I Don't Know If You've Noticed, But Freelancing Is Taking Over The World

So, you want to be a freelancer. You’ve got big dreams, but maybe you’re not sure where to start.

Well, I’m happy to share the advice that I’ve learned in the seven years I’ve been working for myself (or myself and some clients) instead of a boss or a company.

Here are my top tips for getting your life together and thriving as an independent contractor:

How To Network With Other Upwork Freelancers – YouTube

Takeaways
Freelancing is a significant global trend reshaping the workforce.
Embracing freelancing can lead to transformative changes in the business landscape.
Generation Z is actively shaping the future of freelancing with their unique approach.
Understanding the benefits and challenges of freelancing is crucial for success.
Building a strong network and online presence can help freelancers find opportunities.

Table of Contents

(1) Start Small

Freelancers are a unique breed of entrepreneur. We don’t have a business plan to follow, and our lines of work can be so varied that it’s hard to compare ourselves with other freelancers.

That said, there are some things we do share in common including the fact that many of us started by building a freelance business piecemeal.

We had to build up our skills one at a time as we went along; add new clients; learn more about marketing; pay attention to our finances and taxes;

Learn how to do more with less (or at least make sure our costs stay low); figure out who’s reliable and who isn’t; get better at saying no…the list goes on and on!

If you’re thinking about taking the plunge into full-time freelancing but aren’t sure where to start, here are some ideas for how you can get started:

Freelancing is not just a career choice; it’s a transformative shift in the business landscape. Embrace the change and discover how freelancing is changing the face of business for the better.

(2) Form Habits, Not Goals

In the transition from employee to freelancer, it’s important to adjust your mindset. Instead of striving for goals, focus on building habits.

This way, you can stay patient and learn to appreciate yourself even when you don’t feel like you’re making progress.

When you’re working on a project that requires creativity or collaboration, it can be tempting to compare yourself with others but this just sets up a never-ending cycle of failure and disappointment because everyone’s journey is different.

When things get tough, remember that there are no prizes for being perfect all the time and if there were they’d probably be awarded by Satan himself!

So instead of getting caught up in perfectionism (which never ends well), focus on building healthy habits that will help you succeed where others fail:

For example, starting each day with three hours of focused work before checking social media or email; writing down a “to-do” list every morning before taking any other action;

Keeping track of the tasks completed so far; etcetera…

(3) Write Down Your Thoughts To Stop Them From Taking Over

Writing down your thoughts and ideas can help you get a grip on them, especially when they’re racing through your mind.

It’s not enough to just say “I want to be successful” or “I want to make money online” write out specific goals and plans for how you plan on accomplishing those things.

If you don’t know where to start, there are plenty of articles online dedicated to helping people write their first blog post or eBook (we’ve got one here).

You can also use this time as an opportunity for self-reflection; if freelance writing is something that has been on your mind for years.

But never acted upon, now is the perfect time to ask yourself why that is and what needs changing so that it does become something more than just a dream in the future!

Wondering what the future holds for work? It’s heading towards a freelance revolution. Find out the reasons why the future of work will be freelance and how you can prepare for it.

(4) Become A Social Media Guru

You should also be active on social media. No, I’m not talking about posting pictures of your lunch or cat videos (though if you can incorporate those into your strategy, go for it).

What I’m talking about is using social media as a way to promote yourself and brand your business.

So many people think that social media is just for marketing purposes but it’s so much more than that! You can use it to find clients and collaborators, as well as engage with other freelancers in your field.

(5) Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness

Cleanliness is next to godliness. It’s a habit, a state of mind, and a reflection of how you feel about yourself and your life.

A cleanroom or apartment is an indication that you’re taking care of yourself and as such, it becomes less likely that people around you will get sick.

This can help when freelancers are working remotely with clients (or in the case of remote companies themselves), as they are often surrounded by coworkers who aren’t always in-office with them.

(6) Always Be Learning And Always Be Growing

You might be thinking: “Sure, but I’m not a freelancer. I don’t have to do this!” And that would be true if you had the luxury of working for someone else and getting paid for it.

But the truth is, we all need to keep learning and growing to stay relevant in our careers.

You might think: “I don’t want to work harder than I did before. It’s enough work as it is!” But without constant learning and growth, you’ll get bored and uninspired and that can lead to stress or burnout (not good).

And besides, if your job isn’t challenging or exciting anymore… why are you doing this?

(7) Make Collaboration A Strong Point In Your Life

Collaboration is a great way to learn new skills and get inspiration for your work. It can also help you build your network, which can lead to new opportunities (and maybe even some cash).

For example, I know a writer who was working on an article about how to use Twitter for productivity.

She asked me for advice on making the most of my channel, so we decided that she would do the research and write up her findings while I would take photos of the process.

Once we published it, she gave me credit as her “co-author,” which increased my visibility as well as helped generate traffic to my website through hers.

Generation Z is shaping the freelance industry with their unique aspirations. Explore what freelancers from Generation Z want from their career and how their preferences are influencing the gig economy

(8) Don’t Stretch Yourself Too Thin

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my freelance career is to not stretch myself too thin. Sometimes, that’s an easy thing to do.

When you’re working on a project and someone needs something urgently, it’s tempting to say yes because they need help and it seems like you can do it within the time frame they’ve given you (or even faster than that!).

But when this happens every week or month, then things get hectic really fast and before long it feels like there are no boundaries between your personal life and your work life anymore, and then everything falls apart at once.

This is not good for anyone involved: Your clients don’t get what they need from you if their project isn’t finished on time; your health deteriorates from stress; and most importantly.

This is bad for yourself because now all these different areas of your life have been ignored for so long that they feel neglected altogether (which often leads back into question #8).

(9) Take Advantage Of All The Tools Of The Trade!

In addition to the usual tools of the trade (a laptop, a phone, an internet connection), there are many specialized apps that you can use to make yourself more efficient and productive. For example:

Tools like Trello, Google Drive, and Asana allow you to manage your tasks in a way that’s easy for other people on your team to see what’s going on.

If you’re working with clients remotely or have anyone else involved in your projects (like editors), this makes it much easier for them to follow along with what needs to be done next.

Tools like Slack, Skype, and Zoom are great for communicating with other professionals who are working on similar projects as yours.

This can be helpful if there are questions about how something should be done you don’t have to wait until everyone’s back at their desks; just chat!

Grammarly checks spelling errors as well as sentence structure mistakes before they leave your fingertips;

Google Docs allows multiple users at once without having them worry about losing work or bumping into each other’s edits;

Evernote lets you share ideas between different devices so even if one gets lost in transit somewhere between home and work there won’t be any problems accessing everything when the next time comes around again

(10) You Don’t Need A Degree To Be Successful, But If You Get One, You’ll Have An Edge Over Your Competition

One of the first things to know about freelancing is that a degree isn’t necessary. You can make it on your own, as long as you have the drive and passion for what you’re doing.

However, having said that, having a degree will give you an edge over your competition.

If someone hasn’t gone through formal education but has done well with freelancing, then they probably have an innate ability to learn new things quickly and adapt based on real-world experience (and perhaps they also happen to be particularly lucky).

But getting a degree gives you that extra boost in terms of credibility you don’t just want people working with you because they like your personality or think your work is interesting; they want someone professional whom they can trust with their business and money.

Getting a qualification shows potential clients or employers that when there are challenges along the way in completing projects together (which there will be).

There won’t be any issues between both parties because one has already proven themselves capable of handling difficult situations calmly.

And responsibly before committing full-time work making sure everything goes smoothly between partners over long periods throughout multiple projects.”

Don’t let the traditional work norms hold you back. Discover the numerous benefits and reasons why everyone should be a freelancer and how it can unlock your true potential.

(11) Get Out There! Out Of The House, I Mean…But Also Outside! It’s Good For Your Mind And Body!

You’ve probably heard this before, but it bears repeating: get outside!

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and find yourself working on the couch, but that’s not good for you.

Getting fresh air and moving around will improve your mood and energy levels, plus it’ll help you stay healthy.

You’ll also be able to think better when you’re not sitting still all day long weirdly, less exercise leads to more brainpower.

It doesn’t have to be anything complicated or fancy go for a walk around the block with your dog or sit outside sipping coffee on a bench in your neighborhood park.

Just getting some sun exposure will do wonders for how refreshed and alert you feel after a day at work–and if anyone asks why you’re out there smiling like an idiot?

Tell them that freelancing is taking over the world!

(12) Find A Support System That Works For You. Every Freelancer Needs One!

There are many things I would not have been able to accomplish, or done as well, had I not had my dear husband, Chris, by my side every step of the way (and even after our marriage ended).

He was and still is my biggest fan. He encouraged me constantly when things were tough.

He helped me navigate all of those technical challenges along with many other life challenges; from figuring out how to get my resume out there.

How to negotiate contracts with clients and vendors, how to manage finances and of course, he always had great advice on what kind of coffee maker should I buy? (We did have some good times together!)

If you don’t have someone like that in your life right now don’t despair! Join an online community where like-minded people gather together so they can share their experiences as freelancers with each other.

My favorite places are Facebook Groups (like this one), LinkedIn Groups, and Slack Channels (like this one).

All three offer lots of support and advice within the group setting without overwhelming you on social media platforms where everyone else’s posts are competing against yours for attention!

(13) Don’t Let Other People Tell You What’s Within Or Outside Of Your Capabilities. Figure It Out For Yourself And Prove Them Wrong!

Whether you’re just starting or have been freelancing for years, there will always be people who want to tell you what’s possible, what’s impossible, and how much effort it’ll take for you to achieve your goals.

Don’t let them get in the way of your success! The only person who can define these things is YOU. If someone tells you that something is impossible, prove them wrong by doing it anyway.

If someone tells you that something is too hard or takes too long, prove them wrong by doing it anyway (and proving them right).

(14) Invest In Yourself And Help Yourself So That You Can Help Others More Effectively

When I first became a freelancer, I had no idea what to do or how to do anything. I didn’t have much money to invest in business courses or workshops, but that didn’t stop me from investing my time and energy into learning about the industry.

I spent hours reading books and articles on freelancing and talked with as many people as possible about their own experiences with it including other freelancers who were willing to give me advice for free!

The result? By the time my first client signed off on our project together, I was able to deliver an amazing piece of work because of all my hard work over those early months.

He loved it so much that he came back for more! Looking back now, it was worth spending those extra hours learning about the industry rather than spending them watching TV instead!

Considering freelancing part-time? Learn about the possibilities and challenges of becoming a part-time freelancer while balancing other commitments, and set yourself on a path to success.

Conclusion

Well, that’s the end of our list. We hope you’ve learned more about what makes a good freelancer and how to be successful in your career!

We’ve also shared some mistakes that we’ve made so hopefully, you don’t have to go through them on your own.

As you start, remember to take it easy and make sure you don’t get overwhelmed by all the work before even getting started with anything meaningful or lasting.

If there’s one thing we want you to take away from this article, it’s that: being successful doesn’t always come easily or quickly but it does come with hard work and determination!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is the act of working for yourself, as opposed to working for a company or other organization.

You can be a freelancer in any field of writing, design, or web development and you will usually be paid per project or hourly rate.

Is There A Difference Between Being Self-Employed And Being A Freelancer?

Yes! Self-employment means that you are running your own business but not necessarily on your terms (for example, if you’re working for an employer but they’re not paying your taxes).

Freelancing means that you are working on projects that are completely under your control. You can decide who hires you and when they hire you, and how much they pay.

How Do I Get Started?

You can start by creating a profile on [website name]! You can tell us your skills, and we’ll be able to match you with jobs that fit your skillset.

What If My Skills Aren’t Specialized Enough?

That’s okay! Freelancers come in all shapes and sizes from writers to painters to dog walkers and we’re always looking for more people with their unique talents and perspectives.

With [website name], you don’t need to worry about being pigeonholed into one industry or job type; we want to hear from all kinds of people who have something special to offer the world!

Why Would Anyone Want To Do This?

There are many reasons why people decide to go freelance: they might be looking for more flexibility in their schedule or they might be trying to grow their business by branching out into new areas of expertise.

Some people choose to freelance because they simply don’t want to deal with office politics anymore they just want to do their best work in peace!

Costantine Edward

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.

I Don’t Know If You’ve Noticed, But Freelancing Is Taking Over The World