I’ve been working as a freelancer for the past 10 years, and I don’t regret it for one second. In this article, I’ll explain why being a freelancer has been the best career decision of my life.
Whether you want to be self-employed or work remotely, there is plenty of room for growth and success if you choose freelancing as your profession.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Freelancing offers the opportunity to build a sustainable business. |
| It provides flexibility in choosing clients, projects, and work hours. |
| Freelancers can leverage their skills and expertise to attract high-paying clients. |
| Building a strong network and reputation is essential for long-term success. |
| Continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends are key to thriving as a freelancer. |
You Get To Work From Anywhere
While you may not be able to work from a coffee shop or your bathtub, freelancing gives you the freedom to work wherever works best for you.
Not only can you work from home which many people prefer but there are also plenty of other remote options available, such as working from an airport, hotel, beach bar, and so on.
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You Can Choose Whether You Want To Work Part-Time Or Full-Time
You can pick the hours you want to work and even the days of the week that you feel like working. You don’t need to worry about asking for time off or scheduling vacation days.
You can work from anywhere: at home, in your favorite coffee shop, on a park bench, you name it. All you need is an internet connection and your laptop (or desktop).
You get to choose who you want as clients: clients who share the same values as yours, clients who pay promptly and offer feedback when they receive work from you.
Or even those who are known for being difficult but good at paying their freelancers on time (this is rare).
It’s Easier To Take A Vacation Away From Your Desk
One of the best parts of freelancing is that you don’t have to ask for time off. You can take a vacation without worrying about how you will get paid, or what will happen at work while you are gone.
When a company hires a full-time employee, they expect that person to be there every day and work at least 40 hours per week (unless they have an arrangement with their employer).
But if a freelancer has something come up and needs to take some time off, it isn’t as big of an issue because it doesn’t impact the overall productivity of the company so much.
With this freedom comes responsibility though if someone is hired by your company as a full-time employee then they’re expected not only to show up but also to do good work every day!
You Get To Make Your Schedule
As a freelancer, you get to make your schedule. You can work when you want to and how long you want to work.
If it’s 9 AM on a Sunday and all of your friends are still sleeping off their hangovers from the night before, that’s fine! You can take care of whatever housekeeping tasks need doing while they’re sleeping it off.
Later in the day when everyone else starts getting ready for dinner, grab your laptop and head outside for some fresh air while writing an article or working on project management.
No matter what time zone you live in (or if there even is one), there are plenty of hours available each day where no one needs anything from anyone else so why not use those hours wisely?
In addition to getting up early or staying up late as fits your needs something, most people don’t usually have control over you and also have the ability to listen to music while working (or not listening at all).
There’s no need for silence if silence helps motivate or inspire creativity; if tiny distractions like birds chirping will get in the way then turn on some tunes instead!
While it might seem counterproductive at first glance: Music makes us more productive.
Because we’re able to work faster with less effort required from our brains when we’re listening which allows them more time for other tasks like problem-solving or thinking creatively about solutions/ideas related directly back to said the project itself
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You Get To Decide How Much You Want To Earn
This is the best part of being a freelancer: you set your rates. You can charge more for more difficult projects, or less for easier ones.
If a client is willing to pay more than average, go ahead and agree on that rate! It’s all up to you.
As an example: let’s say someone hires me for some website design work in PHP and MySQL (a harder programming language).
It would be fair for me to charge them 10-40% more than if they wanted something simple like HTML5 web pages without any kind of back-end programming required.
Or let’s say I’m hired by Apple Inc., as opposed to some small business owner who runs an independent pizza shop out of their home kitchen; that alone would increase my rates by at least 20%.
You Don’t Have A Boss Staring Over Your Shoulder Monitoring Your Every Move
You are your boss. When you’re self-employed, you don’t have to answer to anyone else. You can decide what projects to work on and when to work on them.
This means that if you don’t feel like working today, then there’s no one around who can make you feel guilty about it!
You can work from anywhere in the world (as long as there’s an internet connection). Being a freelancer lets you work from anywhere that has an internet connection.
That means being able to travel around the world while still earning money from your business – perfect for those who want flexibility in their working lives!
You can wear whatever makes YOU comfortable. One of my favorite things about being self-employed is being able to dress how I want each day!
If I’m wearing pajamas all day because I find them more comfortable than normal clothes then so be it!
You Don’t Need A Fancy Office, Or Even An Office At All
When you’re first starting, it can be difficult to find clients that are willing to pay the rates you need to make enough money.
This is especially true if you don’t have a lot of experience under your belt.
Fortunately, freelancing allows you to work from anywhere. You can set up shop at home or even on the road if necessary!
And while working from home isn’t always ideal (noise distractions and pet hair are real), there are plenty of options available for those looking for someplace more conducive to productivity than their couch:
Coffee shops: These can vary wildly in terms of price, but they all offer free WiFi and somewhere quiet where people feel comfortable working without being disturbed by others while they’re trying to get stuff done
Coworking spaces: These provide a shared office space with many other people who also happen to be freelancers or entrepreneurs like yourself (and sometimes even with shared tools!)
Which means that everyone knows what it’s like just getting started so no one will question your choice when choosing this option over something else
Coworks: This option combines both coworking spaces AND coffee shops into one convenient location. It provides everything else listed above plus coffee!
There are no mandatory meetings (unless you want them!)
As a freelancer or solopreneur, you have the flexibility to make your schedule. That means there are no mandatory meetings unless you want them!
When and where you hold meetings is entirely up to you. You can decide how often they take place and who is included in them. If there’s someone on your team who doesn’t want to participate in the weekly staff meeting, don’t force them into it!
You also have control over who gets invited to any given meeting. If there’s someone else in the office that needs more involvement in a project but isn’t part of your core team, invite him or her along as needed without excluding others from participating as well (and vice versa).
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You Can Choose Who You Work With And Who You Don’t Work With
You can choose the type of people you want to work with. I know, this is a no-brainer! But it’s not just that it’s also that you have the option of only choosing the best and most professional people in your field.
If someone doesn’t do their job well, or they’re just not a good fit for your company (let’s face it, some people suck), then you don’t have to work with them ever again.
This means you’re free from having to put up with incompetent workers or coworkers who constantly make mistakes and waste your time.
You Can Generate Passive Income While You Sleep
Passive income is the holy grail of any business or career. It’s earned with little or no effort and can be generated even if you’re on vacation.
Passive income is money that keeps on getting paid long after you’re off doing something else. You don’t have to work for it, but it will still come in regularly.
That means that as a freelancer who earns passive income, you could be sleeping on a beach in Thailand and still be earning an income from your work!
You Have The Freedom To Travel While Working
The freedom to work from anywhere is one of the most significant benefits of freelancing. You can set up shop in a coffee shop, library, home, or even on the beach.
Maybe your dream is to travel the world and earn an income while doing it? If so, this can be accomplished through freelancing.
You don’t have to limit yourself to only working in one city; you can move around as desired and still make money!
Consider how much more productive you’ll be if you’re not stuck commuting daily.
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Work Is Not A Competition. There are Enough Clients For Everyone. It’s Not Necessary To Compete With Another Freelancer
The best part about freelancing is that it’s not a race. There’s enough work for everyone, so you don’t need to worry about having more clients than someone else. Just focus on doing your best, and you’ll be fine.
Also remember that when you’re working for yourself, no deadlines or clients are breathing down your neck asking for things by yesterday. You can take your time with each project!
There are loads of resources online that will help you succeed as a freelancer.
As a freelancer, you have to be ready to learn on your own. There are loads of resources online that will help you succeed as a freelancer. Here are some of the best ones:
It’s got tons of great tips and advice on how to build up your freelance business from scratch, including information about how much money you can make and what kind of projects you might want to get involved in early on.
Freelancing Means Not Having To Go Into An Office, Less Stress, More Time Off, More Money, And More Freedom
No commute. No dress code. No office politics (well, maybe some). You can work from home or wherever you want as freelancers are location independent by definition.
No sitting in a cubicle unless you choose one; no having to fight for a parking space or seat on the bus or train; no working on weekends if you don’t want to and if your client needs it done at 2 am on a Sunday? Go for it!
Discover why many individuals choose to freelance using their mobile devices for ultimate flexibility and freedom. Explore the benefits and possibilities of mobile freelancing in the digital age.
Conclusion
If you want to learn more about freelancing, then I recommend checking out the Freelancers Group on Facebook.
This group contains over 25,000 other freelancers and it’s a great place to get advice from other people who are in the same situation as you.
And don’t forget that there are loads of resources available online too! If you’d like me to show you how I started my own freelance business, then feel free to check out my course called The Freelance Freedom Formula.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to explore related to freelancing:
The Surprising Reality: Freelancers Are Happy and Successful: Discover the unexpected truth about freelancers’ happiness and success in their chosen career path.
Why It’s a Good Time to Consider a Freelance Career: Learn why the current climate presents an opportune moment to explore a freelance career and the potential benefits it offers.
Earth Day 2022: How to Lead an Environmentally Conscious Freelancing Career: Explore ways to incorporate sustainability and environmental consciousness into your freelancing journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Freelancing?
Freelancing is essentially a way of working that allows you to work for yourself, without being an employee of any company. You set your schedule and keep all of the profit from the work that you do.
What Is The Difference Between Freelancing And Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the process of building a sustainable business. It involves creating a product or service, developing a marketing strategy, and selling your product or service to customers.
Freelancing is an approach to building a sustainable business. It involves doing work on-demand for clients and getting paid for it.
How Do I Know Whether I Should Be An Entrepreneur Or A Freelancer?
If you want to build a sustainable business that can last you a lifetime, then you should be an entrepreneur.
If you want to make money by doing work on-demand for dozens of clients every month, then you should be a freelancer.
Why Should I Become A Freelancer Instead Of Starting My Own Company?
Freelancing has several advantages over starting your own company right away. Firstly, it allows you to learn about running your own business without having all the responsibilities associated with running one (such as tax filing and bookkeeping).
Secondly, it gives you time to build up the experience and skills needed to run an effective business (such as marketing yourself effectively).
Why Should I Consider Freelancing?
You may want to consider freelancing if you need more flexibility in your schedule or if you want to make more money than you would as an employee.
Freelancers can also get experience in their field that may be difficult to obtain through other means.
What Are The Cons Of Freelancing?
As a freelancer, it’s important to be aware of the risks involved with working for yourself.
For example, because no employer pays into Social Security and Medicare taxes on your behalf, you will have to pay those taxes on your own.
If you have health insurance through your employer, then as a freelancer you will need to purchase your insurance plan (or pay out-of-pocket) until Obamacare kicks in next year!
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.