Nice day yesterday. I spent a good deal of time contacting conference attendees to get some meetings lined up. Progress is good, and I expect to have a full calendar soon. I did get one weird response to my letter of inquiry — the marketing person, who obviously hadn’t read my note, said she’d never attended the show and I must have her confused with someone else. What I’d asked her is if she was going to attend and if so, would she have time to meet? It was fun trying to explain again why I’d written to her. At that point, I figured I didn’t really need to meet with her, you know?
The exchange amplifies what I’ve always believed to be a freelance truth —
You can be the best writer and communicator on the planet, and yet there will always be someone who won’t know what you’re saying. Whenever I encounter clients who don’t click or aren’t understanding me, I just repeat that not everyone fits.
There are some other freelance truths I’ve come across. See if you agree:
If it’s Friday, the project will come in at 4 and be due on Monday morning. Not that you have to agree to it, but I’m betting you’ve had at least one of these urgencies in your career. Just remember lack of planning on the client’s part isn’t your emergency unless you’re paid a premium to put out that fire.
A strong backbone begets a strong business attitude. It’s so easy to say “Forget it” when chasing an overdue invoice and an absentee client. It’s just as easy to apologize for everything whether it’s your fault or not. Both bad habits. Instead, have a system for invoice collection and make sure you apologize only when you’ve done something worthy of an apology.
Not all clients will love you. It’s not going to be your fault every time, either. In fact, most of the time you won’t click for reasons beyond your work — bad communication, a client with a hidden agenda, your own personal issues getting in the way, a freeloader wanting work for free, personality differences, communication differences…. It’s okay to say goodbye to a client because you’re not meshing.
You will eventually learn how to save. If I can, you can. I took part in last year’s International Freelancers Day, and one of the presenters gave an easy three-step process for saving for emergencies, retirement, and fun stuff. I started using the system that same week. The result? A healthy bank account, a nicer IRA, and enough money left over should a client not pay a bill. The key — pay yourself first. Find a percentage to divert to each of these areas before you deposit the check. Dole it out in your head and on paper, then transfer it where it needs to go. It works.
Accountability works. Another thing that works is answering to someone else about what you’re doing. Employees have bosses, but freelancers? Beyond a client here and there, there’s no one making sure we’re earning what we intend/need to earn. Get an accountability partner for whatever piece of your business you need — earnings, marketing, client relations, etc. You’ll be surprised how knowing you have to check in keeps you on track.
You will work longer and harder than you would for an employer. If Most of us have worked for an employer, and while those experiences are often mixtures of fulfillment and frustration, they’re also 9-to-5 (or the new “normal” of 9-to-5:30). You don’t work every minute (meetings, coffee breaks, mingling with coworkers….). Nor will you in a freelance career, but because the office is right in front of you, it’s easy to work during what would be a commute, work before and after dinner, get an early start, etc. I put in an average of 9 hours a day. Those days are filled with both work and marketing.
What are your freelance truths?
4 responses to “More Freelance Truths”
When beginning freelancers ask me for advice, one of the first things I tell them is if you want to be self-employed, you need to be tenacious. Tenacious in finding clients, securing sources, pursuing payments, and following up on things.
The second thing I do is remind them it's a business and writing is only one part of the job.
I have a hard time with the "not all clients will love you" part of freelancing. I'm an incredibly lovable person (if I do say so myself!) and it's hard to realize I can't always get along with everyone, even when I've done everything I could to get along. It's not always within our control. On the other hand, there are some clients we don't even want to get along with!
The accountability part has been the most helpful for me. I am self motivated, but having someone check in on me to make sure I'm staying on track is invaluable.
So often, people claim they want to freelance because they look at it as "quick and easy money". It's not. It's hard damn work, and, at least until you get established, there will be times when you keep unusual hours.
Paula, tenacity gets you in the door. Agreed!
Ah, Ashley, but that's the beauty of codependent natures — we want everyone to get along even when they don't. 🙂
Devon, you're singing in my pitch, sister. It is damn hard work, and those willing to put the effort into it — CONSISTENTLY — will reap the rewards.