How Freelancing Transformed My Life

I am a freelancer. I work for myself, set my hours, and do what I want to do. When I was younger, I imagined that my career path would be lonely.

So when I leaped full-time freelancing, I was surprised by how much joy and fulfilment it brought me.

Freelancing has transformed my life in many ways that I could never have foreseen. Here are some of the things that have changed since taking the plunge:

Takeaways
Freelancing can be a transformative experience.
It offers the opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery.
Freelancing provides flexibility and control over your work.
Building a strong network is crucial for success as a freelancer.
Freelancing allows you to pursue your passions and interests.
It requires self-discipline and effective time management skills.
Freelancing can lead to a better work-life balance.
It may require overcoming challenges and adapting to a dynamic work environment.
Continuous learning and staying updated are essential in the freelancing world.
Freelancing opens up new possibilities and opportunities for career growth.

I Think I Can, So I Will

I know this is the kind of thing you might see in a fortune cookie, but it’s true: I think I can and so I will. This simple phrase has had an incredible impact on my life as a freelancer.

It’s also one of the things people ask me about most frequently, along with “How do you make money?” and “Can I get your opinion on something?”. I’ve been writing for over ten years now, but only recently started taking on freelance jobs outside of my day job.

The idea of working for myself was intimidating at first, but after just a few months of working for myself full-time, the struggle was worth it and here are some reasons why:

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I Run My Schedule

When you’re a freelancer, you’re in charge of your schedule. That means you can take time off when you need it and work when it’s convenient for you. Whether that’s during the day or at night, on weekends or afternoons you set the rules.

And if someone needs to reach out to you urgently? No problem; just switch on your laptop from home or from anywhere else in the world with Internet access and get back to them ASAP (and possibly even in Pajamas!).

You might think this would lead to burnout but having control over when I work allows me to pace myself more effectively than when I worked as an employee which meant that during those first few years after quitting my job, I was able to take more holidays than ever before!

No Boss – Yay

You’re your boss. You can work as much or as little as you want, on whatever projects you’d like. You have the freedom to work from anywhere and at any time that suits your schedule. I’ve been able to get a lot more done in the last year than I ever did working for someone else!

Perhaps the most freeing part of freelancing is that you don’t have an annoying boss telling you what to do all day. 

No one’s looking over your shoulder, so there’s no pressure to stay late or come in on weekends when nothing is pressing going on you can take care of business during normal hours and head home when it makes sense for you (and your family).

You also get to dress how you want without worrying about what other people think: no ill-fitting blazers are required!

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I Can Work And Travel At The Same Time

Working and traveling at the same time is possible. If you’re like most people, you’ve probably been told that it’s impossible to work remotely while traveling. But let me tell you how I did it.

When I started as a freelancer, I began by working from my home office and going into an office once in a while for meetings. Then one day, an opportunity came up to work from home instead of going into the office, and suddenly I was able to take trips and still keep earning money! This was awesome for several reasons:

• It meant less time spent commuting each day (which saves money on gas)
• It saved me from having to find childcare when I needed childcare (like during holidays)

I Get To Choose My Clients

Freelancing is a great way to work with the people and companies you want, without having to put up with the ones you don’t. I know that sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s not necessarily as easy as it sounds.

If you have spent any time at all in an office environment, then you know how much politics goes into choosing clients and how little that has to do with what’s best for the business or even your career.

If either of those things were taken into consideration at all when making decisions about who gets hired for what project and who gets fired from their job (or whether or not they keep their job), then life would be much simpler and fairer all around!

You Can Do Whatever You Want To Do In Life

You can do whatever you want to do in life. You have the power to change your life, and it all begins with a simple decision: Do what you love. When I first started freelancing, I had no idea where it would take me or how my life would be changed by doing so but I followed my passion anyway and found out for myself

And regardless of whether or not other people think that’s a good idea, it worked out well for me. Here are some tips on how you can make your freelancing dreams come true:

It’s Easier To Take A Break (And Come Back Again)

Everyone needs a break from their work, but when you’re an employee, taking time off can be tricky. One of the best things about freelancing is that it’s easy to take a break whenever and for however long you want.

You don’t have to worry about finding a new job if your current one doesn’t work out you already have your skills and experience in place. You can just go back at any time!

When You’re A Freelancer, Nobody Is Stuck – Not Even You

One of the most freeing aspects of being a freelancer is that you have flexibility. When things aren’t going well, you can always change direction and try something new.

There’s no such thing as a “dead-end” when you’re a freelancer if one thing isn’t working out for you, there’s always another option available. You can stop doing something and start doing something else, or perhaps even try learning something new to expand your skillset. 

There are no rules here it’s all about what works best for each person. So don’t feel like it needs to be any way other than how it feels right now!

A Freelancer’s Friends Are Other Freelancers. They Matter. A Lot

I have had the privilege of meeting hundreds, if not thousands, of other freelancers over the years through various events and conferences. I’ve learned so much from them; they’ve taught me how to be a better person and helped me realize my dreams along the way.

The truth is that when you’re on your working in isolation most days, having friends who understand what you’re going through can be invaluable especially when it comes to building confidence in your abilities as a new entrepreneur or getting advice on what steps you should take next with your business or project (and trust me: there will always be more steps).

A Freelancer’s World Is Only As Big As His/Her Office

Being a freelancer means that you have the freedom to work from anywhere, at any time which is great in theory. But when you’re working remotely and have no one around to keep you accountable, it can be easy to spend too much time procrastinating on Facebook or taking naps instead of doing actual work.

To avoid this trap, I recommend breaking your day into three chunks:

• Morning: This is the time when you should make sure that everything important gets done before lunch (and ideally before coffee).

This could mean replying to emails from clients or searching for new ones. It could also mean getting some early tasks done so that there’s less pressure later in the day (and so that much-needed coffee doesn’t go cold).

• Afternoon: This is when things get more flexible you can schedule meetings with clients over Skype if needed and take calls from home rather than running down to an office where people are presentable.

The key here is not getting distracted by other things during this period; all efforts should go toward getting more work done!

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Work Is Always On Your Mind And In Your Mind

You’ll inevitably be thinking about work a lot. And it’s okay.  The best thing about freelancing is that you don’t have to go into an office or wear pants. But there are some things you can do to keep your mind off of work as much as possible:

• Become friends with other freelancers and talk about everything but work
• Read books (this one included)
• Go on walks around your neighborhood
• Play games with yourself, like trying to name all the presidents in order, or remembering how old each US state was when it joined the union

All Relationships Change – Not Just Your Workplace One(S)

This is a big one for me. When I started freelancing, I was afraid that my relationships with friends and family would change. You know what? They did. And it’s been fantastic!

They’ve changed so much that they’re better than ever before. I’m now able to be myself around everyone I love and they love me too!

It can be scary to think about how much your relationships might shift once you leap into freelancing life, but don’t let that stop you from doing what makes your heart sing and gives you purpose in life. Your relationships with friends and family will change; embrace them as well as yourself for who you are deep down inside.”

You Learn A Lot About Yourself… And Your Values. And That’s Okay

You will learn a ton about yourself. You’ll discover what you like to do, how well you do it, and what kind of clients work best for you. It can be pretty eye-opening and sometimes even painful to realize where your strengths and weaknesses lie, but that’s okay.

It’s important to know who you are and where your passions lie before taking on freelance clients.

Working Offline Is The Worst Thing Ever! Or Maybe It’s The Best?

I used to be a huge proponent of offline work because I was afraid of being distracted from the task at hand. But then I realized that it’s not so much about working offline as it is about being able to switch between online and offline mode when you need to.

The truth is, most people will have to switch between working online and offline throughout their day. You might be interrupted by someone walking into your office, or maybe you realize that there’s an important phone call coming in soon and wish to answer it first (if only so that you don’t miss out on any potential opportunities).

Whatever the reason may be and there are many good ones. Freelancers (or anyone who works remotely) need to know how they can manage this effectively without sacrificing productivity or quality in either scenario.

If You Don’t Track Dollars, You Have None (And It Sucks)

If you don’t track your money, you have none. If you have none, it sucks. That’s why it’s important to keep track of every single dollar you earn and spend.

You can use a spreadsheet or an app like Mint or Personal Capital (I’ve used both). Just do whatever works best for you! The important thing is that if something isn’t working, change it! There’s no reason to suffer through something that isn’t helping move your career forward.

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There’s Always Something New To Learn (And Always Something Old To Remember)

One of the most rewarding parts of freelancing is that there’s always something new to learn. It’s exciting, and it keeps things interesting, but also challenging and sometimes nerve-wracking.

Think about what you know how to do now, then think about all that you don’t know how to do yet. For freelancing to work for you, you have to be open and willing. You need the ability to see the opportunities around you and the willingness to take them on when they come your way or even when they don’t come your way at first (which happens more often than not).

You learn from others by listening carefully when someone speaks with expertise or experience in an area where you’re lacking knowledge and also by asking questions as well as listening intently.

You can also learn from yourself by making mistakes (we all make them), and keeping track of what worked well or didn’t work so well while trying something new out (it will be helpful later). 

Remembering past successes in order not only celebrate those moments but also to use them as examples moving forward and reflecting upon failures without beating yourself up over them because there was probably something good that came out of those experiences too!

People Will Assume A Lot About You, But Probably Won’t Know You Well Enough To Be Right In Doing So

• People will assume things about you.

• You’ll have to be assertive in setting the record straight.

• You should be a “Yes” person unless it’s not an option for you. This can help with your self-promotion and get more gigs from clients who like working with people who are enthusiastic about the projects they take on.

• As a freelancer, it will be important for you to also learn how to say no when necessary so that your time remains productive and focused on what matters most to you.

• Being able to say “Maybe” is essential for me as I want my business model to be scalable so that there is always room for growth (and some days are just too packed).

You Have To Be A “Yes” Person Or No One Will Ever Say Yes To What You’re Selling

One of the most important things you can do to get work is to be a “yes” person. You have to say yes when someone asks if they can use your service and pay you for it. You have to say yes when a new client comes along with a project that sounds like something different than what you usually do and would be outside your comfort zone.

If you say no, then all the possible clients who might have been interested in hiring you will never even know about it because they’ll think: “He said no? I guess he doesn’t want my business.”

You will also meet many people who want to work with freelancers but don’t know how or where to find them so they just ask everyone they know if anyone knows any freelancers and if one person says no (or even worse, says nothing at all).

Then again this potential client does not hear about your services because he thinks: “Nobody wants me.” There’s only one way around this dilemma: Be a yes person.

You will have to say yes to a lot of things. You can’t afford to be picky, and you’ll need the money. You’ll also have to say no to a lot of things sometimes people will want work from you that doesn’t fit into your business model or is just not worth the time it would take away from other projects that do fit into your business model (and therefore, could potentially earn more).

For freelancers like us who run our businesses full-time with multiple clients at once, there’s no room for being wishy-washy about what we’re willing or not willing to do in terms of client work; otherwise, we’d never get anything done!

So how does one learn how best to articulate “no”? Or conversely: How do we learn how best express “yes” without coming across as too eager? The answer lies within diplomacy which isn’t just something reserved only for international diplomats anymore.

Diplomacy has become an essential skill set that anyone working freelance needs if they hope on being successful over time.”

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Final Thoughts

So, there you have it an exhaustive but by no means complete list of the many things that happen to you when you embrace the freelance lifestyle. But what about it? I could go on for hours, but this article is already way too long. 

There are just so many things that change when you make this major life decision – and some of them aren’t even work-related.

The bottom line, though, is that it’s worth it. Not only is your life happier and more fulfilling as a freelancer (or at least my life is), but also your clients get something they would never get from a traditional company: special attention and care.

You’re not just another number in their eyes; you’re someone who cares deeply enough about their needs to do something about them. And that’s what counts most of all.”

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources to explore:

Working as a Freelancer: Gain insights and practical advice on the benefits and challenges of freelancing from industry experts.

How Freelancing Changed My Life: Discover a personal account of how freelancing transformed one writer’s life and career, offering inspiration and valuable lessons.

People Share How Freelancing Changed Their Life for the Better: Read real-life stories and experiences of individuals who have embraced freelancing and experienced positive changes in their lives.

People Also Ask 

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is a lifestyle that allows you to work for yourself, rather than for an employer. Freelancers can set their hours and work wherever they want. The best part of freelancing is that you can choose to work with clients who are aligned with your values and goals.

What Are The Benefits Of Freelancing?

Freelancing is a great way to make money, but other benefits come with it as well. Freelancing can help you gain valuable skills and experience in your industry, as well as provide an opportunity for networking and social interactions. For more information about these benefits and others, check out our blog post about freelancing.

What Do You Think Is The Biggest Misconception About Freelancing?

The biggest misconception about freelancing is that it’s just some way to make extra cash on the side. It’s a legitimate career path that allows you to build up a client base, establish your brand, and grow as an independent professional.

How Do I Become A Freelancer?

The first step is to decide on the kind of freelancing work you want to do. There are a lot of options out there: writing, graphic design, coding, translation services… whatever it is that interests you most.

To get started on this path, look for freelance job listings and apply for them! As long as you have experience in your field (and can demonstrate it in your application), employers will be happy to hire someone who already has their skillset.

How Can I Get Paid For My Work?

There are several ways that freelancers get paid for their work: hourly rate or per project; fixed price (a set amount agreed on before starting a project); or commission (based on sales). The payment method will vary depending on what type of job you’re doing and if you’re working with multiple clients at once

What Did You Do Before You Started Freelancing?

I was working as a full-time copywriter. I had been there for almost three years, and I hated it. I hated the office culture and being confined to my desk all day, every day. I knew that if I continued in that role, it would kill me and fast! So when I heard about the opportunity to work remotely, I jumped at it.