It’s been over two years since I went freelance and everybody says that it takes about that long to get yourself properly up and running. So how am I doing? Pretty good. There are things that are going well, and things that I definitely need to improve on. If you’ve been toying with the idea, my little journey may help you make up your mind.
The job. I think one of the best things is the variety of work. I’ve been dipping into all sorts of subjects, doing different kinds of projects. Some jobs are not fantastically interesting, but others are. And there’s cross-fertilisation. I find that something I learn about in one industry has ramifications in another, so I feel that I’m broadening and deepening areas of knowledge. There are plenty of challenges and novelty. The core task – writing, understanding, explaining, style and content is the same, and I like it.
The money. Everyone tells you that won’t get rich as a freelance – and they’re right! I’m earning less than before. But it’s OK. I eat well, go on nice holidays, spend less and want for nothing. Getting paid has not been a problem, although it is necessary to have a large float as sometimes it takes an age. I’ve discovered that the size of the company you work for is inversely proportional to the time it takes to get paid. It is what it is.
The ups and downs. Feast or famine. At first, I found this very unsettling. You have days when you are very busy and days when you have absolutely nothing. Deadlines can be super short and jobs can arrive unannounced. You can switch on your computer in the morning thinking you will have time to get on with domestic tasks and barely have time for a sandwich. Other times, you can be fearful of leaving the house in case a job comes in and end up wasting your day. It is a case of getting used to it.
Stress. It is a low stress life-style. There are stresses, where the work is coming from, mainly, but generally it is much less stressful than working for a company. I start work at nine, and only get up at eight. I get enough sleep! No more meetings, work travel, office politics or uncomfortable, long commutes. I really, really do not miss those journeys.
Travel. I can move about with my computer. I don’t do it enough really, but I can. I have had a few working holidays and written pieces while overlooking the sea. But ‘working from beach’ is not as glamorous or practical as it sounds – you can’t see the screen and sand gets everywhere, so I don’t overdo the work/holiday thing. However, I’ll be going to Australia soon, so I’ll be trialling an ‘overnight service’. I can’t really afford a break for a whole month, so checking mails in the morning might be a nice compromise.
Social life. A workplace is usually a sociable affair, and the chit chat with others is important. I do miss the officer banter and the jokes. To me, the office environment bulged with comic potential –so many different personalities thrown together, mixed in with the odd near-impossible task and a comedy moment was never far away. Working at home definitely means you need to make the effort to get out and see people more often.
Dress sense. If you have worked with me, you will know I am a natty dresser, always bedecked in the latest office fashions, pristine and looking like a million dollars. Ahem. Now, I have been liberated from the ironing board and the weekends of washing my limited work wardrobe. I am now blissfully scruffy all the time. I may be taking things a bit far.
Self reliance. I have to do the bits I don’t like. If the computer goes wrong, I can’t call the IT department. There’s no one to do all the paperwork and keep the books, or tell me how to do that thing in Excel I can never remember. And if things aren’t going well, I can only blame myself. It’s an adjustable comfort zone. If I don’t want to do something, that’s fine, but I must accept the consequences.
Marketing myself. I’m so bad at this. This is my next task. I’m steadily building clients, but some naturally ebb away. I could do with a bigger critical mass. I don’t like blowing my own trumpet, and furthermore, I’ve got a mental block about expressing myself in the unnatural language of marketing jargon. I call myself a writer not a ‘storyteller’, even if it all boils down to the same thing. I need to get over it.
Exercise. Another difficult one for me. I realise that my longest daily journey is between the kettle and the computer. The plan was to get up early and go out for a walk, but then I discovered the joy of sleep. Must do better.
The dream. One of the main reasons for me going freelance is because, one day, I want to live in the country. Earn a living and live somewhere surrounded by nature. It’s visceral. I cannot fight it. This is why I hatched the plan to go freelance. It’s the big motivator which ultimately guarantees success. I have to continue to make things work, and work harder to make it work better, so that I can be where I want to be, travel when I want to travel, and be in charge of my destiny. Onwards and upwards!