My Thoughts On Freelancing As A Career

I’ve been freelancing full-time for over 6 years now. I went into it with a very limited understanding of the freelance world, and the expectations I did have were totally wrong. Now that I’ve been at this for a while, I’m way more prepared to help other people who are considering making the same leap. Here are my thoughts on freelancing as a career:

Takeaways
Freelancing offers flexibility in work hours and project selection.
It provides opportunities for personal growth and development.
Freelancing can be a source of higher income potential.
Building a strong network and client relationships is crucial in freelancing.
Balancing work-life commitments is an important aspect of a freelance career.
Continuous learning and upskilling are key to staying competitive as a freelancer.
Freelancing requires self-discipline, time management, and business acumen.
It’s essential to have a financial plan and manage finances effectively as a freelancer.
Building a diverse portfolio and showcasing skills are vital for success in freelancing.
Freelancing offers the freedom to work on projects aligned with personal interests and passions.

You Have To Work Hard, Really Hard

Your work has to be up to par. You can’t just put out low-quality content, or your clients won’t be happy. This also means you’ll have more responsibility than in a traditional job: if there are any problems with the work you do, it’s on your shoulders.

You have to be able to manage your time and workload effectively so that you know what needs doing when (and how much time each task will take).

You need to be willing and able to work long hours when things get busy, which happens fairly regularly for freelancers who have clients spread across multiple time zones (like me). 

Because of this irregular schedule, I’ve learned how important it is for me personally not only in terms of my health but also in terms of my mental state because if I don’t get enough sleep then I’m cranky all day long!

Another thing that’s difficult about freelancing is working from home alone most days since many businesses still don’t trust employees enough not only with their money but also in their lives. 

Especially since most companies nowadays are run primarily by women who were raised during World War II; where women were taught early on never to give anyone else control over anything personal like food supplies or family members because they could always use it against them later down the line!

Are you looking to charge more as a freelancer? Check out our guide on Top 10 Freelance Skills to Charge More to discover valuable insights and strategies to enhance your earning potential.

You Have To Have The Confidence To Know You Can Get The Job Done

As far as being self-employed goes, there’s no room for doubt in freelancing. You need to have a strong support network and be able to take care of your finances, which means you have to be confident in managing your own business. 

If you’re not sure if you can do something on your own whether it’s marketing yourself or handling client payments it might be time for a mentor or even another freelancer who could help guide you through those steps.

If all this sounds daunting, don’t worry: most people start by working with friends who already know them well (friends who will probably want their jobs back when they realize how much work goes into being self-employed). 

You should also remember that being self-employed isn’t always easy; having a solid foundation of clients and skills helps mitigate some of those difficulties as well. Ultimately though, it comes down to trusting yourself enough that if someone asks for something from one specific area (like copywriting), then yes you’re capable enough!

You Have To Be Able To Take Care Of Yourself

Your ability to take care of yourself is going to be the most important factor in your success as a freelancer. There are some things that you just have to do, regardless of how you feel about it, and if you don’t do them well enough then the rest of your career will suffer.

Finances 

If you’ve never been responsible for paying your own bills before, then this is going to be different from anything else you’ve ever done. You’re responsible for setting aside money each month for taxes and expenses like rent or mortgage payments (if applicable). 

You also need to know how much money is coming in during any given period so that way when it’s time again for paying bills/bills due/etc., there’s something left over after those expenses have been paid off first.

Health 

It’s easy enough on paper but actually maintaining good health while working remotely can seem like quite a challenge at times especially when deadlines pressure us into thinking otherwise which may lead us back down paths we once had previously walked away from such as stress eating unhealthy foods; 

Chain-smoking cigarettes; drinking too much alcohol; etcetera…

Starting freelancing from your phone can offer flexibility and convenience. Learn how to kick-start your freelance career on the go with our comprehensive guide on How to Start Freelancing from Your Phone.

You Have To Be Able To Take Care Of Your Finances

It’s important to keep track of your expenses, income, and savings. Even though you are working for yourself, this is still a business and you need to treat it as such. You should be keeping track of how much money you make and how much money goes out each month. 

This will help you know if there are any problems with making enough money or spending too much on unnecessary things.

It’s also important to keep track of the hours that you work because that can affect how much money they pay per hour (if they pay by the hour). The more hours someone works in one week, the higher their base pay will be because they are being paid for all those extra hours as well.

Another thing I would recommend doing is tracking each timesheet so when tax season comes around there aren’t any surprises when looking over our finances back at home

You Need A Strong Support Network

As you begin your freelance journey, you must have a strong support network. You’ll need people to cheer you on when things are hard and celebrate with you when they’re great.

How to find a support network:

Look to your friends and family for support. It makes sense that your closest loved ones would be there for you in times of need, but don’t stop there! 

Surround yourself with people who can give solid advice or just lend an ear when things get tough these are the friends who will help guide and shape your career as it evolves.

How to build a support network:

As much as we value our counsel, no one knows us better than ourselves. That’s why it’s important to seek out mentors and coaches who will challenge us as well as encourage us along the way. Having these kinds of relationships in place can make all the difference, especially during difficult times (and there will be difficult times).

You Need A Solid Foundation Of Clients And Skills

Your clients will be the lifeblood of your business, so you need to find the right ones and give them the value they’re looking for.

You need to be able to do what you say you can do, as well as communicate easily with your clients.

If you don’t manage your time wisely, there’s no way that freelancing will ever work out for you long-term. This means setting goals and making sure that everyone knows about them including yourself!

Managing finances isn’t always fun or easy (especially if other people have their hands in it), but it’s important to keep track of where your money is going so that when tax time rolls around (and believe me: taxes are coming) everything is taken care of properly without any issues arising down the line due

You Are Your Boss

As a freelancer, you are your own boss. You are responsible for everything from making sure you’re paid on time to ensuring that the work has been completed correctly. This means you need to be prepared to put in long hours and make sacrifices (like eating out less often) to ensure that everything is done properly and on time.

It also means being able to answer questions about how your business works whether it’s for clients or for other members of the industry who may not know much about what freelancers do day-to-day.

It also means being able to find new clients when those sources dry up (or become too expensive).

Freelancing provides opportunities for time and travel. Explore the experiences and benefits of a freelance lifestyle in our article, How Freelancing Gave Me the Gift of Time and Travel.

Be Prepared For Clients That Don’t Understand What You Do

The second point is a little more complicated. If you’re not already familiar with this, let me explain.

As a freelancer, your work is inherently subjective and difficult to describe to others. 

When I’m hiring someone to design my website, it would be helpful if they could tell me what they do so that I know whether or not they’re qualified for the job but even then, talking about design skills in general isn’t enough because there are so many things that go into web design that aren’t always clear when you’re looking at someone’s portfolio. 

While it’s helpful to have some sort of curriculum vitae available on their website or LinkedIn page (or whatever), most clients will still want some kind of explanation as well before agreeing to hire someone for anything more than small jobs like making an infographic or writing some blog posts.

Be Ready For Clients Who Don’t Pay You Or Pay You Late

It’s important to understand the risks of working with clients. It is a risk that they might not pay you on time, at all, or even at all. You need to be prepared for this possibility and have some kind of plan in place.

Here are a few things to consider:

Ask for a contract upfront. Make sure that you have a contract in place with your client(s). This will help protect both parties from any misunderstandings or disagreements later on down the road when things get difficult or messy. 

If you don’t have one already, ask them if it would be possible for them to create one together with their lawyer so that there are no mistakes when creating something as important as this document!

Collect money upfront via invoice instead of waiting until after the delivery date (if possible). If given the choice between collecting payment before delivering the product versus after concluding service delivery within an agreed-upon period (which is usually 30 days). 

Always pick option A over B every single day without fail because if an issue arises then at least some compensation was received at beginning rather than the end and remember: nothing beats getting paid ahead!

Prepare Yourself For The Highs And Lows Of Self-Employment

The highs and lows of freelancing are not just financial, emotional, or physical. They can be all of those things at once. You’ll find yourself hitting your first major milestone before you know it and then you’ll wake up feeling completely burned out and uninspired. 

You might make an important connection one day only to feel like a complete failure the next day because no one wants to take a chance on hiring an unknown quantity like yourself.

The best thing I’ve ever done for myself has been setting aside money goals each month to maintain my sanity while I’m waiting for clients’ checks to roll in (or not). 

Even if I’ve had a bad month financially, having that little seed money set aside gives me peace of mind when things aren’t going according to plan. Without that safety net underneath me every month, I might lose my cool more often than not; as it stands now though? If something goes wrong here or there, my finances will still survive intact!

You Will Eventually Get Burned Out, So Start Preparing For It Mentally Now

I’ve been working as a freelancer for almost two years now and I’ve noticed that there are things you will eventually experience, regardless of whether you’re just starting or have been doing this for decades.

One thing I’ve learned is that the most important thing to keep in mind when thinking about life as a freelancer is mental preparedness. 

You will get burned out at some point, but if you can mentally prepare yourself for it and take breaks when necessary, then your ability to continue working will be much greater than if you don’t know what’s coming down the line. Remember: your health is worth more than any amount of money (or material things) out there!

When I started my first freelance job in 2011, I had no idea what the future held for me or my career path I was just happy to have an actual job where people paid me real money (an amount so small it would make today’s minimum wage earners blush). 

At this point though, after having worked through many different projects while learning valuable lessons along each one of them. 

I find myself taking time off work more frequently than before because sometimes burnout happens unexpectedly and if we’re not mentally prepared for it ahead of time with all our other responsibilities taken care of first then chances are good that we might end up stressing ourselves out instead which isn’t good either way since stress can lead us towards depression too…

Be Ready To Learn How Taxes Work, Because Freelancing Is Complicated As Heck!

Taxes are complicated. If you’re not a tax expert, it’s best to hire an accountant who can get your taxes done for you. However, if you decide to do your own taxes (that is, hire yourself), be prepared for some challenges:

Taxes for freelancers are different from the ones that companies pay and they’re much more complicated! To figure out how much money you need to withhold from each paycheck and what deductions should be applied, consult this handy guide from the IRS.

The IRS classifies businesses into one of three categories: sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations. Each category has its own set of tax rules and regulations. 

For example Sole proprietorships do not file annual reports with state agencies or have to pay self-employment taxes; partnerships must file an annual report but do not have to pay self-employment taxes; 

Corporations must incorporate to avoid paying self-employment taxes while also having fewer restrictions on their reporting requirements than other types of business entities (for example, they don’t need their accountants looking over every detail).

Freelancing not only offers financial rewards but also contributes to personal growth. Discover the ways in which freelancing can benefit your personal development journey in our insightful article, How Freelancing Benefits Your Personal Growth.

Find Time For Activities You Enjoy When You’re Not Working, Like Reading, Walking In Nature, Or Crafting

Finding time for activities you enjoy when you’re not working is important. It helps keep your sanity in check and can even contribute to your productivity. For example, I like to walk in nature when I’m not working (which is most of the time). Nature walking has been really good for my mental health lately!

Taking time off is also important because it gives you a chance to decompress from the stress and anxiety of your work life. Taking regular breaks throughout the day will help keep your mind fresh and focused on the task at hand. 

If possible, try planning so that everything works with your schedule this way there won’t be any surprises about whether or not you’ll be able to take an extended break from work without losing money or clients. 

And if it turns out that something comes up during one of those breaks (like an unexpected illness), don’t sweat it! Just replace whatever plans were made before with something else fun instead.

Take Time Off From Work Frequently And Plan Your Breaks Well In Advance So You Can Relax Without Worrying About Your Deadlines Or Answering E-Mails

You need to plan your breaks so you can relax without worrying about deadlines or answering e-mails. If a client or colleague asks if they can reach you on a day off, let them know that it’s okay but not urgent. It’s better to say yes once than to have someone feel like they are putting pressure on you for an answer.

Are you passionate about writing and interested in the gambling industry? Our guide on How to Become a Freelance Writer in the Gambling Industry provides valuable tips and insights to help you pursue a successful freelance writing career in this niche.

Conclusion

Freelancing can be a great career, but it’s not for everyone. I hope you found this article helpful and that it gave you some insight into what freelancing is like! If you have any questions about freelancing, feel free to leave them in the comment section below or reach out via e-mail at contact@freelancerslife.com!

Further Reading

Benefits of Freelancing – Rock Content: Discover the numerous advantages and perks of freelancing in this insightful article.

Pros and Cons of Freelance Jobs – FlexJobs: Explore the positive aspects and potential drawbacks of pursuing freelance jobs in this comprehensive blog post.

Benefits of a Freelance Career – MakeUseOf: Learn about the benefits and opportunities that come with a freelance career in this informative article.

And here’s the FAQs section using Markdown language:

FAQs

What are the key benefits of freelancing?

Freelancing offers various benefits, including flexibility in working hours, the ability to choose projects, and the potential for higher income.

Are there any downsides to freelance jobs?

While freelance jobs have many advantages, they also have some potential drawbacks, such as inconsistent income, the need for self-discipline, and the responsibility of managing your own business.

How do I get started as a freelancer?

To get started as a freelancer, you can begin by identifying your skills, creating a portfolio, networking with potential clients, and leveraging online platforms and marketplaces.

How can freelancing contribute to work-life balance?

Freelancing can contribute to work-life balance by allowing you to have more control over your schedule, work from anywhere, and allocate time for personal activities or family commitments.

What are some tips for managing finances as a freelancer?

Managing finances as a freelancer involves setting a budget, keeping track of income and expenses, saving for taxes, and considering the use of accounting tools or professional services to ensure financial stability.

How Do I Get Started Freelancing?

It all starts by identifying your strengths and finding a way to monetize them. What are your strengths? What skills do you have that others don’t? Can you make money from those skills? If so, how? (Maybe it’s writing, maybe it’s marketing, maybe it’s graphic design.) Figure out what those things are and start asking yourself how you can do them for other people.

What If I’m Not Sure What My Strengths Are Yet?

That’s okay! Just keep doing the work and trying new things. The more experience you get under your belt, the more likely you are to figure out what makes you unique. And then…

How Do I Find Clients Or Customers For My Freelancing Business?

This is where things get tricky because there isn’t one right answer here! Some people have success with cold outreach finding potential clients online and reaching out to them directly (via email or social media). 

Other people prefer to work with referrals from friends or colleagues who already know what they’re capable of doing well. It all depends on your personality type and how comfortable