5 Mistakes to End Your Freelance Career
Credit: doobybrain on Flickr
Please learn from my mistakes.
First, who is this guy?
I’m Allan and I started as freelance designer six years ago. After a few months I started hired developers because I started taking increasingly larger web projects. Within two years of starting freelancing I took on a business partner and we started to build web applications. These projects have done well and we’ve started hosting conferences for entrepreneurs. I’ve been lucky and blessed. I’ve made my share of mistakes but here’s the mistakes I’ve made and what I’ve learned in the past six years.
1. Avoid Meeting New People
Successful freelancers never say that they know too many people. On the flip side, failed freelancers say, “I didn’t have a strong enough network.” Which means “I sat at home and didn’t meet people”.
Looking back at the small successes I’ve had, they’ve all started with the people I’ve met. These real-life relationships, handshakes, dinners and conversations that have turned into friendships. Growing your network, making friends and then nurture those relationships, but to do this it takes time and effort.
How do I meet people?
- Attend conferences and introduce myself. To start a conversation ask them questions; people generally like to talk about themselves.
- Talk to people on Twitter. I actually reply back to tweets.
- Contribute to open source projects. Blog, comment on blogs, guest blog.
2. Ignore Your Ideal Client.
Realize your potential client will visit several competitor’s websites before they make contact. They’ll call the person they feel can deliver the product/design/photos that they expect and desire. Example: if you’re a photographer with web galleries of black & white wedding pictures but this potential client wants color pictures of their children your portfolio won’t appeal to them. They won’t be able to visualize you taking their children’s pictures.
The good news is you can use this filter to your advantage to target the kinds of clients you want. The client’s critical eye spans further than just your portfolio. They’ll evaluate how the copy on your site is written, how your site looks and even how you talk to them when they call. Everything you do will be judged and if done properly can use to filter your clients into the ones you want.
3. Be a Mediocre Jack of All Trades.
Most people do one thing very, very well. If you’re a designer, don’t be programmer. You’re a photographer don’t try to be a designer. Even if you’re picking up new skills, stop and find someone that is better than you. Hire them for your next project. Sure you’ll spend more money now but your final product will be better. Your portfolio will get better and your next clients will pay more. It’s a beautiful cycle of awesome.
You can connect great people on these sites:
4. Charge Too Little.
This is the culmination of points 1, 2 and 3. If you meet people and build a network of friends in your industry then make your skill set strong by focusing on one thing and then target the ideal client you’ll be able to charge more for your time. Charge 15% more for your time than you think it’s worth. Most freelancers don’t have the confidence to set their rate at a place where they’re not scrapping the bottom of the barrel for clients. You are good enough to get the rate you deserve.
5. Lose Track of Your Money.
This is the most important point.
Let’s be honest saving money isn’t as fun as spending it. I love buying new things. It’s human nature to want to spend your cash. But every business will have a cash flow hiccup, a dry spell, a downtime.
Now if you’re thinking “I run a good business and do good, things like that won’t happen to me.” you’re wrong! A hiccup in cash flow can happen to anyone even if you’re running a great business. Just look at the businesses along the Gulf Coast and how the BP oil spill effected their businesses. These businesses were faced with an worse economy due to outside forces. The businesses that are surviving have cash saved. Don’t fool yourself, you will hit a dry spell and that cash reserve will save your butt. Keep 2-4 months of overhead in savings. You’ll thank me later.
Other mistakes that just suck
- No backup of files, I lost 2 years of data from an external hard drive crash.
- Not saving for tax time.
- Working from home full-time. Find a coffee shop or coworking desk at least 2 days per week.
- Fixed bid pricing and client contracts.
What mistakes have you learned from?
By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day.
- Robert Frost
Leave a Comment
I agree with all these points, I think you are so right.
I would add another mistake being to start working on a project without a deposit!
I was about to say that Irene, “start to work without a deposit” lol…
*** Work without a contract.
*** Say “yes” to many request or additions to the proyect out of the contract for free.
I second that! If you don’t, you’re potentially setting yourself up for a lot of wasted time if the client suddenly decides not to pay for your work. Using a project deposit is a great filter for sorting the good clients from the bad.
I definitely agree. Deposits work fine with the ‘service’ economy we have today.
*rubs chin and nods head* Hmmm.. Good points. Really good points.
Hi Allan,
Did you know your name has an extra L? But seriously, thanks for this article. You really give some great advice.
Alan
Fireleaf Design
We both know the proper way to spell our name is Allen. So we’re both wrong.
2011 is all about the double L’s
Some really great advice in this post, especially the little part about a coworking desk. I myself have fallen foul to working from home 99% of the time and is something that i am looking to change.
Great Article
Martin
iamhingo
Very good points, I think number 1 is where a lot of people fall short. You can be the most talented designer in the world, but if you aren’t getting out and meeting people, you can’t expect to be known. The internet is a great tool for networking, but going to local design chats, groups, being a part of AIGA, etc is a great way to not only meet potential clients, but also establish a better network of other design professionals.
Very good advice, thank you for share it, I’m not a freelancer at the moment but maybe soon I decide to start… still need to build my skills a little ^ ^
There are some good valid points. Maybe are not really to end your freelance career but will certainly have a negative impact.
I’m still working on networking more in person and go to coffee shops to work from there. Staying at home is way to tempting.
Keeping things professional!
I have seen a lot of new freelancers shoot themselves in the foot by acting like an ass to a client, potential client, contractors or even other freelancers. Both fortunately and unfortunately, the field we are in is pretty small and we run into the same few people over and over again in our careers. Pissing off someone now will definitely hurt you in the long run whether someone blackballs you from certain projects or people refuse to work with you, being a jerk can kill your budding business and make everyone feel uncomfortable with you.
I know that a lot of us have gotten into freelancing because we want the ability to work or choose to not work with clients. I know that several times in my career, I have wanted to tell a client to go F themselves, but in order to grow my business, I have had to reign in those thoughts and just deal with them on a professional level.
Getting comfortable with the people you work with can be a reward in this business, but it can also easily become a headache as well. When speaking to people in a business sense, you must understand how you make others feel about you.
Matthew Stevens
Mercury Studios
Very good points. I’m pretty sure that (one-by-one) I’ve come around to abiding by these of my own accord since going freelance, which is probably why I’m still in business.
Can you expand a bit more on what you mean by your last ‘Other Mistake That Just Sucks’ though? I either strongly agree or strongly disagree, and possibly have the wrong end of the stick entirely.
Really good post, the 5 points are dead on.
Good article with lots of direction. I disagree, however, about the need to find a coffee shop or coworking desk two days a week. If a freelancer just strives to keep a good balance of at home time with getting out – by scheduling interviews, attending off site meetings, lunching with colleagues, even just getting out to go to the gym – they can avoid burn out or feeling seclusion.
Procrastination, in any form, can destroy momentum.
For me, I can’t work in coffee shops or other places very easily. I get too distracted and start sketching things I see or writing short observational paragraphs of the people in the same room as me. In short, it’s too distracting.
I don’t think; however, it’s a good idea to stay in your home all the time. That’s where I totally agree with Debbie S. I say get a laptop and get out for interviews, meetings, lunches, etc. Good points.
Having worked for larger firms, most of them charge over $100/hour for their services. In fact, I haven’t worked for one that doesn’t… so keep that in mind when you’re bidding on a project.
Chris, find your style. I tend to work in different places doing different things. I’ve found I have cycle where I work too much one week and get burned out the next. Having a co-working desk allows me to leave my computer there sometimes to ensure I don’t work late at night. Coffee shops and coworking keep me showered and fairly shaved as well.
I totally agreed especially with the point number one. My mistake is that I first thought that if I had a website, people/ potential prospects will come visit and like my work and finally hire me. NO. I need a stronger network and have to start meeting new people. Although going out there, meeting people, and having conversation that builds a good relationship with others ( I prefer to staying home and do it online) is not my thing, I have to do it in order to grow my network. Most of the freelance gigs are never advertised and I need word of mouth, you know? Get off from my comfort zone is what I have to do right now.
Great advise… wrote some down as late new years resolutions for my biz.
Cheers,
Aaron Payne
Excellent points. You mentioned potential clients using site design as part of their criteria/filters. First impressions and all..Would you include posts in that decision-making process? I believe poor grammar reflects lack of polish and professionalism, even when the writer has excellent skills! First impressions and all….
Those are all good points but I have to disagree with the “Jack of all trades” remark. I started off freelance writing, which led to copywriting/copy editing jobs, mainly content for websites. That led to my clients also wanting me to content market. Content is a big part of SEO and since a lot the work I was doing was for SEO companies, that led to SEO projects (outside of simply writing good content). All of these areas are either very close to each other or are relevant to each other and in most instances I would agree that a person shouldn’t try to be the jack of all trades, but when each area closely relates to another area and one job is part of another job etc, a person can do them all well. In this situation, I feel being able to do more than one job actually becomes an asset and a money saver for clients. For example, a client hires a writer to write their website content but then that content needs optimized so they hire someone else to optimize it. If the original person hired knew how to write optimized content to begin with then the client is happier because they spent less money and didn’t have to work with two separate people.
On another note, I also own a wedding photography business and while I did not outright market my photoshop skills to begin with, I started to because when potential clients called or emailed me about booking me, nearly every single one of them wanted to know about my photoshop skills because they had a certain effect or look for their pictures in mind before even having them done (pops of color, digital backgrounds etc). I also found that people generally do not like to hunt down information that they want to know as it takes up their time and I had a couple of people mention to me that they thought it would be a good idea if I stated skills related to photoshop so that people could easily find the info, so I did and people appreciate it.
I can see if two skills are totally unrelated but when they are in the same area, personally I have found that not marketing or making those skills available can have a negative effect as well.
Here’s an addition to #4: give away too much of your work.
It’s flattering to be considered “the computer whiz,” “the marketing guru,” or the “graphics diva” for your PTA, hobby club, neighborhood group, and in-laws, but it’s an immense time suck and almost impossible to leave once you start.
Before you ever volunteer your expertise, get something in writing about how much time you will commit weekly or monthly to the project and–this is crucial–when that project ends. You require this kind of contract for paid work, and you’re entitled to it for unpaid work as well. If you can’t get this written commitment from your volunteer project clients, do *not* take the project.
What a great point, Melanie! I am in a situation like you describe and will now treat it as a paid client, even though it’s volunteer. I thank you for sharing this bit of wisdom. I’m for helping people when they need it, but there has to be a line. Time suckage is definitely something I want to avoid!
Thanks again,
Carla
I would add: Don’t be timid about following up with unpaid invoices – if you did the work, you deserve to be paid. I spend a few minutes at the beginning of every month sending out ‘friendly reminders.’ Do not continue working for a client who still owes you for previous work. A simple: “I would love to start work on this project, just as soon as I recieve payment for (fill in the blank)” usually gets the cheque in the mail.
Set the right customer expectations, otherwise you will spend your revenues after the go-live date of your project. And become after a successfully delivery in endless discussions.
Cheers.
LP
3. Be a Mediocre Jack of All Trades.
I think this one is key in the long run of a design career in general.
It’s hard for designers in general to keep within the grasps of their field, which is understandable as most fields are extremely relatable to each other.
I found that the key to avoid being a jack of all trades, master of none, is to understand what you love & are committed to as a professional, and view the other fields that interest you as hobbies.
Solid article, very straightforward!
Dillon, exactly!
Be amazing at what you’re good at but hire out the rest.
As a beginning freelancer this has really helped me out and opened up my perspective to factors I never even took into consideration before. Matthew Stevens also raises a fantastic point too. Thanks to both of you for the great posts!
Muneeb Ahmad
Ahmad Design
Double “L” to the double “T.”
Great article….thanks!
Hi Allen
Great article, some really good advice here.
Can particularly relate to the “mediocre jack of all trades” issue. Sometimes it’s hard to hand a project over to a more qualified professional, especially when you’re excited and just starting out – you want to have a hand in everything!
Leaving the house is also very important. Sounds like such a simple thing but you’ll drive yourself slowly mad if you mix your work and home life together too much.
Looking forward to more tips!
Thanks,
Claire
Hi Allan,
Can you expand on, “Fixed bid pricing and client contracts?”
I know you had a very successful consulting business. Did you work strictly by the hour with no fixed bids?
How did you get around the objection of the client not knowing exactly how much something would cost when you’re charging by the hour?
Hi Jason, fixed bid is very hard on any project longer than a few days in length. Its hard because the client and the service provider have to be on the same page, its hard to quote for revisions, collaboration and client management. Giving estimates is a good start in building trust.
You must have a good client contract, a good contract can sway a client from taking an argument to litigation. Any sort of litigation will eat up profits faster than you can blink. A contract can’t stop litigation but it can certainly help relay your expectations to the client before the working relationship starts.
Jason, I like your question, I was going to ask the same thing.
I read Allan’s reply, however I had a situation at the end of last year where I was designing a website on contract for another studio that was in project overload. No contract in place, however an hourly rate was agreed upon.
Because the site was for a library that had quite a few opinionated committee of members reviewing my designs and edits.. the job went on much longer than anticipated due to too many people putting in their two cents.. and the edits were flying back and forth. By the time the job was done, my bill was enormous, and the studio asked me to discount my price due to the fact he was no longer making money… Yes, I got paid, but now he doesn’t want to use me again, unless I agree to only give a solid quote ahead of time. So basically, I feel hourly works good for smaller confined projects.. but when they get lengthy in time.. Clients start to panic.
Allan, in a case like the above… would you ever consider dropping your hourly rate, when you start to see the hours stack up in your favor for a project? Or should I stick to my guns, and possibly lose a few contracts.
Sorry for the long book : ) tofydesign.com
Hi Trish, do what is best for your business. In the past I’ve bent for people and helped them, I have a tender heart and enjoy helping others. Sounds like your client was using fixed bid on a project that should have been hourly in the first place.
I’ve had the most trouble with #3. I am a writer/editor, pure and simple, but I’ve wasted time trying to learn a lot of ancillary skills like Web design, and I end up being mediocre at them. I’ve had a 30 year career in writing and editing, and that’s my strength. The best thing is to stay with your strength, although it’s very tempting to try to offer a wide array of services to a client. The answer is to hire good people to do the things you’re not good at yourself.
6. Make time for yourself
14 hour days, 6 days a week will burn you out, negatively impacting your relationships, health and work quality. I recommend always having a personal project (not necessarilly digital) that you can work on for a change and flash of inspiration
I think it’s almost impossible to not be #3 to some extent. Adapt or die, as they say. And most trades can’t last without some new skills. Example: a web designer that doesn’t know any web development at all is at a measurable disadvantage. They should at least know basic html and css. I’m a web developer, and I studying programming and information systems in college, but I also am an aspiring graphic designer. I do the design for sites I make mostly myself, and I love learning graphic design. It’s very relaxing and creative, and doing it as just a hobby seems pointless if I can gradually add it to my services.
There’s a fine line, certainly never stop learning but play to your strengthens and hire out the rest.
Great article Allan.
In less that a week I will be resigning from my 9-5 to pursue a full-time career as a freelancer.
Nice to see there are other Allans out there with 2 L’s
FACT: Allan’s are 114% cooler than Alan’s and Allen’s.
All nice points Allan. Thanks for the article.
As Jason stated, can you expand on the fixed price bid and client contracts? Great article!
Great post. Some obvious. Some not. I agree with all of these except working from home. I now have my own office, but I worked from home for years and loved every minute of it. I think this one depends on your living situation. Nothing like working out of the comforts of your own home!
As someone who has watch Allen work through his development, I must say I am impressed.
Allan,
Great points. I would also add the following:
1) Manage Expectations
As professionals we sometimes tend to try and forget what it’s like to be in the shoes of the client. Ensure your ideas and their ideas are in sync. If you don’t you can go above and beyond in your mind and still have a disappointed client.
2) Beware of Scope Creep
Put your hand up the very first time that scope creep rears its ugly head. It’s always much better to set the precedent early in the game rather than send the wrong message to the client. It also ties in nicely to my first point.
3) Don’t forget your passion!
People hire you because of the your “U” factor. What makes you Unique? Don’t ever forget to bring that along to your meetings and prospect/client discussions.
Great advice here, especially the point about working out of the house. Something I’ve recently started doing as I became sick of being couped up in my room all week.
Yep, the first one is the mistake I have had!
I am appreciative of all five of your points. As I work with larger projects I continually see downfalls with contractors on #3. Ease of teaming by utilizing multi skilled players has its place, but in the best use of talent, hiring what the person actually focuses on full time is the long run goal.
I value creatives who engage with others without expectation as well. More than once I’ve seen you use this skill yourself. Sending a video with a suggestive correction to someone’s readability using their site as example with corrected fonts/colors. Helping new to the market or industry entrepreneurs with gratis advice, and engaging in projects that simply need to be encouraged. You are a winner Allan, and the fact that you are a strong husband and father as well makes you a big winner in the field of excellence in life.
Sweetie you’re too kind.
Had to comment because this is the first article I’ve read on this subject with genuinely true and thoughtful advice. Thanks
I agree with most of what you said, definitely good advice.
However, I work from home 100% of the time and love it! I’ve been freelancing for 8 years now, definitely making more money than in any of my jobs (last position was senior designer on track for creative director) and I couldn’t imagine working in an office setting again.
That said, I also can’t imagine working at someone else’s desk or at a coffee shop. As with so many pieces of advice, I think you’ve got to figure out what works for you and go with the flow
6. Not proofreading your article for obvious spelling and grammar mistakes.
Great article.
Regarding the fixed bid pricing, I’m on the same page that it’s a more difficult way to work. My question is how have you succeeded in convincing our clients of that? I’ve recently standardized to hourly billing, and while most my clients were understanding of that, there are still a few that that refuse to make that switch. They’re relatively new, so I’m giving some time for trust to develop, and then pitch the idea later, or ??
Just curious how everyone succeeds at convincing their clients of the value of hourly billing.
I’d like to offer my situation:
I had the same issue, coming from a very small town with a lot of small “Mom & Pop” shops. Presenting clients with an hourly rate always scared them away. I think it makes them feel like their job will never end. They always wanted to know their final bill was going to be – before they signed at the dotted line.
So what I’ve done is stared to give them an “Estimate” which looks just like a “Quote”.. I tell them how many hours for my design expect to do, how many hours of edits I expect to do (keep those to a very minimum, to show you do good work that doesn’t need editing.) but put at least one hour of edits in.. and then show that you charge extra for Fonts and Stock images..
Then tally it up and give them a “Price”.. and by letting them know up front, that’s this is still an “estimate”.. I found that if they are happy with that estimate, they tend to walk away feeling good that this is what they will most likely be paying at the end. But now “you” can walk away knowing that if the project goes beyond the estimated hours.. You have the right to come back to them and ask for more money as they have gone beyond the scope of the initial project. And they usually don’t balk.. because the proof is in the pudding.. so-to-speak : )
Since I’ve been offering client my “estimates” rather than “Quotes”.. I feel I’m making more money and not leaving as much on the table.
Hope that helps! tofydesign.com
Thanks Trish.
That’s exactly how I’ve always handled non-hourly clients. However, friction still comes up due to some clients only wanting to pay for part of what encompasses software development in regard to their products, and that’s what makes fixed-bid pricing a hard swallow for me. You simply don’t know what amount of time will be put in for debugging, phone calls, meetings, or what changes the client will try to introduce for free throughout the project.
Overall I still try to remain flexible and sensitive to my client’s needs, regardless of how I bill them, but I’ve noticed better relationships, and much better productivity, w/my hourly clients. I can focus far more on their product and the relationship vs. always having the hanging burden of whats billable time vs. non-billable time.
Cool post, 99% real. I think freelancing is the best way to get lost if you dont know how to do it, cause it require a lot of order and organization.
This is a great list. I especially like the one about charging too little. I see so many freelancers who could up their incomes by about 25% with no extra work at all just by raising their prices. I don’t think most clients buy price anyway. They buy quality and dependability
Great tips. Thanks, Allan!
One mistake that may not be career-ending but certainly hampers myself and a lot of colleagues is not taking the time to keep our own sites and promotions fresh and updated.
As a writer/editor, it’s tough for me to take time away from client work to work on my own site, but it’s necessary to stay competitive. I hired a colleague to move my site over to the WordPress Thesis theme, and he did so about 3 weeks ago, and I haven’t made time to do any edits and cleanups! I even got new headshots taken but haven’t found time to choose which ones to use. But I began blocking out my time, and after delivering on a deadline today, I’ve got 3 hours set aside to get started on transforming my site to something more current and streamlined, with my blog functionality built right in.
I urge all freelancers to make time for maintaining their Web presence.
Carla,
I recently wrote an article on the very subject of making time for your own business, “Your Most Important Client is You.” You can find it in the current issue of Photoshop User Magazine which is in stores now.
You can also read more about it here http://bit.ly/hA6yC6
Alan Brusky
Fireleaf Design
Hi, I really like this posting however I disagree with the point of not working from home. You see I’m a people watcher so going to the near by coffee shop or even the library would cause me to loose focus on a freelance writing project. If the item I was working on was personal like poems or even a novel then yes a coffee shop and people watching might actually help my writing process.
Working from home allows me to work in pjs and no make up and allows me to play my music as loud as can be without headphones or bugging the people near me.
Honestly I never understood how writers can write in coffee shops.. it just seems way to distracting. Not to mention a complete waste of gas when the nearest coffee shop is 1 mile or so away and the library is about 3 or 5.
Great posting minus that point.
Chhimica, work in the place you’re the most productive. I’ve seen alot of freelancers not leave the house for weeks. Eventually you’ll need to see people. As long as you’re being social and getting out of the cave, you’ll be fine.
Hmm, meeting new people, its something most freelancers ignore.
This is like a trip down memory lane. Haven’t we all had our fair share of these mistakes? What’s good is that we’re all learning from it. I think the biggest mistake I made is over assumption — thinking ahead of what the client has in mind. Now, I simply listen to what the client wants — no more, no less.
Issa, that is EXCELLENT advice!
Terrific points! Thanks for writing. 2011 is year #8 for yours truly in what is basically a branded freelance model. The only thing I would add is that when you have work, don’t forget to keep developing relationships. You gotta keep pitching new work as you manage it.
This is a great post, and one all freelancers should read. I agree that the networking thing is HUGE. Most of my clients have come from client/network referrals. If you can’t get to networking events for a period of time, nurture and build those relationships by talking to people online as much as possible. Help people solve problems and they will come to trust you- and refer you.
I made a few of the mistakes in your article since I started freelancing, and I’d like to add two more.
1) Don’t get excited that you have the work until you are holding a signed contract. And if you have to fight really hard to get the contract signed, or you have to debate your rates, you likely have a difficult future client on your hands. (Some clients are difficult and thats fine. This is just a good warning system.)
2) Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. If you have one huge client, don’t get complacent about pitching new clients. Your huge client could get acquired (true story) or the contract could end for some other unforeseen reason.
Very good points, Really I agree with all these points…
A few more words on fixed bids and client contracts:
Fixed bid works well under clearly-defined parameters defined in a well-written client contract. Boilerplate text is fine for some portions, but be prepared to customize the specifics each contract for every client.
In the case of “collaborative design projects” (i.e., the worst possible thing a freelancer can get dragged into), put clear limits on deadlines, pin down the decision-making in writing as soon as possible, and include overrun and extraction clauses. That is, be up front with how much BS you’re willing to tolerate, how much it will cost them to exceed your BS threshold, AND allow yourself a contractual way to give them the finger if (when?) the project becomes a millstone around your neck.
Good points. Really good points. especially the little part about Charge Too Little
Thanks
Solid advice. Never start work without a clear contract and some kind of deposit.
I agree with all the points.
We should try to work with all types of people, it will give us knowledge about how other people thinks as well as provide us with some experience.
Doing too many work at a time can lead to hamper our health as well. Our charging amount can vary from people to people.
With whom soever you are work, our work should be best presentable and must be done with full passion and dedication.
Wow this was truly a great post, and one every aspiring freelancer should read.
My main question is really how to get started! I have a good portfolio (as an Art Director) – a short background as a webdesigner – and a just a few odd jobs as a freelancer behind me. How do you pitch your work? What are the offline forums or such you meet potential clients at? Sending emails seems to not work for me, getting very few responses back. Mind you, I am in Norway and things are different from the US where I was pitching a bit more simply cause I found more potential clients there (I also had a full time freelance gig at an agency).
I’d still like to work as an AD in an agency but building my own list of small clients outside, and potentially ‘invent’ a few ideas that can make money themselves (like smart websites etc) And I am a jack of all trades, I want to do it all
Arild
Realize your ideal client.
Shape your portfolio to cater to them and others that you like.
Go after them.
You are absolutely spot on about everything.
I tink it may be #3, the attempting to be a Jack of All Trades, which really trips up a lot of new to the market photographers.
For most of us it really is best to find the one or two things at which we really shine, and then stick with those, rather than being a fantastic landscape photographer and a mediocre wedding photographer. Some people just never get it.
Thank you for the article! A word to wise is always welcome, and usually needed.
I totally agree Allen with everything single point you made in this great article.
They’re truly spot on, but I’d like to add another point that I believe is the catalyst to the issues your article brought up and that creative professionals experience and that is: “Failing To Treat Your Freelance Career Like A Business”.
While I absolutely agree with all of the points you shared the bigger point I’d like to emphasize here is that we often don’t have the structures we once had in our “previous” 9 to 5 job.
Yes, the very structures that we rebelled against that compelled us to go out on our own in the first place.
I find when we begin working for ourselves that we must implement similar structures if our goal is to have a financially viable business that supports our need to be free and do better for out clients.
As creative service professionals we need to stop fearing structure and implementing systems to run our businesses so that we can actually live the dream, do satisfying creative work and live a less stressful life.
Thanks Allen for providing this platform!
Best of luck to everyone on this journey
Rodney
Freelance problem. ( not sure if this should be on this posting)
I have a new client that insist that I do the work at their location, of the reason that they want to keep track of the hours.
They send me a mail in the morning saying that I can come in and work. witch I have two problems with, first I cant plan my weeks or days for other work. secondly is that when they go home at 5:30 I’m not done (a lot of times cause of all the “2 cents”) so I end up working at home, where I don’t track my time, of the very reason that I’d like to produce a acceptable design (I got to have some standard of what I do).
Any one run into this problem? and any one have any suggestions on how to solve this…
Hi, Philip –
I do feel that the problem you’re experiencing belongs on this posting, because it’s important to remind ourselves that as freelancers, our time is valuable and that we do ourselves a disservice when we conform to workflow practices that stunt the growth of our business.
Not being able to plan out your work week is highly detrimental; you must be tearing your hair out with your client’s “pick up the Bat Phone” style of scheduling. What happens when you’ve scheduled another client for that day? Fortunately, by opening up a dialogue with your client about this on-site situation, a solution can be achieved.
My suggestion is that you let your client know that you are finding it increasingly difficult to deliver high-quality work in a space where there are workflow interruptions throughout the day, and that you often have to put in extra time to make up for lost productivity. Reassure them that you have a quiet office space at home and will be far more effective and productive working there with full concentration. I don’t know how long your commute is, but you can bolster your argument by mentioning that you can further maximize your time spent on their projects each day by not having to make the trip. Let them know that you understand they want to keep track of your hours, so your proposed solution is to purchase time-tracking billing software (I suggest Billings), and that you would be happy to e-mail them at the start and end of your shift, so that they can continue to accurately track the time you devote to their projects.
What concerned me most about your comment is the following:
“so I end up working at home, where I don’t track my time, of the very reason that I’d like to produce a acceptable design (I got to have some standard of what I do).”
Your willingness to put in extra time is laudable, but I’d like to see the integrity that you have for your designs carry over into integrity for how you run your business. The fact that you don’t keep track of the time you spend on this client when you work from home is a freelance crime, with consequences that seep into your personal life (time spent with family, getting enough sleep, getting exercise, etc.) and into your professional life, such as effectively scheduling your other client work. Obtaining approval to conduct your business from home for this client will have a profound effect on your overall quality of life. I know; I’ve been there.
Good luck!
Carla
Hi Carla, thanks.
You are right. Im a new to the American market, and Freelancing here and have to learn to adjust my style to your market.
I’m probably way to “nice” (lack of a better word) and are in that way contributing to that employers are able to “abuse” and “exploit” freelancers.
Must learn from –
Freelance Freedom #192: Rushed Expectations
Indeed, Philip! Thanks for sharing that link;p
And don’t worry — it just takes practice. Standing up for yourself and for what’s best for your business will get easier each time.
Have a wonderful rest of the week,
Carla