So...you wanna be a freelancer?

You've finally decided that trying to swim upstream with the fishes just wasn't for you.  You are bright, talented, motivated, and have some sort of skill that sets you apart from everyone else.  Let's face it, you've been doing your job for so long that you could do it with your eyes closed.  In your sleep you think about how to improve X, Y, and Z.  You decide one day while driving to your office (or walking, or taking the tram) that you don't need the overhead or micromanagement.  Quite frankly, wearing pants while you work is overrated anyways.  So, you do what any self respecting person your age would do.  Leave your firm.  Henceforth, you shall be known as Freelancer.

Lies! Lies! Lies!

So, you knew a guy who's brother's girlfriend's aunt does the SAME EXACT thing that you do.  She never has to worry about a paycheck.  She takes three week vacations yearly and her clients are happy.  She has never had a question about her taxes and she still has time to have dinner ready when her partner comes home.  No way! Sorry, but someone is a bold faced liar.  Freelancing, especially the first year, is difficult.  That my friend, is what we call in English, an understatement.

Crickets...

If you don't already have your client-base in tact, then you have to work to find one.  My personal rule of thumb is for every hour that I should be working, I need to be looking for work.  So, if I work for 8 hours in a day, I will be spending 8 hours doing something productive that will lead to my generating leads or promoting myself (and not spending a dime while doing so).

There will be days when you are under-worked.  Take advantage of the downtime but also don't forget about the "do you" time.

Friends With Benefits

Having a special friend is great.  Having a special, talented friend is even better.  Being that special, talented friend is the best thing in the world.  Every smidgen of talent and bubbliness that you have dies the second a friend asks for your opinion or advice regarding the field that you are in.  Never work with friends.  If you do decide to ignore this warning, think about all of the consequences before you sign on any dotted lines.  What if your friend doesn't like the quality of work that you produce.  Everyone knows that friends are supposed to stroke your ego, not stomp you into the ground.  Are you prepared for the criticism?  Will you do the 2nd, 3rd, and 15th draft without cursing his name and banishing his unborn children to hell?  What if your friend had an emergency and can't pay you for services rendered?  Raincheck?  Great!  But wait, how did she get money for those new heels???

Remember that you started freelancing for a reason.  The demarcation between constructive criticism and presumptuous opinions and advice are very fine once you add a personal relationship into the equation.

Which leads us to the next topic...

Hi, Haters!

When I tell people that I am freelance Writer and Language Consultant, the conversation usually shifts into one of the following scenarios:

• "Don't you wan't a real job?  How are you going to survive?"
• "I would do that too, except for (fill in the blank)
• Wait, so like, people really pay you for that?  No, really...what do you do?

This goes back to the age old theory of people hating things that they do not understand.  Yes, I sit at my computer for eight hours a day.  No, I'm not playing Angry-Birds or looking at sites that are typically blocked in a normal working environment.  Unfortunately, the general public tends to negate all of your hard work and ambition because of the fact that you don't have to get up and go to a brick and mortar building every day.

If you are just starting out and you  your bank account is looking slightly anorexic, whether you are "truly working" or not may be questioned when you pass up events due to time or money constraints.

Everyone will have an opinion about this and offer their suggestions.  Stay strong and focused.  Or, better yet, have the naysayers shadow you for a day.

Oh, My Ego...

Then there are the mornings that you wake up after an almost all nighter, check your emails and see the message from a client who says that your work was  not what they expected, not up to standard, not what they envisioned at all.  If you  are a perfectionist and pride yourself on your work, you are in for a ride.  If your self worth is dependent on your successes and your professional life, then just stop now.  Everyone gets these messages and letters at least once in their career.  You are not immune to it.  Your brain realises this, but you also start having thoughts of becoming a ditch digger or paper boy.

There will also be the days when you think that you are the ultimate Rock Star.  You keep getting new clients, you finish your projects on time, there is tangible evidence that you are successful (money!).  Don't let it go to your head.  Be careful and cautious.  Remember that there is a balance to everything.  These days, no matter how awesome they may be, cannot last forever.

At the end of the day, it's all you.

Don't get me wrong, freelancing is a wonderful opportunity.  Not only is it a test of your drive and ambition, but at the end of the day, everything that you do is for you and by you.  So, have fun with it.  Enjoy your independence, and don't forget to get out of your pyjamas every once in while for those video conferences.