Fearless Freelancing – Janine’s divorce occurred when she was in her 30s and she already had one child. She was growing increasingly dissatisfied with the scarcity of high-paying jobs offering flexible scheduling that would allow her to care for her young children after relocating to a new city.
So that she could be at home with her daughter while she grew up, a friend suggested that she offer her services as a freelance translator. Janine liked the concept, but she couldn’t bring herself to take the financial risk of raising a child alone. She was frozen in place by anxiety and worry.
Still, hold on a second.
What if the danger isn’t as severe as we anticipate? Indeed, the number of persons who are self-employed has grown significantly in recent years. Exactly what do they know that we don’t?
A Look at Freelancing Statistics
There are presently over 18 million sole proprietors in the United States, according to the Census Bureau. Seventy percent of all companies in the United States are run by a single person.
So who are these risk-takers who decide to go it alone and ignore the cubicle farm? All sorts of professionals, from bookkeepers to chefs to authors.
The Census Bureau reports that in recent years, the real estate appraising, nail technician, landscaping service, software publisher, and bed and breakfast owner industries have seen the most rapid rates of growth among the self-employed. Yet, if you’re looking for anything to appease your inner rebel, the world is full of options.
The Element of Pleasure
The results of a poll of freelance writers conducted in 2005 and released by the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) revealed some startling characteristics of the “typical” freelance writer. She is:
White female, 49 years old, married, with children. She has a lot of credentials and resides in a major metropolis. She makes between $40,000 and $49,000 each year on a per-item basis.
Here’s the kicker: more than 90% of freelancers claimed they were very content with their self-employed lifestyle, despite the fact that they earned less than the average worker.
The majority of people who took part in the study were now self-employed; they left their previous occupations. None of them were fired or laid off. That’s it; they’re done. They were relieved to have made the decision they had.
Work-at-home Pros and Cons
All this being said, self-employment is not a good fit for everyone. If people weren’t so worried about the potential downsides, however, I think they’d find it to be a terrific fit.
The best way to make a decision regarding your future is to have all the facts, so let’s be honest about what it’s like to be a freelancer or self-employed person.
The Problems:
Finding your footing might be challenging. According to ASJA’s poll of freelance writers, it takes at least five years of pitching yourself and making cold calls before you can call yourself an established writer.
There is a significant disparity in the long-term success rates of micro and small firms (defined as those with less than five employees). It’s possible that this is due to the fact that there is less of an initial investment needed, allowing the proprietors to take more chances without having to conduct as much preliminary study.
Changes in the workplace. Jobs can be either plentiful or scarce, which can cause financial anxiety that is only temporarily alleviated by a significant increase in income.
Promoting one’s own work. Freelancers constantly face the challenge of promoting their own services.
rate formation and client fee negotiation. Years may pass before you learn your worth in the marketplace.
Individual responsibility for retirement plans, income tax, unemployment insurance, and health care.
The aforementioned microwave, coffee maker, and refrigerator. When you work from home, you have to avoid being distracted by all the tasty treats lying about.
What You Can Expect to Gain
Working from home as a freelancer offers many benefits. Fearless freelancing means saying no to undesirable tasks, setting your own hours, and making decisions for yourself. It also requires certain skills, such as self-control and the confidence to weather lean times. With fearless freelancing, you can enjoy the satisfaction of being your own boss while saving money on gas and office clothes. Don’t let bad managers or annoying coworkers hold you back – embrace the freedom of fearless freelancing today.
One more thing: it helps if you’re enthusiastic about the work you’ve chosen. You can weather any drought with that and an emergency fund.
Conquering Your Fears
Janine’s current employment may provide a steady paycheck, but is it fulfilling? Fearless freelancing offers an alternative to dull work with no room for growth. As a freelancer, Janine could put her education to use, set her own rates, and choose the projects she works on. Plus, with the ability to work from home, she could save money on childcare costs and have the flexibility to balance work and family responsibilities. Don’t settle for a mediocre job – embrace the freedom and fulfillment of fearless freelancing.
Don’t let doubt and uncertainty determine your future success or failure when you weigh the pros and cons of working for a company versus working for yourself.
Instead:
You can determine if you have what it takes to succeed as a freelancer by doing an honest assessment of your character and skills.
Identify how long you might survive financially if you suddenly lost your job by checking your savings. Even better, think about how you might transition into self-employment while still maintaining your current income.
Before starting a firm, it’s important to investigate the industry and the potential customer base to make sure it’s a good fit.
