I can’t believe it has been 7 weeks that I’ve been working in the freelance world. Surprisingly, time is actually going by much faster than before (and it was FAST then). I wanted to write some of the thoughts that have been cruising through my brain over the past month.
Most everyday I think of a positive output from living the freelancing life. First off, it seems to really fit my personality. I don’t feel bogged down by politics and office drama. I feel that I’m getting to focus on my work, and because of that my ideas and solutions have become much more creative and innovative. I’ve also found that I have a life outside of the office! I’m networking and meeting other professionals whose advice has led to even more great ideas and progress. Lastly, a very talented individual whom I met with last week gave me a great piece of advice. “When freelancing, you are brought in because there’s a problem”. And because there is a problem, there is a need for a solution and not just minor enhancements that may or may not effect the user.
That being said, now that I’m starting to become more comfortable with freelancing, the fulltime job opportunities are rolling in… which is great! I try to explore them because you never know what may be your next great opportunity, but my question to other freelancers is how do you do it? How do you go day in and day out not knowing where your next bit of work will come from? Yet, in a way, this is another aspect that I’m starting to enjoy.
Any advice/feedback?? Am I crazy 🙂 ?
Freelancing
Liz, next Friday will begin my “Freelance” career. I’m probably going to head back to school but I may pick up some work along the way.
It appears that your desire for a “job-in-an-office-that-has-an-aura-of-stability” is giving way to less concern about stability and more concern about ability to express yourself. You note that “my ideas and solutions have become much more creative and innovative,” and it appears to be due to the fact that you “don’t feel bogged down by politics and office drama.”
I know for a fact that my creative expression exponentially increased the day I made a decision to move on. My wife constantly calls me a chatterbox and I’ve read more and written more in the past 2 months than I have in the past five years.
What are the real trade-offs for you? I believe that that ability to exercise your intellect is far more profitable (in real dollars) than the possibility of trying to hold down an “in-the-office-job.” Certainly this is not for everyone, but from what I know of you, and even what I’ve observed in my own behavior, I think there’s a lot to what your sharing here.