Freelancing Isn’t for the Faint of Heart

Freelancing might look attractive from the outside, but there’s a darker side to freelancing you should be aware of before you commit to it. Here are some the common reasons why freelancers get scared away or give up:

It takes time.

There’s no such thing as overnight success in freelancing. It’s going to take time to build up your reputation and find clients willing to pay you what you’re worth, which often means working insanely long and inconvenient hours in the beginning.

Clients suck.

Not all of them are awful, but you will run into enough bad clients, abusive clients, no-show clients, and non-paying clients to make you want to call the whole thing off. Sadly, it’s not always easy to tell who will be a good or bad client either.

It's isolating

Your friends and family with “normal” jobs won’t understand what you do, what you’re dealing with, or why you put yourself through it. The struggles of a freelancer are unique and, unfortunately, can isolate you from those who don’t get it.

Now That We've Got the Bad Stuff Out of the Way...

Any bad day you have as a freelancer, solopreneur, or small business owner will pale in comparison to the bad days you had working for an employer or while you were unemployed. That’s the beauty of being a freelancer — you have full control over your professional destiny. You say when and where you work. You choose who you work for. You name your price and the clients who value you will pay it.

But acknowledging that freelancing won’t be pain-free is an important first step to take. By accepting the reality of the career you’re embarking on early, you can prepare yourself for it. And that’s what this website and community is here to help you do.

The Keys to Becoming a Freelancer or Small Business Owner

There’s a big difference between becoming a freelancer or business owner and becoming a successful one. You’ll find all the insights, training, and tools you need to thrive and succeed on this website.

Business Articles: The key to freelancing success is to treat it like a business. These articles will provide you with best practices and trade secrets.
Resources: Don’t waste time trying to build your processes from-scratch. Leverage this collection of hand-made resources for freelancers.
Video Training: There’s no reason to spend money on designers, writers, and other creatives when you can put together your own branding and website.
Consulting & Coaching: If you prefer one-on-one assistance, I offer hour-long sessions where we discuss your needs, goals, or problems. You’ll walk away with an action plan you can put into place.

There are plenty of free resources and information on this site to get you started. Or, if you’re ready to kick your business into high gear, schedule your first consultation or mentoring session with me now.