I don’t know about you, but having a freelance life (is this even a proper term?) makes a huge difference for me. I have found my inner balance and I am happy with both my work and my personal life. But I believe freelance is what I have to thank for all of it. Here’s why.
I work less and earn more
If I had a dollar for every time I had to stay late in the office or work over the weekends or talk on the phone for hours with clients who don’t know what they want and it’s my fault they live unhappy lives – well, I would’ve been a millionaire! Employers in the US may pay overtime but from where I am – best case scenario, you get a smile and verbal “bravo, job well done!” type of reward. As a freelancer, I get paid for all the hours I work and if I have to work overtime – I know I have chosen to do so and will be paid accordingly. Recently, I even started taking up fixed price jobs where they pay me for the work I do and not for the time I spent working – which is even better money-wise π
I travel and go on vacations more often and when I need to, I want to, or just have a really great offer I can’t resist
When I was working at an office with fixed working hours, I was always looking forward to the summer paid time off or for the weekend so I can have some fun with friends and family, away from work. Now, I can go to the seaside or to the mountains, at my home country or abroad, summer or winter. Everything, and I really mean EVERYTHING is a matter of planning – planning my time, planning my financial resources, planning my work and deadlinesβ¦ I guess it’s a good thing my significant-other is also a freelancer so we can just go wherever and whenever and don’t need to ask for permission his employer either π
I am independent
As an employee, I always had to think about the mood my boss is in; or how unhappy my colleagues are with the constant overtime work not being paid; or if I will have to do somebody else’s job because they have messed it up and there’s no one else to fix it. It’s just the opposite in my freelance life π I don’t need to work with people who I dislike or donβt respect. I don’t need to get up early in the morning if I have had a late night out. If I go out to lunch with friends and don’t feel like working afterwards, I can easily go to the park, to the beach or to the mountain for a nice afternoon outdoors – just because I feel like it! The only thing I care about and take into account is the deadline I have agreed to keep. But again – it’s all about a matter of planning.
I am appreciated and people treat me respectfully and professionally every day
Being a freelancer, I don’t need to cope with angry people who take their own failures on me; I am not getting just a smile and verbal reward for a job well done; I am not abused by unhappy clients who are upset that it’s raining outside and they are stuck in the office instead of going to a picnic as planned. To the contrary! I am surrounded by positive people who look for and see opportunities for improvement and not reasons to be upset or unhappy. I get paid well and have repetitive clients. People appreciate my skills, experience, and work. They see me as a professional and partner. They see my strengths and the flawsβ¦ well, let’s say we work together toward overcoming them π
I don’t waste my time and I am motivated to grow – both professionally and personally
We have a saying here – “I pretend I’m working and they pretend they’re paying me” π And this is often the case with employees on a regular job. In my freelance life, it’s a different story. I am motivated to develop and improve my skills; to be a better professional so I get better clients and better projects; to stay up to date with the fast changing market and world. As a freelancer I have plenty of time to read books, attend webinars, follow blogs and internet magazines, to specialize or even change my specialty if I see a new trend on the market.Β I learn new things and improve every day and with every new project I take upon.
So, to summarize what the freelance life is for me
It is a lifestyle!
I can do whatever I want with my time.
I can choose with whom to work and on what projects.
I have relative financial security.
I feel free.
Your turn – how do you see the life of a freelancer?
P.S. Subscribe to my newsletterΒ to get my new posts about freelance and marketing in your mailbox, plus monthly freelance and marketing tips, plus your free copy of my ebook “How to Make Your Blog Posts SEO and Readers-friendly” π
Now is a good time to join my list γ
βΊ new blog posts delivered to your email every Saturday
ββΊ a monthly freelance or marketing tip via email
βΊ a complimentary ebook "How to Make Your Blog Posts SEO and Readers Friendly"β
ββΊ "Diana's Ideal Prospective Client Checklist"
I don't spam, I'll keep your contact info safe, and it's free! Join the fun now and start learning...
Certainly there are benefits to living the freelance life. Sometimes we all run into roadblocks from time to time but the reward from completing a project or work as a freelancer feels much better than when working a regular job.
Thanks for your comment, Edward! The reward from completing a project really does feel good. And better yet – if i have a long-term project and actually see how my advice and recommendations make a difference – that’s even better π
It is very nice to have freedom to work for my own pleasure, instead of following orders! It takes plenty of self-discipline too π
Well, to be honest – if i could NOT work, i wouldn’t LOL – but we all need money, i guess π But I hear ya, Aleshia, it does feel better to do for a living something you like rather than be a prisoner of an angry boss who doesn’t know the meaning of “thank you” – no matter how much self discipline it takes π Thanks for stopping by!
Well put and congratulations on finding balance in your life!!
thanks for your comment and for the encouragement, Grace!
I enjoy the freedom, and definitely have the discipline, but I was not prepared for how isolating it can be to work from home.
right, it really can be isolating. But look on the bright side – unless your hands are full with many kids at home (for that i don’t have a solution :D) you can always get more social contacts through hobbies – sign up for a new language course, some kind of team sport, or just find some other fellow freelancers to hang around with while others work in their offices π Thanks for stopping by, Jeri!
There is quite a bit on this list that is so very fitting for me. Over the years I have grown tired of the stifling constraints of working for others. Having control of my own life is so much more to my liking.
“Having control of my own life” – i couldn’t have said it better! Thanks for your comment and wisdom, Jon π
Finding balance in your life, whatever your life contains, is important. Good for you for finding yours!
Thanks for your comment and encouragement, Lorraine! Finding balance in life is important many don’t ever!) – and for me, well – i found my inner balance only when i started freelancing so i guess i simply were not cut off to be a 9am-5pm-work-in-office type of person π
What a wonderful post. I too have enjoyed my time since I began working for myself. I can often balance my professional and personal life to be able to really enjoy both. I agree that in order to acheive happiness and success, you need to be motivated and keep moving forward. I understand how you say “I pretend I’m working and they pretend to pay me.” I do not watch the clock waiting until 5pm anymore.
Thanks for your comment, Elizabeth! I am always happy to see more people feel the way i do – it makes me smile. Thank you for making me smile! π
Having the freedom to do what ever you want as at when you want it, is great, and living the internet life style is one thing every online marketers dream of. Am happy you’ve find a yours, Diana, online.
I agree living the internet life style is a dream for every marketer but i would go a step further – i believe it is a dream of majority of people, they have just not yet found out how to achieve it! Thanks for your comment and encouragement, Adeshokan!