Comments on: Are you the job type or the freelance type?

By: When freelancing fails: 5 questions to ask yourself

When freelancing fails: 5 questions to ask yourself — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 10:03:56 +0000

[...] you really the freelance type? Earlier this year I wrote about the pros and cons of freelancing. As I said then, I can’t tell you if you’re best suited for a job or for freelancing. [...]

By: Dean Rieck

Dean Rieck — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:40:36 +0000

Bian,
Why not? You can moonlight for the freelance work or work part time and freelance the rest of the time. In fact, you might want to try getting some freelance clients while you’re still working to see if you like it before making any decisions.

By: Bian

Bian — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:04:47 +0000

hi, a friend of mine saw this piece and sent to me because it was just what I needed. I’ve just branched out from corporate life into freelance world and I’m experiencing all the ups and downs… I’m still not sure which side suits me better because I hated all the downs you mention of corporate life but am also struggling with the idea of selling myself (as you have to do). Can you have the best of both worlds? That is, work part time and do freelance on the side?

Bian Salins
Freelance writer
http://www.thewritersblog.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/b1an

By: nelley

nelley — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:42:08 +0000

Both for sure….. I’d hope. Actually, right now I work a mundane non copywriting 50k/yr job with amazing benefits (26+ or 5 weeks vacation days/year, full medical and dental, rrsps, pension plan and stock option matching, etc). However, I also do freelance writing on the side. I like the assurance of a bi-weekly paycheque and it’s sooo appealing right now but eventually (and I mean within the next year) I want to get an official copywriting position as well as continue to do my own writing on the side. Hopefully get paid lots for both too, lol. Long term, definitely freelance. Oh the freedom!! Oh the autonomy!! I drool just thinking about it.
.-= nelley’s last blog … New Theme: Inuit Types =-.

By: Lucy Smith

Lucy Smith — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 02:40:44 +0000

I never imagined myself being self-employed, but circumstances led to me giving it a go, and honestly, I can’t imagine myself working in an office job again. I love being able to get up when I’m awake, and working when and how I want.

I love that, thanks to accounting and company structure, I pay a lot less tax than employees, and the sense of achievement I’m going to feel when I build my business to a point that I’m earning a really healthy income for far fewer hours a week than otherwise.

Sometimes I do miss having co-workers, but then I remember the annoying ones and the feeling passes
.-= Lucy Smith’s last blog … Some light relief for a short week =-.

By: Hugo Moolenaar

Hugo Moolenaar — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:19:54 +0000

Freelance Type, definitely!

“It’s a feel the fear and do it anyway kindathing,” I heard Raul Midon say on Ted.com. I wrote down that specific line, thinking: that applies to freelancing too. For me that is.

The ‘pay’ of freelancing is bigger. The adrenaline, the kick of landing a new assignment, these are rewards many times bigger than what I experienced working for a large company.

When writing, you’re always working on getting in touch with people, with customers you talk to and whith readers ofcourse. The freedom of doing that on my own, or with a changing group of people I choose to work with, that’s priceless.
.-= Hugo Moolenaar’s last blog … Samen maken we meer lezers blij =-.

By: Dean Rieck

Dean Rieck — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:15:15 +0000

Julie,
Comfort is one of the big benefits of freelancing. Never apologize for comfy slippers. I sport my Hawaiian shirts proudly.

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:02:08 +0000

I think freelancing takes a bit of a different mindset and is not for everyone. With freelancing the buck stops with YOU, and there is no one else to fall back on or blame if something goes wrong.

I came from a corporate job (but not in writing) and I have fully embraced freelancing; but it took several years for me to change mindsets. At first it was just too easy to lounge around in pj’s and not really work. Now I’m up and at my desk early – although I still wear house slippers.

~Julie
P.S. I just discovered your site. Thanks for all the great information.
.-= Julie’s last blog … Doggie Etiquette =-.

By: Dean Rieck

Dean Rieck — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:41:04 +0000

Joshua,
I’ve always told people that freelancing is much more secure than having a job. You only have to lose one job to be broke. But you can lose several freelance clients and still be able to pay the bills.

Freelancing “feels” less secure, but it’s not. It’s like investing, where the rule is to not put all your eggs in one basket.

By: Joshua Black

Joshua Black — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:13:34 +0000

Freelance Type!

I think that the biggest hurdle for most people that really are begging to cut the cord with their day job is to do exactly that. They just need to cut the cord.

Once you realize that you won’t die, it will FORCE you to start coming up with more clients that you would if you were just moonlighting and hoping to get there “some day.”

It’s the SCARY way to go, but that’s the way the magic really happens. Just look at all of the people that have gotten laid off recently and went on to create the magic business that they were always too scared to do.

-Joshua Black
The Underdog Millionaire
.-= Joshua Black’s last blog … My Gift to You- Join The Underdog Millionaire Movement =-.