Tell someone you’re a freelancer, and you’re bound to get one of two responses.
“Oh, lucky you! No boss, no commute, no office. Sounds like a dream!”
“So, do you work like 10 hours a week or something?”
Working as a freelancer––or in my case, a small business owner––isn’t necessarily a dream, but it isn’t an every-now-and-then side gig either. It’s a viable long-term employment option for more and more Americans.
But, freelancing does have some perks––in addition to a few drawbacks––so read on to learn more about freelance life.
1. Business Hours Vary
Sure, some freelancers stick to a typical 9-to-5- job, but many don’t. One of the advantages of working for yourself is the flexibility it brings. So, freelancers like myself usually build a schedule that works for them. In my case, my work hours are solely dictated by my family’s schedule, which varies by the day right now. So, there’s no promise I’m responding to emails at 9 a.m. sharp, but you also might get an email from me at 11 p.m.
2. You Never Shut Down
You don’t shut down your computer, close your office door, and drive home after a long work day. Your office is your home, so work can become a distraction to home life that’s hard to turn off. It’s rare that I have a day where I don’t check my work email or do a little work, even on days I plan to take off.
3. Layoffs Happen
Freelancing might sound like you’re living the dream and working as your own boss, but layoffs do happen. Clients come and go, and some projects end even before they get off the ground. The advantage? You can hustle for more work, but you do have to hustle for it because competition exists in the freelance world, too.
4. Behind-the-Scenes Work Never Stops
While my official role here at Carpenter Doc is writer and editor and my billable projects include that work, there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes. I maintain my website and this blog. I manage multiple social media platforms for my business. I invoice clients, respond to new client inquiries, and apply for new opportunities as they pop up. So, even if I only bill for 30 hours a week, I work far beyond that building my business.
5. We Network Too
Freelancing isn’t a lonely existence. Freelancers network through professional organizations, local groups dedicated to freelancers, or even through social media. While you might not have a chatty coworker in the office next to you all day, you do have colleagues and clients that you engage with regularly.
The freelancing lifestyle is right for me, but it isn’t right for everyone. But, if you’re self-motivated and desire a flexible schedule, you might start freelancing and never look back, just like I did.