Many people who are not working as freelancers presume that it is much more comfortable than having a 9 to 5 job in a company.
Whom of you doesn’t have a friend that asked you to bring a parcel to the post office? Or wanted you to pick up his child? Most of them think you can decide when and how long you want to work. Mostly they don’t know that you also got meetings with your project partners or have to fulfil deadlines.
Another example is that they want you to do some little favours. They don’t realize that it costs money and time. But what would you say when a friend asks you: “Can you help me to design my homepage? Or: “Could you help us to build our wedding photo book?”
“Living the dream”? Now that you’re doing what you love, you might not love it so much. You don’t always get to use your creativity to make art – now you’re photographing uncooperative children or designing text-heavy web pages. And in your spare time, do you really want to sit at a computer or pick up a camera?
Besides there are other problems you have to deal with as a freelancer. For example the lack of social contact, that you would have in an ordinary office.
It is not good to work alone at home. Even if you don’t want to, there are always distractions: doing the laundry, washing the dishes, feeding the cat and more. People shouldn’t be by themselves all day… just think of Tom Hanks in “Cast Away”.
One solution against loneliness are coworking spaces. You’ve never heard of it? Visit projektwerks blog division coworking(LINK) to learn more about it.
Another point is that you are responsible for your work. Therefore you have to do self-marketing. You might be the best photograph, designer or graphic pro in town, but if no one knows about it, no one will hire you. So working as a freelancer means that you also have to know how to market yourself.
Aside from marketing, self-employed creatives also have to handle all kinds of business affairs: IT and accounting, for example. Is there a freelancer that you couldn’t find in the internet today? I don’t think so.
That’s quite a list of gripes, but still, would you give up the freelancing life to go back to the 9-to-5 world? It seems that many freelancers value their freedom too much to return to having a boss and having to stuff their feet into close-toed shoes each day. Besides, the coffee you brew at home is usually far superior to that burned-tasting sludge in the office.
Do you always love to be a freelancer? Would you ever go back? We’re looking forward to your comments.
Inspired by: fuel your creativity
