6 Reasons Why Freelancing is the Hardest Job in the World
Everyone thinks we just stay at home and sit in front of our computers working and making a lot of money without doing to much. If I had a penny for every time I’ve heard someone say that to me, I would be a millionaire already. I think all freelancers agree with me when I say, “Freelancing is one of the hardest, inconsistent jobs in the world.” One month you could be soaring above the clouds and the next you could be nipping to pay all your bills.
Freelancing gets easier with the amount of experience that you build up over time and that’s how you become successful in what you do. My Main inspiration for this article was when I read DesignReviver’s – So You Call Yourself A Designer? written by Niki Brown. Its funny how many people just purchase Computers and get Design Software and call themselves Designers or Freelancers, to be honest they don’t know the first thing about Designing or Freelancing. They definitely don’t know that it’s one of the Hardest Jobs in the world, I suppose a lot of people don’t know that Freelancing is one of the Hardest Jobs in the world? That just the reason for me writing this article, to actually tell people that what we do isn’t a very easy job at all. Let’s get on with the article.
1. Freelancers deal with the Feast and Famine Cycle.
Like I noted in my introduction to this article, Freelancers have a very inconsistent job, one month they could be soaring above the clouds and the next month they could be nipping to pay the bills. The experience gained by these different situations are definitely critical for the future of the Freelancer and he/she learns from their mistakes.
2. Working from home comes with a lot of Distractions.
Yes, being a freelancer you have the opportunity to work from home and be close to your family, but this comes with distractions. Like the quote from the popular movie Spider written by Stan Lee, “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.” We could fit that quote in with working from home, “With Comfort comes Distractions.” What I am saying is that if you are working on a major project and Timmy “Your Son” falls off his bike, you aren’t going to continue working, you’re going to run to his aid and help him out and explain to him what he had done wrong etc. Another scenario with working from home is that there is always noise in and around the house with the kids and their friends or your wife having a get together with her friends. Those are just two examples, believe me there is much more.
3. If you don’t find Clients, you don’t have any work.
This is one problem a lot of beginning freelancers face, not having enough work to make it through the month. You will have to literally search for your clients the first few months of freelancing, mainly because no one really knows you just yet. I’m not talking about your family and friends, I’m talking about the market. Freelancers have to Market themselves, it isn’t like being in a Agency where you advertise Big.
4. If you’re Sick or Hospitalized, your Business stands still.
It isn’t like being part of a Agency where you get paid even if you’re absent from work. In this case if you don’t work, your absent or sick your business comes to a staggering halt. You don’t get paid, you aren’t able to pay the bills and you aren’t able to uphold your family, be sure to prepare for any situation or tragedy that could arise.
5. You have to manage every aspect of the Business on your own.
Managing your Business solely on your own could be a very heavy burden if you aren’t prepared for it. You have to take care of the physical services, Invoicing, quoting, clients, marketing, branding to mention a few. If you haven’t prepared for these tasks they could really become quite heavy on your shoulders, perhaps sending you into a downward spiral. If you are motivated and determined that is yet another story.
6. Balancing Your Work and Social Life.
Working from home you could find it hard to balance your work and social life. You will constantly be in contact with your working environment and constantly be thinking about clients, you won’t be able to rest or take time off. You have to separate your working environment from your social environment, meaning LOCK your home office when the weekend comes, so you don’t accidentally stray into working mode.
