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Today's my 2 year freelanciversary! In Feb 2019, I gave myself a year to see whether working on my own would be viable. Now I can't imagine myself going back to full-time. Thank you to everyone who's been a part of this journey.
A few things if you're considering freelancing
A few things if you're considering freelancing
1. Everyone's reasons for going into freelance are different. Some want money, some want independence, some want control over time. For me, it was very clearly the latter, even if it meant sacrificing some income.
Find out what you want and optimise for it.
Find out what you want and optimise for it.
2. Jumping into freelance to escape a bad job is a bad, bad, bad idea. The "pull" needs to be more important than the push.
This holds true for shifting jobs too, I think.
Bonus:
If you're not scared, it's not worth doing (as a sagacious friend once told me)
This holds true for shifting jobs too, I think.
Bonus:
If you're not scared, it's not worth doing (as a sagacious friend once told me)
3. Before you get into freelance, plan for it: Chalk out what you can do, potential clients, spread the word (slowly, of course - you don't want HR finding out :P) and once ready, take the leap.
Needless to say, make sure your finances are in order.
Needless to say, make sure your finances are in order.
4. Freelancing is not just about the skill you hope to monetise - it's also about doing finances, doing "business dev" and charting your own career path out. Read up before jumping into it.
You will also start gaining immense respect for your erstwhile HR teams.
You will also start gaining immense respect for your erstwhile HR teams.
5. There are several places to look for freelance work - right here on Twitter, on LinkedIn, networks like Freelancer, Upwork, Tapchief, and more, depending on your offering.
Hustle is an important part of freelance life. Nothing will come on a platter.
Hustle is an important part of freelance life. Nothing will come on a platter.
6. When writing to someone in the hope of getting hired, be specific as to what you offer and why you're writing to them.
"I'm a writer with experience developing content for SaaS software, I think I can specifically help write case studies for you" > "Hi myself writer hire me"
"I'm a writer with experience developing content for SaaS software, I think I can specifically help write case studies for you" > "Hi myself writer hire me"
7. Here's a little diagram I once drew when someone asked me what work to take up. This sums up my approach and since I'm an MBA I obviously had to draw a matrix.
8. There are no one-size-fits-all ways of working. For me, I'm obsessive about Google Calendarising my life - including reading / exercise time. I've still not got there, but I can't rest on Sunday night without knowing what my entire next week looks like.
9. Pricing is a damn complex thing, again. I just had a nice simple method when I started, which I summarise in this here slide.
This method might not work for everyone, but I care more about my own time rather than "industry standard" etc. Like I said, I optimise for control.
This method might not work for everyone, but I care more about my own time rather than "industry standard" etc. Like I said, I optimise for control.
10. Build a workspace that works for you. Some people like chaotic. Some people like clean. You do you. Here's my setup!
Also, I still writing using a pen.
Think on paper -> execute on computer. Worked well for me!
Also, I still writing using a pen.
Think on paper -> execute on computer. Worked well for me!
11. How do I decide what project to do? A few considerations - if I were to sum it up:
12. I've been lucky enough to build a course that 300+ people have paid for (and hopefully have found value in) which is easily the most successful experiment I conducted. I think anyone can teach or build something of their own. If not a course, maybe a free series of IG Lives
I'm hardly an expert on freelancing - just someone who did this for 2 years, made more money in my 2nd year than my last salary, and managed to stay largely sane. here are tons of things I want to do, including documenting all of the above properly, & achieving a better balance.
People have asked me to do a freelancing session in the past - and I might, sometime in March when a few current projects get done. If you'd like to be notified, drop in your email ID here : https://forms.gle/SsbUEUsPrjieXFyk8
I can't promise when it'll happen, though :)
I can't promise when it'll happen, though :)
The one thing I must mention is all the above is basis MY experience and what worked for ME.
Everyone has different styles and there's no one blanket sureshot formula. Freelancing - much like life - is about asking the right questions (sorry for philosophy detour)
Everyone has different styles and there's no one blanket sureshot formula. Freelancing - much like life - is about asking the right questions (sorry for philosophy detour)
Thank you for reading thus far!
If you like my work, the one thing you can definitely do is sign up for this little newsletter I run which is a measly â‚ą300 a year. http://bit.ly/ThingsOfInternet
If you like my work, the one thing you can definitely do is sign up for this little newsletter I run which is a measly â‚ą300 a year. http://bit.ly/ThingsOfInternet
And if you just want to know what I'm up to / get notified when I do something (new podcast, new articles, web sessions I might do) then sign up using the first link in my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/chuck.of.all.trades
