Is Freelancing for Everyone?
Veronica threw her purse on the table as she finally returned home after a long hectic working day. Her mind wandered. She grabbed a chair and sat at the table, resting her chin in her palms. Veronica unconsciously started coiling her hair around her fingers as that puzzled look drew on her face. She dragged her feet to answer the insistingly ringing phone. Yet, she grabbed it quickly as the screen flashed with Sharon’s name. Sharon was laughing on the other side as Veronica’s face drew an angry look.
“I know how confused you are. I am aware of all the zillion questions swimming in your head,”
Sharon replied as she continued to laugh hysterically. She had the same questions after dinner with Kylie. She told Veronica the same things Kylie told her. After they hung up, Veronica was very exhausted. Her mind raced with thoughts as she recalled what Sharon told her:
"Consider how well-established you are in your field and how in-demand your abilities are before quitting your job or ending your job search. Is what you have to offer still in demand when money is tight? Freelancing may not be a realistic option if this is not the case."
"After that, have a look at your financial status. Consider how much money you’ll need to support yourself and your dependents. Do you have money set aside, a financial backer, or a partner with whom you can split expenses? If that’s the case, you’ll be able to take greater chances than individuals with fewer resources. Those with lower expenditures may be better equipped to persist with freelancing for the long haul, even if it takes some time to earn substantial money."
"To be a successful and happy freelancer, you must be honest about what interests you the most. Perhaps you’d like more independence, flexibility, or variety in your life. You may desire to pursue your business interests or despise reporting to a supervisor or working for a corporation. Rank the importance of your desires and aversions on a scale of one to ten. When compared to a hypothetically stable, paying employment, how much do you value each? What are you ready to put up with in exchange for a freelancer’s lifestyle?"
Those were many questions that Veronica needed to answer.
Thirty minutes away from Veronica, Sharon sat on her sofa, contemplating answers to those same questions. Sharon moved her eyes around her messy room. She recalled what Kylie told her about the need to be organized, motivated, and disciplined. She knows she loves learning and upskilling herself, which is essential for any freelancer because we have to market ourselves practically when we do it alone. And to do so, we must remain current. This entails continuing our education by enrolling in online classes or purchasing the most recent trade publications in our field. There is no one to hold us accountable and no defined regulations to keep us up to date. It is up to us to bear the brunt of the responsibility. And we must stay up if we want to keep getting work.
Veronica rubbed her eyes as she thought to herself, “I’m creative. I’ve always enjoyed doing things differently. This should be helpful?” she asked herself. Sharon replied to herself as she thought about her capacity to spin things around and come up with innovative solutions, a knack her managers always praised her and tolerated her mood swings for.
“I can use some of my creativity to do something on the side of my job if I cannot entirely quit,” Sharon thought to herself. Veronica held her head in both hands. She felt her mind will explode. The more Veronica thought of it, the more confused she became. She is committed and disciplined, which are two essential ingredients for all freelancers out there. Otherwise, she will spend her days and nights rolling in bed and getting nothing done.
Sharon was highly accountable. When she said she would do something, then she definitely will. Veronica jumped up and down in excitement. She was enthusiastic about the idea despite being unable to make up her mind yet. “It’s ok,” Sharon told herself, “This is a tough decision. It could still wait.”
Sharon closed her eyes and called it a day.
1Harvard Business Review, 6 August 2009, Ariana Green, Is Freelancing right for you?, Accessed 20 September 2021, https://hbr.org/2009/08/is-freelancing-right-for-you.html
Jobs, 13 February 2019, Marina Vorontsova, this is why freelancing is not for everyone, Accessed 20 September 2021, https://soshace.com/5-lessons-i-learned-as-a-freelancer/
Forbes, 8 Jan 2019, Quora Contributor, What are the pros and cons of the gig economy, accessed 20 September 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/08/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-the-gig-economy/?sh=63485d521388
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