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Happy National Freelancers Day!
I have it on good authority that today is National Freelancers Day from The Professional Association Supporting Freelancers, Contractors and Consultants (PCG).
I must confess I only stumbled upon this resource and in fact this special day at the tail end of last week, but it does sound interesting. The PCG want to celebrate the freelancing community and unlock the potential of this valuable source of skills. Hopefully I can make it to the Brighton event this evening for talks, debate and networking.
As of the 28th of this month I will have been freelancing for a year, and as today is all about the freelancing community I figured I’d do a short post on what I have learned in these past 12 months in case it’s something you are considering. Enjoy!
- The biggest obstacle is taking the plunge and believing you can do it
- The second biggest obstacle is getting enough caffeine
- The third biggest obstacle is realising you don’t like caffeine-based products as much as other freelancers and have to rely on exercise, vegetables and naps to boost your energy levels
- Working from home does not involve watching Jeremy Kyle all day in your pajamas; no one will ever believe you otherwise
- You miss the water cooler chatter, until you discover Twitter
- You will have days where you believe you can take over the world, and you will have days where you’re not even sure if you can get the lid off a jar of jam – and not even good jam
- Being ill sucks when you don’t have sick days to use…and the boss will always try and make you work through it
- “What do you do for a living?” is no longer a question that elicits an answer with the power to comatose
- You appreciate in huge amounts anyone who has shown you support or put a little faith into you
- You start to like marching to the beat of your own drum…even if it makes you dance like your dad
What about any other freelancers out there? I’d love to hear about your own experiences and the things you’ve learned during your time working for yourself!
Hi Amy
I’ve also been freelancing full time for just over a year now – agree with the caffeine observation! I haven’t given it up, but if I want to get something done I have to be careful…
I think financial security is worth sacrificing for the lifestyle benefits of freelancing. I’m not richer or poorer than I was working full time, but I’m so much happier! 🙂
Maybe you could expand point 4 to reflect the freelancer’s ‘uniform’ – pyjamas/underpants/dressing gown depending on the season.
Best of luck for the next 12 months 🙂
Hey there! I’m pretty much off caffeine at the moment, and am even experimenting with a raw food diet to try and rid my body of those freelancing toxins from the snacks I love so much. Not everyone is in a postition to sacrifce financial security and I appreciate that, but I think there are a lot of people who are in miserable jobs under a “myth” of security.
Funnily enough, more recently I have worked in my dressing gown and pajamas, but I’m trying to hammer that habit out! 🙂
Good luck with your freelancing and here’s to another 12 months! (I’ll have been doing this 3 years December 1st.)
LOL! Love this post! I especially like number 2. Caffeine is very, very important. 😉
Thank you! Bizarrely, I just gave up caffeine and am trying to find other ways to get me through 🙂
Thank you for your comment, discovering a network of those similar to you is like finding treasure and it makes you realise just how many people are in a similar situation. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said the benefits outweigh the negatives, carving out your own path in the world can be scary, but a wonderful thing to do!
loving the musings, have freelanced for a short while and have struggled with various questions, like do i have creative laziness or is it just how i work?? joining like minded people its a joy to discover im not the only one suffering the affliction. its just how i need to work and wait for inspiration to find me. I cant force it.
Having said that freelance is the only way for me, my quality of life, personal happiness and contentment is just so wonderful. Life is good and yes i get the hairy moments when the cheque hasnt arrived and i need to pay the mortgage etc, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
What a great way to live- to the beat of your own drum following your heart and soul!
Hello Amy! I am wondering if you would consider writing to a “new” audience for a New York Minute: Every year about this time, I open up my blog and invite GUEST-POSTERS to contribute. If you are interested, let me know, please! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!