Simple Saturday: Why I Want to go Freelance
Posted on June 23, 2007
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Author’s note: To my current employer, if you happen to be reading this, I’m not planning on walking out the door on Monday. It will be a couple of years before I’m freelancing full time, so I plan to be with the company for a little while yet.
I mentioned earlier in the week that I want to become a freelancer. For this week’s Simple Saturday post, I thought I’d outline a few of the reasons why I want to go freelance.
1. The freedom of the lifestyle appeals to me. Being able to roll out of bed and start work without bothering to shower or get dressed; being able to work from my favourite coffee shop (as long as they have free wifi); being able to travel where ever I want and still work if need be (again, as long as wifi is available); all of these things appeal to me. Not having to answer to anyone other than myself and my clients is also very appealing.
2. I will have full control over my work. Admittedly, I will be required to make my clients happy, especially with regard to copywriting (which will likely make up the bulk of my freelance writing). However, since I am able to choose my clients, I will be able to work only for people whose projects I truly believe in. It’s much easier to write copy when you believe in the thing you’re trying to sell. Undoubtedly, there will be times–especially in the beginning–when I have to take work I don’t want to in order to pay the bills. If I manage to become successful, however, I will be able to be more selective, and only work on projects that I am truly interested in.
3. The money is (potentially) better. While it’s true that most freelancers aren’t rich, there is great potential to make a lot of money. The early years will likely be tough going, but once I’ve built up a steady client base, supplemented by magazine and newspaper publications, there is the potential for very high earnings. There are a number of copywriters, especially those who write copy for the web, who make six figures working only a few hours a week. I don’t expect to get rich quick (nor easily), but I do expect that, after a few years, I will be able to earn a good salary working about 6 hours a day, 4 days a week. Besides, I’m not looking to be rich, I’m just looking to make enough money to be comfortable. As a freelance web designer I read about recently said, “I make just enough money to keep the bartender in tips and can run my son to the doctor at 2:30 on a Wednesday afternoon if he suddenly breaks down with scurvy, without having to give up any precious sick days or vacation time or whatever they’re calling it these days [via].”
4. Creative control. I am a creative person. I don’t like to wear a suit. I like to wear checkered running shoes and drink over-priced coffee. I like to write creative copy, and associate with artists, writers, and other creative people. Working as a freelancer will give me a high degree of creative control over the work that I do. As I mentioned earlier, my clients’ needs will always come first with regard to copywriting and marketing, but as a freelancer, I will be able to spend a lot more time working on magazine and newspaper articles. This is the kind of writing I have always wanted to do. It’s the kind of writing that I’ve been trained to do. Freelancing will allow me to allocate a good chunk of my time to journalistic type writing. With a little luck, I’ll even be able to devote time to my poetry and fiction writing, and submit these works to paying publications to supplement my income by doing the kind of writing that I truly want to do.
5. The entreprenurial spirit. I have always wanted to run my own business. My ideas have run the gamut from coffee shop, to bar, to used bookstore, and beyond. I would still like to have the money to invest in one of these brick-and-mortar ideas in the future, but freelancing will allow me to indugle the entrepreneur in me. I will be running my own business, working for myself, and making a living from my own wits and works. I’ll probably need an accountant to figure out all of the tax stuff for me, but otherwise, I’ll be an independent business person. This has great appeal for me.
6. Exploring my city. This one is an indirect point, and is tied up with the freedom that freelancing will provide me. I have always wanted to explore my city on a deeper level. I want to interact with Edmonton more often. Freelancing will allow me the freedom to explore the city. This could mean something as simple as working in a different corner of the city everyday. It could also mean being able to take the time to take part in some of the events that happen during regular working hours–things that most people miss, because they’re stuck in an office working for someone else.
7. Work from anywhere. Again, this has to do with the freedom aspect of freelancing. Especially as a freelance writer, I can truly work from anywhere as long as I can access the internet to communicate with my clients, and send and receive documents as necessary. This means that, if me or my family want to pack up and go to Seattle for the week, for example, I would be free to do so. I would still be able to get my work done from the hotel room, and taking the time off to drive down to Washington (about a 12 hour drive from Edmonton–I’ve checked, because I’d like to do it in the near future) wouldn’t be a big deal if I didn’t have an employer to report to. I might have to work extra hard when I returned in order to make up for lost time, but since I’d be able to work while on vacation if necessary, I’d be free to travel whenever I felt the urge (assuming that I had the money in pocket to do so).
There are a number of other reasons why I want to freelance, but most of them have to do with freedom, lifestyle, and living more simply. The 7 points I’ve published here are my main reasons. If you have any advice, or other comments, feel free to get in touch with me, either in the comments for this post, or via email: adam[dot]snider[at]gmail[dot]com.
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6 Responses to “Simple Saturday: Why I Want to go Freelance”
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I have been considering going freelance for a year or so if I can’t find/get a job soon. There’s a lot I would like to spend learning, plus personal projects I would love to have time to work on whenever I like. I have done some freelance work already so people know my work and will recommend me, but I don’t know if it’s the right time.
My advice, especially being as young as you are, Mike, would be to build your portfolio up more before trying to go freelance full time. Even if you have to work as a stock boy at Texco or something to pay the bills, and do web design on the side, it’s probably best to have a few more projects under your belt before you try to go freelance full time. Unless, of course, you have more projects that you don’t show on your website.
The portfolio issue is part of the reason why I’m not jumping into this full time for at least 24 months. I have never really submitted my work for publication as often as I should, so I’d like to build up a portfolio of magazine and newspaper articles, as well as gain more copywriting and marketing experience at my current job (which I will be able to use in my portfolio, as well) before I try my hand at freelancing full time.
My portfolio is at http://portfolio.akamike.net/ so I have a few more than just on my projects page, but yeah I definately need a lot more work to do. Most likely I will find a job somewhere, and no matter what that is I’ll continue to do work at home (though, if it’s a web dev job, my options may be limited by contract).
This blog might help you, I read some of their posts and Leo of zen habits posts there: http://freelanceswitch.com/
Hey Mike, sorry it took me so long to moderate that comment. For some reason the notification email went to my spam folder instead of my inbox.
Anyway, I’ll definitely check out your portfolio. As for Freelance Switch, I actually subscribed to the feed just a few days ago! Apparently, you and I read at least a few of the same blogs.
Adam, your post is really inspiring to me. Seeing someone embrace their passion is not something that I see too often (probably because I am one of those mindless drones working in an office all day, therefore office workers who have accepted the mediocrity in their lives created by working in such an un-interesting field for a faceless corporation are all I see on a daily basis).
I am so pleased with myself that I am studying for my BA. I hope with all sincerity that once completed, I will have reached the stage in my life where you are right now, where I will be able to not only unleash my creativity but potentially make a living out of it. I love reading your work, because for me it symbolises my own goal and it reminds me of my values. Not that I know anything about the industry, but I think that freelance writing is the perfect choice for you.
Adam,
I’ve crossed this line back in 2002 after having worked as an employee in the corporate world for years. All I can say is: GO FOR IT!!! It is definitely worth it. The sense of freedom you get from whatever angle you choose to look at it is unbelievable. It’s a completely different lifestyle. A better, much better one.
Everything you wrote in your post is pretty accurate and you you already seem to have a very good idea of what things can be like once you make this shift. And I can tell by reading your post that you have what it takes, so, go for it!
Cheers,
Patricia.