Where’s the Freedom in Freelancing?
12.20.07 by
Peter
Wow. I’m hosed!
I spent the last 6 days phonecall-coding-QAing-designing-fatigueing. I probably gained a few pounds. Think i may have lost some eye sight. Definitely got some gray hairs. After a week like that, I’m sitting here trying to remember why I wanted to work independently in the first place.
Well, let’s see.
- Location. Location. Location. I did a lot of the work over the last few days from my favorite places on earth: coffee shops and bed
- Security: I feel safe when I control my opportunity flow. I especially feel secure working with Shane because in spite of his leaps and bounds, I know him to be extraordinarily level headed regarding business matters.
- Satisfaction: I have an underlying sense of gratification that I am running my show and that I have actually chosen and planned to be this busy right now. How cool is it that my business allows for me to go on a vacation to Germany (although i will be online and sporting an iphone with international calling enabled)
- Thrill: Every day is a new adventure. I can’t believe the people and opportunities that we run across on a daily basis. Just the other day, some folks in Santa Cruz held the first Santa Cruz Geek Dinner. I though it was going to be another lame local mixer. WRONG. It was awesome! Literally. I am in awe of the great people that we met and the interactions that are now unfolding.
- Growth: I’ve never been challenged so thoroughly, stretched so tightly, and beaten so hard, but honestly, it’s an amazing feeling knowing that you’re growing. Even at 2am.
- Community: There is no community like the nomadic freelancers that share my journey with me. Shane, Aaron, Brandon, Eric, Ben, Kelsey the list goes on… (shane, we need a blogroll, don’t we – i have this chilling sensation that all the people that i can possibly imagine fitting in my nomadic freelancer list will be leaving comments about how i excluded them… and i just want to thank my mother for this award, and my second grade teacher, Mrs. Singermeir, and all the little people that made this happen…)
Well I feel better now.
What’s your take? Has the independence liberated you? Or are you confined by your lifestyle?
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I’m doing some freelance copywriting right now lying here on my bed so I can relate to what you mean when you say that you love the fact that you can work in your favorite places.
Once again, thanks for the inspiration!
Lately I’ve been feeling tired between my day job, my own business plans and everything, thinking whether all of this actually makes sense or not. That’s when posts like this help you keep going!
Thanks, and try not to burn yourself out, Peter!
I’ll add one to your list, Peter.
Family: If I didn’t freelance, I’d be facing a three-hour daily commute, 35 hour workweeks and scrambling the rest of the time. Now I see my kids more often, can take time to be with them when they’re sick, and I can be closer to my family.
@Jarkko
Thanks. We all need pickme ups. Being insanely interested in things only works when you have a baseline energy level (for me at least… I’ve seen Shane be insanely interested in things even in his sleep)
@James
I totally agree. Though I must say, I am so sorry about going to bed at 3 am and waking my wife up. Only to fall into such a deep sleep that she could not wake me up to stop my snoring. My family suffers sometimes for my independence. But that’s really a management problem on my end.
FREEDOM!
*cough cough* Sorry, had a bit of a Braveheart moment there.
Sure, there are times when we wonder why we’re doing this, but each time I talk to my friends who are still searching for jobs, or slaving away working for someone else in a job they can’t stand, I sit back and thank the powers that be. Deep down inside, I love my job, love my business, and everything that goes along with it. I’m glad I don’t have to schlep to an office everyday, my mind is at peace knowing that each dollar earned isn’t going to someone else higher on the food chain, I’m glad I own each and every decision made – good or bad. I’m in my home, with equipment that works and tools that are up to date. There’s no red tape, there’s no office politics. When I watch “Office Space”, I just laugh and know I won’t have to put up with anyone stealing my red Swingline stapler.
If I feel like grabbing the laptop to go work outside at a Starbuck’s cafe, or by the pool at my parent’s house, I can do it.
Basically, life is good and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Can’t wait to see what happens next year.
Hi Peter! This is a great post because:
1) You guys are great, and
2) I’m about to become a full-time freelancer myself, in the next couple of months! (Or at least that is the current plan.)
I’ve been a career in-houser for many years now, and I take pride in the work I’ve done for various employers. Even so, I admit I’m one of those guys who has become increasingly loathsome of having to spend 40-50 precious hours of my week working to build someone else’s business. In the past year, my tidy little world has become very UNtidy; and being employed as everybody’s favorite “good little worker” just isn’t working out anymore. (Plus I’m losing my job in February!)
Is freelancing full-time a scary proposition? Sure, especially for a career cubicle-dweller like myself. But to be honest, I feel very at-ease in knowing that my future and wellbeing will no longer be dependent on a single boss’ decisions, whims and unpredictable business. And I’m glad to have your blog as a source of inspiration and advice, as I begin this new chapter. Take care and happy holidays…
Terry
Disclaimer: If I don’t make sense, blame the fact that it’s 5.30am and I haven’t had my coffee.
“Each time I talk to my friends who are still searching for jobs, or slaving away working for someone else in a job they can’t stand, I sit back and thank the powers that be.”
I will take the other side of this comment and play devil’s advocate for a moment.
People search, slave away and dream for freelancing because they have no f***cking idea how difficult it can be. As Peter’s post shows, there are times when you will need to remind yourself why you are doing this, why you are freelancing.
Why?
BECAUSE FREELANCING IS HARD.
It isn’t a pyjamafest with movies when you feel like it. It isn’t a work-an-hour-a-day-and-make-a-million. Freelancing is good, yes, but it is hard work and takes a lot away from a person as much as it gives.
Recognize that. Realize it.
I think the people who are smart enough to realize that stepping into freelancing is scary are the ones who know that it isn’t going to be easy. They’re also usually the ones who do well, Terry, so don’t worry
It’s the ones who have a real la-la attitude about it that don’t go far.
Now. Coffee. Thank you for listening.
James, thanks for the advice! My first experience with full-time freelancing was a few years back, the last time I was unemployed. At that time, I was probably every bit the person you describe. Thinking I could just jump into this thing and the money start rolling!
Well, needless to say, those “fun” days lasted about two months, at which time my cash ran out, and I had to run for the cover of another in-house gig! But everything I’ve done since then–from client work on the side, to how I deal with employers–has, in a way, been in preparation for the opportunity I have now to step out on my own again.
And yeah, it’s scary–especially now that I’m a bit older, and less able to pull all-nighters without it affecting the rest of my week! But not a ‘fearful’ type of scary, you know what I mean? Because I know a lot more of what I’m doing than back then. Past experience gives you a level of confidence that you just can’t buy.
Let’s just hope I last longer than two months this time!
I can relate! I’m a full-time freelance journalist working from a home office. Yesterday, my son was home sick from school and I had deadlines. Fortunately, I was able to set him up with orange juice, lunch and the TV remote in the den, right next to the office, and I could check on him and have some “Mom and Matt Time” during the day. And I made my deadline. I could never have done that when I was a “captive” employee on a time clock. For working parents, this is a great way to live.
Kathy
@Peter – it’s challenging to be a freelancher, an entrepreneur, a parent, etc. When people tell me they want to be an entrepreneur because they want to be their own boss, I tell them well you know that means you will have thousands of bosses now depending on what kind of business you run. Your customers become your boss. In some ways your vendors become your bosses…if they are good vendors you rely on them to pull through for you and you can be at their mercy.
It’s tough and remember you don’t have to pull an all nighter or work until the wee hours if you figure out what your limits are and how to stop. There is a lot of ‘hurry up and wait’ mentality in the business/tech world so sometimes it’s OK to communicate and rest a bit.
Happy Holidays!
@ Terry – We call what you just described as wisdom.
Hi Kathy – Welcome to the blog. I’ve been meaning to ask people that – what are some of the strategies you employ to work at home while having children present?
@ Shane – Us men have strategies, too… But let’s see what Kathy says, I’m curious too. Maybe she’ll teach me how to keep my daughter from trying to yank the keyboard away while I’m writing to clients.
@James
I signed up for the pyjamafest, and I’m not leaving til it starts.
To all you parent freelancers out there, I salute you. I have a hard enough time minding my cat while I’m trying to get work done.
@Reid: Ah, yes, cats and children, the bane and blessing of writers everywhere. Have to admit though, my cats make better co-workers than some people I’ve known in the office. And no, that’s not a typo – I think James made a deal with my kitten to make sure I wake up on time, so the little guy might actually be on the payroll somewhere. I just hope the cats don’t decide to unionize.
@Terry
Welcome back to the fabulous and exciting world of freelancing! The best thing i can offer to your reentry is that you really do control how it pans out. It’s up to you how busy you are. It’s up to you how well paid you are (hint: working for artists and musicians is fun though rarely pays well).
@Kathy, @Aruni
I’m curious too how management plays into the working / parenting combo. I find that I can only work or manage, but not both. Are you separating the two or have you magically found a way to do both at once?
@Reid, @Haririson
I don’t know about that. My cat’s a pain. He comes up to me over and over again stands on his back legs and taps me with his paw for attention. The dude is a nuisance. I tried to talk to him about it, but he won’t leave me alone. So i’ve had to start working exclusively from cafes. I’m now in negotiations with him to see if he’ll pay my home office rent since he has effectively evicted me from my home office with his neediness.
Most of the time, they just sleep all day. The big guy is scarce until around 3 or so, and the little guy keeps an eye on the neighborhood all day from the window at my desk. If they really need attention with no negotiations, they’ll lay right on the keyboard.
Good luck with getting any rent out of yours.
*whistles while he counts out the money* Two hundred for you… two hundred for you…
Oh, sorry. *looks up from the hoard of cats* What were we talking about?
@Peter, if your cat bothers you that much then I would advise against having kids. You have to learn to type with one hand…oh I mean one finger. You will be pulled away from the computer with whines and come see this a million times.
As far as separating work and management…you do some work…you manage other people’s work…you manage the process of how their work fits in with your work. I’m not really sure what you are asking so that’s probably not a great answer. I just intervied Clay Nichols of http://www.dadlabs.com and he said something wise…you can’t manage your family/kids the same way you manage your work…it doesn’t work and everyone ends up disillusioned. His write-up will be out in a couple of months and I’ll post it on my blog when it’s ready.
Now, I’ve gotta go distract the kids until dinner time…
Aruni
By the way, do either of you tech guys have an opinion on my post today called Is Software Hard or Soft? http://www.entrepremusings.com/index.php/2007/12/21/is-software-hard-or-soft-please-tell-me/
Peter, I was add this blog to my blogroll. hahaha.
What you write is true indeed and it also contains risk to face as we choose it as part of life, yay. Satisfaction is unreplacable thing for my self. Horay!.
Freelancing is definitely a lot of work!! But I wouldn’t trade independence for a nice 40 hour week. I was reminded of this freedom during a visit to the grocery store the other day (in the middle of the day because that’s when I felt like going unlike the office workers who all crowd in after work). While standing in line, I heard the boss telling a cashier that she had to take her 30 minute break right that moment to stay in compliance. The boss looked at her watch and told the cashier that if she left right then, she would need to be back at 1:37. At that moment, I was so proud to be independent.