10
09/07
11:07 pm
Freelance success: what’s your objective?
When I started freelancing, I had a huge list of goals (fridays off, working from home, …) and one clear objective: to build some really cool web applications while improving my own quality of life.
Things started off really well. Business was booming. Clients were satisfied, I was enjoying my time off and the work was worth every penny. It was a dream which you couldn’t pull me away from.
Well, a dream it was. What I didn’t fully understand – and it didn’t take long to figure out – was that I was the one and only person who could mess with that dream. I was the only one who could alter it, and I did.
I took the time to review my mistakes as a freelancer and I realized something very important. Along the road, I had forgotten my primary objective. I had set myself up for destruction by disobeying my own goals and desires. I accepted projects which shouldn’t have been accepted. I started working on more fridays than I wanted. I set unrealistic financial goals, and I completely forgot to plan for worst.
All these business books talk about having a vision, being a dreamer, making grand plans and becoming successful… what they forget to mention is that you actually have to FOLLOW THROUGH. I know it sounds obvious, but when was the last time you reviewed your original business/life/social objective?
When you’re the sole-proprietor of your business, no matter if your title is freelancer, consultant, or entrepreneur, you have to constantly remind yourself why you started in the first place. The most important thing is knowing WHY you’re doing what you’re doing. If you forget that, if you stop planning, if you stop dreaming, if you stop being meticulous about filing receipts, if you don’t remember to take your fridays off, to spend time with your family, to work on your actual business project (primary objective), then you’ll ultimately end up in the wrong place. A dream that wasn’t necessarily yours. Maybe even a nightmare. Ok ok i’m pushing it. It’s not that bad lol. But seriously, it’s something to think about.
So what is your objective? Do you remember? Are you still going in the right direction?
Barry Hess
September 11, 2007
5:41 am
Good question, Alex.
I think my ultimate goal (getting away from the large corporate IT shop) has overshadowed what my current goals should be (building something with sustainable profit). Recently I accepted a 30-hour/week contract through the end of the year. When it is up, I need to think hard about whether I should be pushing for a 30-hour/week employee relationship or altogether reducing my hours and focusing on my own startup goals.
Alex
September 11, 2007
5:25 pm
Well Barry I think 30-hour/week is still very reasonable. I think at the end of the year I will be in a similar situation as you.
I don’t think there’s a set way to approach this. It all depends on your personal situation, the lifestyle you want to live, and sometimes (often) the money you need to survive.
If you can work less hours and focus on your startup, than plan for it and make sure to follow your plan.
Let me know how it goes and don’t forget to update your blog!
Glen (The Gnr Group Web-Design Blog)
September 26, 2007
8:48 pm
Hey Alex
I have been freelancing for about five years now and my mistake was not stopping to take a walk in the park or manage my time wisely. These thing will happen when you don’t have a boss.
I was recently offered a job at a small design firm as a independent contractor and part of the agreement is I don’t have to work in their office more than three days a week.
I love the feeling of being independent. One important rule that I have learned is don’t take every client and it takes the same amount of work to make $500 dollars as it does to make $5000 dollars.
Great post Alex good luck with everything :-)