Freelancing: The Choice of Champions

If you’re thinking of starting contracting or going freelance then you need to take a serious look at the opportunites and options available to you. Freelance Advisor and Web Marketing Consultant Leif Kendall tells us that freelancing is not the easy option… but it is the most rewarding option.

Want to become a freelancer? It’s easy; all you have to do is quit your job. Ta-da! Now you’re freelance.

Successful Freelancing

Becoming a successful freelancer is a different challenge, and one that Freelance Advisor aims to help you succeed at. But, we’ve already looked at the positive aspects of freelancing and contracting; the things that rock about this career option; the reasons to love it; the reasons to get excited about it.

I want to talk about the less enjoyable aspects of freelancing, and the reasons why you shouldn’t go freelance without giving it careful consideration.

Persistent Job-Hunting

Freelancing and unemployment have some similarities. Being a freelancer is like constantly looking for a job. The relief of finding a job is soon tempered by the anxiety of needing to find another one. The search for jobs can never really stop. You must market yourself constantly if you want to succeed.

And of course, regular job-hunting means regular interviews. Although these will probably be quite informal, and you’ll soon get used to talking about yourself and selling your services, you’ll have to get used to being under regular scrutiny.

Insecurity

With freelancing, you can’t really take your foot off the accelerator. As soon as you stop pushing forward, you’ll start going backwards. You can’t assume that you will earn enough money in a month to cover your costs. Unless you’re a very clever freelancer and have managed to line up regular contracts, you’ll never really know what’s going to happen from one month to the next.

It’s Only You!

As a freelancer, you are the lone wolf. And that’s pretty cool, except for that:

• When you take a holiday, nothing happens (which might make you reluctant to take holidays)
• If you’re sick and can’t work, there’s no sick pay (unless you get some kind of insurance)
• You only earn money when you work. There are no residual income streams (unless you’re the crafty freelancer I mentioned above)

Your board meetings will happen in your mind, between you, you and you (unless of course you find a friendly, supportive freelance network like The Farm).

The Flip-Side of these Challenges

Freelancing is not the easy option. But for many people, that’s one of the reasons why they love it. Freelancing is like taking your corporate clothes off and running naked down Unemployment Boulevard. It’s exposing, liberating, empowering and exhilarating. It puts you in control of your life and it rewards you for your hard work.

In short, all of the ‘negative’ aspects I listed above have positive flip-sides; it just depends on how you look at them.

By Leif Kendall, freelance copywriter and web marketing consultant

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Related:

• Should I or shouldn’t I? Freelance Advisor’s guide to Starting Out
• Go for it: The advantages of being a self-employed contractor or freelancer
• Podcast advice: Things you must do to prepare for freelancing

 

photo by Tyla’75