As a full-time freelancer, it’s easy to feel as if you’re working 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The tasks of finding work, completing work, invoicing for work, and doing your taxes are added on top of the time you spend doing the work itself.
There’s no one in your office reminding you to take lunch or go home at quitting time. It can be exhausting. But the good news is this: it will all be worth it someday.
The added autonomy and flexibility you get from being your boss will more than make up for the long hours of hustle that come with owning your own business. I’ll show you what I mean below:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Freelancing may present challenges, but the rewards make it worthwhile. |
| 2. Persistence and determination are key traits for success in the freelance world. |
| 3. Building a strong network and support system can help navigate the difficulties of freelancing. |
| 4. Embracing a growth mindset and continuously improving skills is essential for long-term success. |
| 5. Despite the hardships, freelancing offers flexibility, independence, and the opportunity to pursue passions. |
You’ll Learn To Cope With Ambiguity
Learning to cope with uncertainty is a key component of being a freelancer. As a freelancer, you’re not going to have any idea what the future holds for you and your business. And that’s okay.
One day you could be busy working on multiple projects and making lots of money, and another day might be slow and uneventful. Recognizing this will help you stay calm when things don’t go as planned or how long it takes for your client payments to come in (and being able to ask for an advance if need be).
It also helps if you can see these uncertain times as opportunities instead of something negative or scary like an opportunity to take some time off from work and rejuvenate yourself before jumping back into freelance mode again.
Tracking key metrics is essential for freelancers who strive for consistency and success. Explore our comprehensive guide on The Consistent Freelancer: 20 Metrics You Need to Track to discover the metrics that can help you stay on top of your freelance game.
You’ll Get Good At Doing What You Love
I can’t stress this enough. If you’re passionate about your work, then you’ll find ways to make it better every day. Your clients and coworkers will notice how much more efficient and effective your work has become over time, and they’ll want to hire or partner with you again in the future because of it!
It helps when you enjoy the process as well as the destination (and all the people along the way). I think it was Einstein who said “the journey is part of our experience.” Working with clients is a lot like going on vacation.
There’s always something new to learn, no matter where in life we’re at right now. This is also true for freelancers: there are always opportunities around us if we look hard enough and that makes working fun!
You’ll Develop Your Way Of Doing Things
As a freelancer, you get to build your way of doing things and take an active role in setting goals for yourself. You’re not bound by any kind of structure or process that someone else has created you get to create it yourself.
Freelancing is all about being able to do that: create your opportunities and set the tone for what happens in your work life.
You might be worried about how long it will take before you can start building up those savings again, but if you think through how much time you spend commuting each week (and how much money that costs), then starting as a freelancer may save you money.
You’ll Learn To Trust Yourself
My biggest takeaway from freelancing is learning to trust myself. When I first started, I didn’t know who to ask for advice or what steps to take. But when I got some experience and a sense of confidence, I learned how to make good decisions on my own.
You’ll also learn how to rely on your instincts. if something feels wrong, it probably is; but if it feels right, there’s something in it for you. Trusting yourself will bring about more productivity and creativity than anything else could do for you as a freelancer and that’s all part of building up self-worth over time.
Freelancing has emerged as a saving grace for millions of individuals. Dive into our insightful article on How Freelancing Has Saved Millions of People to understand the transformative power of freelancing and its impact on people’s lives.
You’ll Discover The Value Of Perseverance And Commitment
Perseverance is a virtue that is often overlooked in our culture today. We tend to place more emphasis on immediate results instead of putting in the work necessary to reach those results. However, persistence pays off, both professionally and personally.
By learning how to persevere through difficult tasks, you can develop self-confidence, which will benefit you throughout your life and career.
Commitment is another important skill for freelancing success because it helps us stick with something even when we don’t feel like doing it anymore or when things get tough (like not getting paid).
If you are committed to working hard at something and finishing what you start, then there’s nothing stopping you from achieving your goals!
You’ll Find The Support And Community That You Need
As you begin to freelance, you’ll find a community of freelancers. You may be able to find local meetups, forums, and Facebook groups that can help you as you grow your business.
You may also want to get involved with social media groups like Twitter chats these are great ways to build relationships with other freelancers and ask questions about your work or specific projects.
Having this support system around you will help keep you motivated and on track with your goals. It’s important not to go it alone when starting something new; having the support of others who’ve walked down the same path is invaluable when things get tough (and they will).
You’ll See How Many People Are There For You During Difficult Times
When you’re freelancing, you’ll get to know your colleagues better. You’ll see how they react in different situations and learn from their experiences. You might even find yourself talking about your struggles with them, which can be a huge help because they’re going through similar things too!
You might also find that some of the relationships you have with people change as well; suddenly everyone seems more approachable and understanding because everyone knows what it’s like to struggle with work at some point or another.
You’ll Learn To Embrace Failure As A Part Of Success, Not The Opposite Of It
As a freelancer, you’re going to fail. A lot. And that’s okay!
Failure is a part of life and it’s not the opposite of success; in fact, failure can be a stepping stone to success. If you’ve never failed before (or even if you have), try not to take it too hard when your first project doesn’t go as well as planned.
Failure isn’t the end of the world it’s just one thing that happens sometimes along the way towards achieving your goals and learning new skills along the way while building up resilience in yourself so that future failures don’t panic or discourage you too much.
Have you considered freelance writing as a career path? Find out why it’s worth exploring in our article, Reasons Why I Think You Should Try Freelance Writing, where we discuss the benefits and opportunities that come with freelance writing.
You’ll Build Confidence In Yourself
You’ll be working on a project by yourself and there won’t be anyone else around to give you feedback or help with the work that needs to get done. You might need to learn new skills, which can take some time.
It can feel scary when you start out freelancing because no one is there giving you feedback on how good of a job you are doing. The only way for this not to be scary is if you believe in yourself and know that what you are doing is valuable!
You’ll Become Even More Self-Reliant Than Ever Before
You will learn to rely on yourself in ways you never thought possible. The more you can do things yourself, the more you’ll realize how capable and self-reliant you are.
You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish, and will quickly find that there is no need for anyone else, especially not an employer or boss.
You become more aware of your capabilities and limitations, which opens up new opportunities for growth and development in your personal life as well as your professional one.
You’ll Be Able To Carve Out Your Path In Life, Rather Than Following Someone Else’s Roadmap
Freelancing will teach you how to be an independent person. Instead of following a roadmap that someone else has laid out for you, freelancers can make their own decisions and mistakes. You’ll learn from your mistakes and grow as a person because of them.
The best thing about freelancing is that it gives you the freedom to take risks. If something doesn’t work out, all you have lost is time, not your entire life’s savings. It also means that when things go right, they feel even better than they would if they were part of some pre-existing plan made by someone else (like your employer).
Transitioning from a corporate job to a consultant role can be a daunting task. Our guide on How To: Switching from Corporate to Consultant provides valuable insights and practical advice to navigate this career change successfully.
You’ll Gain The Ability To Make Your Own Decisions And The Confidence In Knowing They’re Right For You
Finally, the freelancer will gain the ability to make their own decisions and the confidence in knowing they’re right for you, no matter what others think or say about them. You’ll learn to trust yourself. You don’t have anyone else telling you what to do; it’s all up to you. You just need to go out there and do it.
The only way for this process of self-trust to work is if we step away from other input as much as possible. We need time alone with our thoughts so that we can evaluate our actions and decide where we want them to go next.
This can be scary because there’s always an element of risk involved with taking chances but once we realize how much fun it can be (and how rewarding), then we’ll never look back again!
Even If You Fail At Something, You Will Still Have Learned Something Valuable About Yourself, Which Is Priceless
Failure is a part of success. Many of the most successful people in the world have failed at something in their lives. Failure is not the opposite of success; it is merely a learning experience that will help you achieve success.
Failure is not the end of the world! You can recover from failure and move forward with your life if you let yourself feel bad about it for too long. The sooner you accept that failure happens to everyone, the sooner you will be able to get back up and try again.
Finally, failure is nothing to be ashamed about! It’s okay if things don’t work out sometimes; chances are they already won’t have worked out every single time they did before either (if they did).
Freelancer health is crucial for maintaining productivity and well-being. Explore our comprehensive resource, The Ultimate Guide to Freelancer Health FAQs, to find answers to common health-related questions and discover strategies for maintaining a healthy lifestyle while freelancing.
Final Thoughts
This may seem like a lot to take in, and it is! I know that when I first began my journey as a freelancer, there were so many things I had to learn about myself and the world around me.
But once you get through the initial shock of realizing just how little control you have over other people’s opinions or actions, everything will start to fall into place. You’ll begin developing an inner strength that can only come from knowing yourself better than anyone else does (and knowing yourself better than most people could even imagine!).
And as you continue taking chances on new opportunities while also staying true to who are inside-out, this inner confidence will grow. Eventually, it won’t matter what others think of your decisions because they’ll be right for YOU!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on the pros and cons of freelancing:
Is Freelancing Worth It?: Explore this article to gain insights into the worthiness of freelancing as a career choice, including factors to consider and potential benefits.
Freelancing: Pros and Cons: Dive into this comprehensive guide that examines the pros and cons of freelancing, helping you make an informed decision about pursuing a freelance career.
Pros and Cons of Freelancing: Discover the advantages and disadvantages of freelancing in this informative blog post, which offers a balanced perspective on the freelance lifestyle.
People Also Ask
What Is Freelancing?
Freelancing is the practice of working for yourself, rather than for an employer. You can freelance as a writer, designer, developer, or in any other creative field.
What Is Freelance Writing?
Freelance writing is when you write for online publications or companies and get paid directly. You are your boss, so you can set your hours and work from home. You can be hired by a company or through an online marketplace like Upwork or Fiverr.
Why Should I Try Freelancing?
Freelancing allows you to make money while working from home, which means more hours in bed and less time commuting! You can also choose which clients to work with, so if a company doesn’t pay well or treat their employees well then you don’t have to take their job offer. No more having to deal with annoying office politics!
How Do I Start Freelancing?
To start freelancing, you need to know what kind of work you want to do and how much money you’re willing to make doing it. You need to be able to explain why people should hire you and what they can expect from working with you. Then you’ll need to submit your portfolio and résumé to potential clients so they can see what kind of work you can do before hiring you on a project basis.
How Can I Get Clients?
There are a lot of ways to get clients, but the most important thing is to have a solid portfolio and a good marketing strategy. You can build your portfolio through freelance websites like Upwork or Fiverr, or by making your website and sending it out to potential employers.
It’s also important to make sure your social media accounts are up-to-date with professional photos and posts about what you do for work.
Why Would I Want To Freelance?
There are lots of reasons! Some people do it because they want more flexibility in their work hours. After all, they want to live somewhere that’s less expensive than where they currently live, or simply because they like the idea of being their boss and doing what they want when they want (even if that means lying around watching Netflix all day).
There are also some downsides freelance work is hard! You’ll have to be able to manage your time well and stay on top of deadlines so you don’t lose clients or jobs. But if you’re willing and able, it can be extremely rewarding.
How Do I Know Which Clients To Work With?
That depends on what kind of work you’re looking for and what kind of work you want to do. If you love writing content for blogs and want to work for a company that has a blog, definitely contact them.
But if you want something more technical like coding or graphic design, then maybe contact some companies directly instead of going through an agency or recruiter (and make sure they’re hiring).
Remember that these companies need your help too don’t be afraid to ask questions about what they need from their freelancers and how much they will pay for that help!
I’m A Little Nervous About Being A Freelancer. What Should I Do?
Freelancing can be scary, especially if you’re used to having a steady paycheck coming in every two weeks. But don’t worry you’ll get used to it, and the benefits of being your boss are worth it.
Just remember that you’re not alone. There are tons of other freelancers out there who can help you out. Try joining an online community or asking around at your local co-working space if anyone’s hiring.
Do I Need A Degree?
No! As long as you have some experience in your field and can show clients that you can do the job well, then no education is necessary. Just make sure your portfolio shows off your best work so potential clients can see why they should hire you!
Are You Sure Freelancing Is Worth It?
Yes! I’ve been doing this for a while and I can tell you that it’s not easy, but it’s so rewarding. You’ll learn so much about yourself, your work habits, and the industry you’re in. Plus, once you have a handle on things (which takes some time), you’ll be able to do whatever you want whenever you want to do it.
What If I’m Scared Of Failing At My First Gig?
You’re not alone. Some so many people are scared of not being good enough or not being able to succeed at something new. But the truth is that most people don’t even give themselves a chance to try because they think they might fail (and then they end up missing out on all those opportunities).
Just know that this happens to everyone it doesn’t mean anything about your talent level or how capable you are as an employee or freelancer. If anything, it means that there were some bumps in the road at first and now everything will be smooth sailing from here on out.
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.