Freedom. Flexibility. Monetary Independence.
Sounds engaging, proper?
Particularly in the event you’re shackled to a 9-to-5 job.
Let’s take an in depth take a look at freelancing to see if it delivers on freedom, flexibility, and monetary independence for writers.
However earlier than we dive into every considered one of these promised benefits, let’s check out the present state of freelancing.
Is freelancing rising in popularity?
Based on statistics from AdaptRM:
- 53 million individuals are doing freelance work within the U.S. – that’s 34% of the workforce.
- 1.4 million freelancers work throughout all sectors within the UK – a 14% development over the previous decade.
- And in Europe, the variety of freelancers elevated by 43% from slightly below 6.2 million to eight.9 million in 2013.
As you’ll be able to see, freelancing is on the rise throughout Europe and the U.S. and is predicted to proceed rising over the subsequent few years. Consequently, freelancing is extra revered now than it was three years in the past.
What are the most well-liked freelancing roles?
Maybe, you assume that you just don’t have the abilities to be a freelancer. However don’t fear, there are a lot of alternative ways of being a freelancer.
Though some freelancers use their earlier job abilities, others begin freelancing by pursuing their hobbies or making an attempt one thing fully new.
Listed here are the Prime 15 Kinds of Freelancers [Source]
As you’ll be able to see above the highest 15 are predominantly online-based roles. Nevertheless, that’s to not say that conventional careers like engineering and accounting don’t have freelancers too.
With this background in thoughts, let’s check out the advantages of being a freelancer.
Freedom
#1 No journey to work
Most freelance jobs mean you can make money working from home. That may be a massive plus.
For these commuting to the workplace daily, a 9-5 can flip right into a 7-7. These further 4 hours can change into irritating and unproductive in the event you’re driving the automotive. When you use public transport then maybe you’ll be able to work (extra) or calm down with a e book or some music. Both approach, it makes for an extended day.
A freelancer has the liberty to make use of these further 4 hours as they want. Maybe it’s an opportunity to pursue a brand new pastime. Brent took up biking, and now he’s hooked.
#2 Work in your PJs
Or your birthday go well with. Or no matter you fancy.
Simply having the liberty to put on one thing you’re comfy in is a bonus. No extra formal go well with, shirt, and tie.
#3 Location independence
Relying in your freelance job you might need the chance to work from totally different locations, close to and much.
The laptop computer life-style could be very interesting if you wish to journey to totally different places around the globe. Journey blogger and author Ryan Biddulph has made a freelancing profession by running a blog from paradise.
Different freelancers favor to spend a few of their time working in a neighborhood espresso store because it takes them away from normal distractions, together with the web.
Two-thirds of freelancers agree that freelancing offers the chance to work from wherever, and greater than one-third have been in a position to transfer because of the pliability freelancing offers. Freelancing in America 2015 Survey
#4 Don’t need to take care of colleagues
Let’s face it, a few of your colleagues usually are not the best to get on with. And that’s placing it mildly.
As a freelancer to you’ll be able to select with whom you’re employed. And if they begin messing you round then you’ll be able to (politely) dump them. Plus while you begin constructing your community you get to hang around with different freelancers of your alternative.
#5 Don’t need to put up with ridiculous company choices
A freelancer beginning their very own enterprise assumes a number of roles. You’re the CEO, CFO, and COO working the entire present.
That could be daunting for some individuals. However the constructive is that you just don’t need to learn these ridiculous company emails that had been stuffed with gobbledygook.
You make your individual choices, and you reside by them.
Flexibility
#6 Work/life steadiness
Once you work in a company job, and the HR division mentions work/life steadiness you’ll be able to make certain that they’ll have their pound of flesh earlier than balancing the scales.
Solely 29% of North American freelancers work over 40 hours every week. [Source]
As a freelancer, you name the pictures. You get to steadiness work and life as you want.
#7 Take a break while you need
Must come out for some groceries. Or decide the youngsters up from college. Or use the fitness center whereas it’s quiet. No downside. As a freelancer, you’ll be able to take a break while you need. There are not any set guidelines.
#8 No mounted hours
If you wish to work 60 hours one week and take the subsequent week off, you’ll be able to.
If you wish to work 10 hours Monday however solely 2 hours Tuesday, that’s cool.
#9 Select the initiatives to work on
Selecting which initiatives you wish to work on is an enormous plus. When you take pleasure in working in your initiatives, you then’re going to be extra motivated. Engaged on them will not be a chore.
#10 You possibly can pivot at any time
As a freelancer you might be impartial. This lets you change route if a specific concept will not be working as anticipated.
Within the company world, this isn’t really easy. Typically there are a number of conferences and approvals to be granted earlier than a call to change is made. That course of will be tedious, and dear.
Having the pliability to pivot shortly generally is a game-changer.
Monetary Independence
#11 Earnings
As a freelancer, you might be in charge of your earnings. More often than not this will likely be associated to the variety of initiatives you resolve to tackle and your agreed charges.
In case your charges are deemed too costly, and purchasers attempt to barter you down, then you’ll be able to politely inform them no. Different individuals worth your work and can pay your charges.
The typical US freelancer makes 45% greater than your typical employee. [Source]
The vast majority of freelancers (60%) who left a standard job earn extra freelancing, with 3 in 4 incomes extra throughout the first 12 months. [Source]
#12 A number of sources of revenue
You’ve heard the phrase, “Don’t put all of your eggs in a single basket.”
That is good recommendation for freelancers.
When you construct a portfolio of purchasers, then you aren’t financially depending on one supply.
If one consumer all of the sudden pulls the plug, then you could have just a few others to maintain you ticking over when you discover a alternative.
#13 Reward your self
Are you motivated by firm bonus schemes? Maybe you’ve not skilled the ‘shifting the goalposts’ bonus scheme. The one the place you’re employed your butt off, meet the bonus standards, solely to your boss to tell you there isn’t a bonus as a result of the corporate made a loss.
It’s fairly deflating.
Freelancers get to reward themselves appropriately with out hidden standards.
#14 Extra motivated
Once you management your funds, each revenue, and expenditure, you then change into extra motivated. You know the way a lot it is advisable to earn every month to pay your enterprise bills, in addition to put meals on the desk.
#15 Job safety
This might sound a wierd one. Certainly, having a standard salaried job is safer than being a freelancer?
However within the present financial local weather, the so-called job for all times has all however disappeared.
Redundancies and layoffs are extra frequent.
And 0 hours contracts are the norm.
49% of freelancers felt little or no influence from the recession. [Source]
Due to this fact, freelancing will be safer. You management your future.
Conclusion
As Brennan Dunn says:
“Freelancing, or the ‘gig financial system,’ because it’s identified, is on the rise.”
It gained’t be for everybody. Some individuals will favor to stay with their conventional 9-5 job.
However if you wish to take full management over your future with the Freedom, Flexibility and Monetary Independence that freelancing gives, then now is an efficient time to begin.
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