What Freelancing Has Taught Me About Work

Realizing that I was a self-proclaimed workaholic, I decided to test my skills in the freelance world. Over the last three years, I’ve taught myself how to pitch and write articles, use social media channels to build audiences, and create visual content. 

This has given me a whole new perspective on what “work” really means. Before this journey, I used to see work as an endless series of tasks that must be completed for someone else’s benefit. 

Now, my relationship with work is totally different! It’s not about getting from start to finish without taking breaks; it’s about enjoying the process of learning new things every day and finding ways to bring joy into my life at every step. 

If you’re also looking for a change in your work style or attitude toward work in general, here are some lessons from freelancing that may help get you there:

Takeaways
Freelancing provides flexibility and control over your work.
Time management becomes essential when working as a freelancer.
Building a diverse skill set increases your marketability.
Freelancing requires self-discipline and motivation.
Networking and building relationships are crucial for freelance success.
Embracing continuous learning and professional growth is essential.
Overcoming challenges and adapting to changes are part of the freelance journey.
Freelancing offers the opportunity to pursue passion projects and explore new industries.
Balancing work and personal life is a continuous process as a freelancer.
Freelancing can lead to personal and professional fulfillment.

No Matter Which Work Style You Choose, There Will Be Ups And Downs

The ups and downs that come along with any job are part of the deal. No matter how much you love your job, it’s not going to be a smooth ride all the time. Freelancing has taught me this lesson more than anything else: 

I’ve learned how to keep myself from getting too excited when things are going well, and I’ve learned how not to get too upset when things aren’t going so well.

It’s important to find a balance between the two extremes you can’t let yourself stay down when things go wrong or get too excited when they’re going right. Instead, keep calm and carry on!

Freelancing has given me the gift of time and travel. Exploring new places while working on my terms has been an incredible experience. Learn more about how freelancing can offer you the freedom to travel in our article on how freelancing gave me the gift of time and travel.

There Are Benefits To Both Freelancing And Working On A-Team

There are a lot of benefits to both freelancing and working on a team. I think that many of the reasons you would choose one over the other can also be applied to situations where you’re doing both.

Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of being part of an organization:

The Benefits

Working with others gives you access to more resources and perspectives than you’d have as a solo worker. It’s also great for accountability; if your coworkers know what they need to be doing, they’ll hold themselves accountable by checking in regularly with each other (and ideally with their manager) throughout the project timeline. 

This can help keep projects on track without too much micromanagement from above. Plus, building relationships with people whose skill sets complement yours is fun!

The Drawbacks

You might not like everyone on your team or maybe even anyone and that could make collaboration difficult or unpleasant at times; 

It’s likely best practice for one person from every group involved in any given project to communicate directly via email or chat so there aren’t any unnecessary misunderstandings between them (this is especially true if someone isn’t available face-to-face). 

Also, keep in mind that when working remotely there may be communication challenges due to time zone differences or travel schedules (or maybe just because someone forgot).

To charge more as a freelancer, it’s crucial to develop in-demand skills. Our article on top 10 freelance skills to charge more provides valuable insights into the skills that can help you command higher rates and attract quality clients.

What We Usually Call “Work” Is More About Being Part Of A Team Than About The Actual Tasks We’re Doing

In my experience, there’s one thing that stands out above all else: the importance of teamwork.

When we think about work, we usually think about it as something that happens when you’re alone and working on an individual project. 

But real-life workplaces are rarely like this. The opposite is true: most companies are built on teams and collaboration, not individuals working in isolation. 

And even if you work from home or by yourself for some reason, having a team (or a “community”) to bounce ideas off of is crucial to being successful as a freelancer.

There Are Lessons People Can Learn From Freelancing That Will Help Them In Any Job Or Career

For those who have never freelanced before, the process can feel very intimidating. But there are a lot of lessons that people can learn from freelancing that will help them in any job or career.

Freelancing is a great way to learn new skills. As a freelancer, you have to do everything yourself and there’s no one else to rely on so you must know how to do everything yourself. 

This means learning new things all the time and learning quickly when they don’t work out as planned!

You can learn how to be a better manager by managing yourself. When you freelance, there are only two bosses: 

The client and yourself (sometimes even just one boss!). As a result of this relationship, many freelancers develop some very useful skills such as delegating tasks among other staff members or subcontracting work out when necessary.

You can learn how to manage your time better by working without deadlines most days! Working without deadlines means having absolute control over when your tasks will get done but that also means not having anyone else telling you what needs doing first either!

The Best Thing About Freelancing Is The Freedom It Offers

I can work when I want, where I want, on what I want, and with who I want. When you’re working for someone else, your schedule is dictated by theirs; when you’re working as a freelancer, your schedule is dictated by yourself only. 

You’re in charge of setting up meetings or responding to emails at whatever time works best for you even if that means starting your day at midnight or 3 am!

When a deadline looms near and work piles up (because inevitably it will), nothing is stopping me from taking a break if that’s what I need most right then: 

No boss who’ll question whether my productivity level is acceptable (“Sorry but this isn’t good enough,”) no co-workers who’ll make me feel guilty for leaving early (“You could have stayed longer”) no clients demanding more attention from me than usual (because usually, they don’t). 

The freedom afforded by being self-employed allows me to do things like go on vacation without worrying about whether my absence will cost me any customers and without having to apologize profusely when I’m away from email while traveling abroad which means less stress overall!

If you’re looking to earn more as a freelancer, honing specific skills can make a significant difference. Discover the freelancing skills that will help you earn more and gain a competitive edge in the freelance market.

If You’re Not A Self-Starter, It’s Hard To Freelance Successfully

If you’re not a self-starter, it’s hard to freelance successfully. You need to be self-motivated, self-disciplined, and able to set goals and achieve them. 

You must be organized enough to manage your time effectively and keep track of all the little details that can trip up even the best plan (like when you have an appointment with a client or when you need to send out invoices).

It also helps if freelancers are good at working efficiently without wasting time in between tasks or trying things that don’t work out because they might’ve learned something from it if they had just tried harder in the first place!

And then there’s delegation: knowing how much help or lack thereof you can afford while still getting everything done on time is important too because it’ll save both money & sanity later on down the road…

Freelancing Allows You To Prioritize What You Want To Do With Your Time

Freelancing allows you to prioritize what you want to do with your time. You get to choose how much work you want to take on, how much money is enough, and whether you prefer working at night or during the day.

You can choose to work less if life throws a curveball your way, such as needing more time with family or friends. This can be helpful if you’re feeling overwhelmed by an endless stream of projects (or just one particularly grueling one).

Or maybe working less feels good for now but don’t worry! If that changes in the future, freelancing has no end date: You can always go back when it makes sense for both parties involved. 

For example, A friend of mine recently decided she wanted a break from teaching yoga classes because she was tired from all the touring, but then she realized how much she missed teaching once she took some time off and realized her passion hadn’t gone anywhere!

You Have To Like Yourself As A Person To Have Good Relationships With Clients While Freelancing

A lot of people are surprised to hear that self-esteem and self-confidence are important for freelancers. They tell me, “But isn’t it all about the work? Isn’t it about doing a good job?” Yes, but not just any job; your work is also about you!

It’s not just about whether or not you can do the job well it’s also about how you treat yourself. You should have a high degree of respect for yourself as an employee, as an artist, and as someone who makes money by creating products (whether physical or digital).

If you don’t feel confident in your skills or if you don’t respect them enough to feel good about charging what they’re worth then how can anyone else possibly pay what they’re worth?

Writing a freelance proposal that stands out and increases your chances of getting hired requires careful consideration. Check out our guide on how to write a freelance proposal that doesn’t get you rejected to learn effective strategies and techniques for crafting winning proposals.

You Can Come Up With Solutions When You Don’t Have Exactly What You Need If You Keep Your Eyes Open For Possibilities

When you’re a freelancer, you have to be creative with what you have. If you don’t have the exact materials for a project, it’s up to you to find a way around that problem. This can be as simple as looking for similar products or doing research online. 

It may also mean getting creative and finding ways to use what’s available in your workspace.

For example, I recently needed some small pieces of wood for an art project but didn’t have any on hand. Instead of buying new ones, I used a piece of cardboard from another project and cut it down into thinner pieces which were essentially my “new” small pieces of wood.

Working Remotely Forces Me To Be My Own Best Boss And Take Responsibility For My Own Goals And Progress

Working remotely has given me a unique perspective on being your boss.

I’m working from home, in coffee shops, libraries, and coworking spaces, so I have to make sure that I am always doing something productive when I’m working on my projects or clients.

Being your boss is different than working in an office because you don’t have someone looking over your shoulder telling you what to do (or not do). 

You don’t have coworkers around to ask for help with things or bounce ideas off of. This can be both incredibly empowering and intimidating at the same time!

You’ve got all this freedom but are also responsible for reaching goals and keeping yourself motivated for it all to work out successfully in the end.

Different Work Styles Can Help Us Discover What They Most Value In Work And Play Off Of Their Strengths

As a freelancer, I’ve had the opportunity to try out several different work styles and see what I enjoy most. Some days, it’s working alone; other days, it’s working as part of a team. I’ve learned that knowing myself and my strengths is crucial to finding the right work style for me.

I know what my strengths are and they’re not always easy to admit publicly! For example, I’m good at organizing things and making sure everyone knows what they’re doing at all times (even if no one asked). 

This helps when you have multiple clients who are all trying to get something done in parallel but still need independent access to your services or products.

It’s also important for me (and for anyone else) to know their weaknesses so they can figure out where other people might be able to step up and help compensate for those areas where we may not be as strong as others on our team would be if given the chance!

Are you a member of Generation Z considering a freelance career? Our article on what Generation Z needs to know as they begin their freelance careers offers valuable insights and advice to help you navigate the freelance world successfully.

Conclusion

You may have noticed that this post has been about both freelancing and life in general. I’ve learned a lot from my time as a freelancer, but some of it has also applied to other parts of my life. 

The sense of freedom that comes with not having someone else to answer to, the need for self-discipline, and even the ability to take control of your resources can all be helpful no matter what you’re doing. 

I think the lessons that come from being your boss are some of the most important ones we can take away from any experience which is why I love writing about them so much!

So whether or not you decide to pursue a career as a freelancer yourself, hopefully, there are things here that you too find useful and inspiring. Thanks for reading!

Further Reading

Here are some additional articles you may find helpful:

8 Lessons Freelancing Taught Me About Money: Discover valuable insights into managing finances as a freelancer and gaining financial stability.

5 Lessons I Learned as a Freelancer: Explore important lessons and experiences shared by a freelancer, covering various aspects of freelancing.

12 Things Freelancing Taught Me in 12 Months: Gain insights into the freelancing journey and the valuable lessons learned during the author’s first year as a freelancer.

FAQs

How can I manage my finances effectively as a freelancer?

Effective financial management as a freelancer involves creating a budget, tracking expenses, setting aside taxes, and establishing an emergency fund.

What are some important lessons to learn as a freelancer?

As a freelancer, it’s crucial to learn how to market yourself, negotiate rates, manage time effectively, handle client communication, and continuously upgrade your skills.

How can I find clients as a freelancer?

Finding clients as a freelancer can be achieved through various methods, such as networking, utilizing online platforms, showcasing a portfolio, leveraging social media, and asking for referrals.

How do I determine the right pricing for my freelance services?

To determine the right pricing for your freelance services, consider factors such as your experience, expertise, market demand, competition, and the value you provide to clients. Research industry rates and adjust accordingly.

What are some common challenges freelancers face and how can they be overcome?

Common challenges freelancers face include inconsistent income, managing multiple projects, dealing with difficult clients, and maintaining work-life balance. Overcoming these challenges involves proper financial planning, time management, setting boundaries, and continuous self-improvement.