remember that working as a freelancer has its own set of challenges and benefits. The biggest benefit is that you get to be in charge of your schedule and workload. If you want to take some time off, you can do so.

If there’s something that needs to be done right away, then you can prioritize it appropriately. You also have complete control over your career path you don’t need anyone’s permission to change jobs or try out new things.

The downside is that freelancing can be a lot more stressful than having an established job with set hours, especially if you’re responsible for managing your finances and taxes.

What Do You Love Most About Freelancing?

I love the flexibility of it! When I was working in a traditional office, I had to work my hours around everyone else’s schedules. Now that I’m freelance, I can work when and how much I want and that makes me feel like I’m really in control of my career and not just some cog in a big machine.

What Are The Best Freelance Skills For Making Money?

There are so many different skills freelancers can use to make money, but the best ones are in demand. If you’re wondering which skills to focus on, think about what your clients want and need. 

For example, if you’re a writer, then you should focus on writing content that will help businesses attract more customers. If you’re an accountant, then you should focus on helping businesses reduce taxes or save money in other ways.

How Do I Find Clients?

It’s easy to get started as a freelancer; just start by posting your services online and building up a portfolio of work samples. You can also look at online directories where people post their jobs and profiles (we recommend Upwork). Once people start hiring you regularly, it will be much easier to find new clients because your reputation will precede you!

What Do I Need To Know Before Starting My Own Business?

The first thing is that being self-employed isn’t easy it takes hard work and dedication! You have to be willing to put in long hours without pay when starting until your business starts generating revenue from clients or partnerships with other companies/organizations who have similar interests as yours

What Are The Biggest Challenges You Face As A Freelancer?

Freelancing is great, but there are a few things that can be challenging. One of them is finding clients who are reliable and trustworthy. Another thing is that it can be tough to make enough money to pay bills, especially if you’re just getting started or don’t have any skills yet.

What Are The Benefits Of Freelance Writing?

Freelance writing is a great way to make money in your free time, especially if you have a passion for writing and enjoy sharing your knowledge with others. You don’t need any special training or certifications, but having some experience can help you land more clients, especially if they’re looking for experienced writers.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Freelance Writing?

The biggest drawback is that it’s not a steady income, so you may find yourself working less when there aren’t as many clients available. Some people also find it difficult to get started because they don’t know where to look for clients or how much they should charge for their services.