Freelancing – A New Way of Making a Living
When we hear the terms “freelancing” or “freelancer” we tend to just think about writers, novelists, journalists, or perhaps even photographers. That is because for a very long time these have been, for the most part, the only known freelancing roles. However, with recent technological advances, and the way our world is so connected now, we do have many more options to choose the freelancing path and enjoy hundreds, if not thousands, of different jobs.
Many fields are seeing massive growth and an influx of freelancers as more people realize they can make far more money working for themselves than working for someone else. These fields include of course traditional roles such as transcriptionists, secretaries, and receptionists, but also the more technical areas like software engineers, website designers, and researchers.
To become a freelancer all we essentially have to do is work in our chosen field for a while, get the practical experience and additional education or knowledge we need, then gradually make the switch from working for someone else to becoming our own boss. Sounds pretty straight-forward. But is it really that easy? And can we actually make a living working on a freelance basis?
First of all we have to keep in mind that there are quite a few freelancers out there who are only doing it part time. It may be that they make enough money on the part time to support themselves and their families, which is great for them, but it may also be that they are having trouble finding work in their chosen field and keep their day job to ensure their financial security. It is a consideration we all have to make in our decision.
Secondly, we have to realize that our career switch may not, and most likely will not, happen overnight. If we are serious, we need to be willing to do whatever it takes to become a freelancer in our field. We have to go after it. It won’t come to us. But if we work hard success will eventually be in our reach.
Before we take that jump though, and hang our shingle, we must decide if we really have what it takes to be a freelancer. Sure we all want to be our own boss, but let’s be honest with ourselves. Do we have what it takes? It’s time for the tough questions.
Do we really have the drive and dedication, as well as the self-discipline we need to be successful? It is easy to do whatever needs to be done when someone else is watching us and giving us the instructions and direction we need to do the job right. What happens when we take that role over for ourselves?
What makes us so special in the world of freelancers and in our chosen field? Is our skillset strong enough to stand out? Do we have some unique or different talent to offer?
How are our time management skills? People skills? Are we able to run our freelance business, complete the actual work, and meet the deadlines our clients set all at the same time? Can we calmly and rationally handle an irate customer and resolve the conflict?
If we have even the slightest doubt about freelancing, and the work and effort it takes, we should probably stop right here and explore other career paths.
However if we are ready and willing to make this move, and accept all that it involves, we need to remember that money probably won’t start flowing immediately, and that it is a slow and steady process. It is going to take time, and lots of it.
So before we quit that day job, we need to spend some considerable time hunting for freelance work in our area of expertise first and see what we find. This will help us further decide if it is right for us, and what we really want to do as a freelancer. The internet is a valuable resource for this task.
As we do our search we find that some skills are more marketable than others and our skillset will define how much difficulty we will have in finding work, and further refine what kind of freelancing work we really want to do. Areas such as software engineering, website design, and architecture are relatively new to the freelance world and are growing. There is often a goldmine of work available in these fields, and if we fit in here we are most certain to be successful. Bookkeeping and secretarial jobs are out there too, however this industry is somewhat more saturated with freelancers and having a unique talent to offer will give us a competitive edge. Although this area may take a little more time to break in to and build on, there is stil no reason whatsoever we can’t be successful.
Once we have settled on a field to freelance in, we need to find that first client. The internet again will be the best tool. A few good key words here and there, targeted to our freelance field, and we should easily have 10 – 15 sites to check out. Many sites have popped up too in recent years similar to monster.com dedicated to freelancing, as well as countless forums. Now we just need to spend some time on each of them, creating accounts and uploading resumes where required, and apply for the jobs that are right or us. Then wait for responses.
While we are still on the subject of finding our first clients, we should immediately rule out canvassing anyone we deal with at our current job. Aside from probably being illegal, especially where confidentiality and/or non-compete contracts are in place, it is truly in bad taste. Integrity goes far. Protect it.
The first few jobs we get are sure not to pay very well, but the experience we gain will be worth the monetary sacrifice. While we are working these jobs we are building our skillset, learning how to manage our time effectively, improving workflows, and maybe even refining our research skills. We are also creating a portfolio to show to other potential clients. Completed projects and glowing testimonials are very valuable tools in gaining new business.
In time these lower paying jobs will be replaced by the higher paying ones and at some point we may find our income has either matched or exceeded what we earn from our day job. On top of that, jobs are scheduled well in to the future and other potential opportunities exist to ensure we are financially stable.
Now we can think about reducing our hours at work, or quit altogether, and make freelancing our new way of making a living. We did it!
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About the Author:
Deborah Taylor is a diversified administrative professional with more than 25 years of varied and progressive experience in all areas of office management and administration. President of AVA Business Services, Deborah and her team provide Virtual Assistance and local Freelance support for today’s global marketplace.
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Is Freelancing Right for YOU?
Ok, you are tired of working for someone else. You are bored with your work life. You want freedom and independence. You want to increase your earning potential. You want to work on your own time and on your own terms. Plain and simply you’ve just had enough and are ready to quit your current job and become a Freelancer.
Stop! Wait a minute!
Before you make that move are you really sure Freelancing is right for YOU?
In reality, far too many people jump ship and join the ranks of freelancing because it sounds easy. They have it in their heads that they will have a more relaxing work environment, be able to wake up whenever they want, work whenever they want, in pjs if they want, and take time off whenever they want. They believe too that they can be really selective of the clients and projects they take on, and make enormous sums of money.
And sure these are some of the perks of being a freelancer. But the reality is there are quite a few trials and tribulations to go through before you reach this point. You simply cannot quit your current job to start a new life as a freelancer and expect to suddenly have hundreds of potential clients lined up for you to take on their projects. Sadly, it just doesn’t work that way. There is so much more to freelancing and things you need to know and consider to make it in this oftentimes highly competitive world.
First of all you need to realize that in the beginning you most likely will not be able to survive financially with just the money you make from freelancing. It may take quite some time before you can. So, if you are seriously thinking about quitting your job, hold off a while. Test the waters first by taking on a few projects or clients on the side, and see how it works for you. See if you like freelancing, can handle the pressures, and get an idea of your realistic income.
Second, as a newbie, you need to work on getting yourself established and known. This means taking on clients whose projects may not be all that challenging or rewarding, and certainly won’t pay as much as you would really like to make or think you are worth. In the end though, it will surely pay off. Every project gives you more confidence and experience, and adds to your portfolio. Also, these clients may have other projects to send your way once they know they can depend on you. They may even sing your praises to their associates. Abundance of patience is definitely required.
You have to figure out what your financial needs are to support yourself and your family. Will you be able to bring in enough well-paying work to maintain your current lifestyle? Do you have savings to fall back on, or does your spouse have an income that can help carry everything while you are building your business? Are there personal sacrifices that can be made for at least a while until you reach the income level you desire to achieve?
What about your benefit package at your work? Can you live without it? Or can you afford to pay premiums on a private plan? Better yet, does your spouse have a plan that you can take advantage of instead? Medical expenses can add up quickly, and you need to be prepared.
These are all very important questions that you have to ask yourself before you type up your resignation letter.
Aside from the financial considerations, how are you at working under pressure and within tight deadlines? Keep in mind that you will at times be faced with projects that require long hours and a lot of hard work in order to finish them. Other projects may have what seem like ridiculous or ever changing timelines imposed by your client. And again, you may encounter clients who just can’t make up their minds. Can you handle the stress of these situations? Are your time management skills up to the challenge? Are you willing to put in whatever it takes? How are you in dealing with difficult people? With conflict resolution?
Your reputation and integrity are constantly on the line, and these are things you always have to think about and be prepared for. If you cannot return the finished work to the client on time and in order, or if you have a falling out, you can certainly expect to be discredited by that client, but you could also have trouble finding work going forward. You need to have your plans in place on how you would deal with potential situations, and internal mechanisms to keep your emotions in check.
Now what about your own work habits? How and when do you work best? Are you a team player that thrives in that kind of environment, or do you work best alone? Do you need others to motivate or inspire you or can you do that to yourself and for yourself? Are you self-disciplined enough to keep on track? As a freelancer you are your own team and your own boss, and you have only you to rely on. There is no one else but you. So while you may work well on a team, you need to work even better on your own.
Finally, how is your self-esteem and knowledge of your area of expertise? Do you have enough of both to be able to promote yourself as the best one for the job? You must always be ready, willing, and able to advertise yourself and your services to just about anyone.
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About the Author:
Deborah Taylor is a diversified administrative professional with more than 25 years of varied and progressive experience in all areas of office management and administration. President of AVA Business Services, Deborah and her team provide Virtual Assistance and local Freelance support for today’s global marketplace.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Age Is Not a Factor in Finding Your Passion
As we go through life, there are many obstacles that we need to overcome before we can finally enjoy the success we worked so hard to achieve. Some of these obstacles we put there ourselves, and others are put there for us. Regardless of their origin, they all can get in the way of finding our true passion and purpose.
When we are young, pursuing higher education, building a career, and raising a family often take center stage. We tend to stay on a “safe” path, grabbing only the opportunities that are presented to us, and making a living. Our mindset dictates that we have to succeed no matter what, and prove ourselves to the world. We ignore the inner longings inside. After all, once we have finished our education, attained the position we wanted, and our families are raised, there will be plenty of time to dabble in whatever it is that we have buried.
Once we get there though, we are usually too comfortable and quite settled in the life we have already built, and fearful that we will lose it all on something we have no idea what the outcome would be. So again we ignore those inner longings and carry on, even when we feel stuck or dragged down, and we are not doing what we really want to do. We forget the promise we made to ourselves when we were young.
But that promise is important. We owe it to ourselves to search out and discover our true passion and achieve it, no matter where we are in our life. We just have to put our heart and mind to it, and set aside the time to make it happen.
No one is ever too young or too old to go where they really want to go. Age doesn’t matter when it comes to pursuing what will make you feel complete.
Remember, if we surrender to fear, we will never know what could have happened if only we had allowed ourselves to take that risk in order to attain what our heart wants us to.
It is better to look back at our achievements with fulfillment in our hearts, than what we didn’t do with the pain of regret.
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About the Author:
Deborah Taylor is a diversified administrative professional with more than 25 years of varied and progressive experience in all areas of office management and administration. President of AVA Business Services, Deborah and her team provide Virtual Assistance and local Freelance support for today’s global marketplace.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Don’t Become a Workaholic!
Don’t become a workaholic. Many a small business owner falls in to that trap and so many other areas of life suffer for it.
Make time for yourself, your hobbies, interests, family and friends. These parts of your life will help your mind clear out the clutter and be ready for the next business day. The best ideas can come when your mind is at rest and you are not thinking about them.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Don’t Get Too Comfortable!
Don’t get too comfortable with your income, your business, or your life. You should always be making new goals for yourself and developing new ideas. The world keeps changing and you need to change with it. Pause too long, and you just might miss out.
Popularity: 1% [?]
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