five things nobody tells you about freelancing
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One thing no one tells you about as a freelancer is the lack of social contacts which can be tough. View this presentation and learn why this is so and see four more important things a freelancer should know but which he sometimes isn’t told… - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Five things nobody tells
you about freelancing
7/27/2015
FREELANCER TIPS
[email protected] © freelancermap.com
Five things nobody tells you about freelancing
Waking up when you want, working in your pajamas, being your own boss and doing only what you want to – this is the best possible outcome of a freelancing career. There are two problems with it, however. It doesn’t always end up like that (and sometimes that’s good) and getting there is extremely tough. When you embark on the journey of freelancing, there are some hard truths you have to face and decide how to deal with them. Here are some of them:
7/27/2015
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1) The beginning can be crushingly slow
Starting out is going to be the most difficult chapter of your freelancing career. You need a good plan, savings, the right idea and the motivation to keep going. Even with all those things, it can be hard to not just give up during that initial phase. Don’t let your romantic ideas and visions get the better of you and be at least a little pragmatic. Having a financial safety net for the first three to six months can make that beginning period immeasurably less stressful.
7/27/2015
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2) On the “Feast and Famine” cycle
Sometimes you will have a lot of work on your hands and sometimes you’ll sit around on your work time wondering what to do with yourself. When talking about this “feast and famine” cycle, most tips tell you how to get over the “famine” part. More marketing, planning ahead, relying on more clients and so on. However, what most won’t tell you is that the “feast” period can be just as tough, if not worse. Having to say no to some of your regular clients, working terribly long hours and juggling several deadlines at once is no easy task.
7/27/2015
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3) Productivity is hard at home
On a somewhat lighter note, let’s talk about the myth of working in your pajamas while comfortably lying in your bed, your cat purring on top of you. In my personal experience, this is one of the biggest lies about freelancing. Admittedly I’m not the most productive person in the world, but it is a fact that an environment full of working people is more likely to get you in the same mood. So, get dressed, have a separate working space and take your freelancing career as seriously as you would like it to succeed.
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4) Tough decisions and taxes
To tackle another myth, being your own boss can be great and does offer you a lot of freedom. However, it does come with great responsibility. Every decision or question you might have, you have to answer yourself. How much should you charge, how long can you take on projects, but also how to make a contract or pay taxes properly. Seek out local or global freelancing communities. The best way to learn how to do all these things is to talk to people that have already been through them.
7/27/2015
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5) Lack of social contact can be tough
Last, but not least, an often understated difficulty of being a freelancer is definitely the lack of social interaction. A lot of freelancers are lone wolves and that is fine, but you might be misjudging just how important the occasional chatter with your colleagues can be. Everybody needs people to talk with – be it for distraction, getting new ideas or sharing problems. You will have to find a substitute for the natural social interactions that come with a full time job or you will get lonely.
7/27/2015
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7/27/2015