11
07/07
11:12 am
Why freelance? Just get a job!
I recently posted my real financial numbers for the freelance work I’ve been doing in the last 6 months. After taking a few weeks to analyze those figures, I realized I’m completely out of my mind!
So why freelance? What’s the point? Who does that? What are the benefits? Drawbacks?
I still believe freelancing is a blessing. Being able to decided when and how often to work is something many people only dream of. In my opinion, the point of freelancing is to take control of your life, your schedule, and live the way you want to live.
I’ve been lucky to live the life I’ve been dreaming of, spending months abroad, working on various select projects, taking fridays off…
At the moment, I think doing “only” freelance work is not much of a great idea. I initially started a company to develop web applications. After seeing that I couldn’t monetize those applications, I decided to freelance to generate extra revenue (to live!). Now, I find myself doing more freelance, and a LOT less work on my business. I’m not interested in pushing my freelance work into full speed either. That’s not what I had in mind.
Also, for those who are wondering, I don’t see it as giving up. If I were spending more time working on my business projects and trying to monetize and popularize them, then this story would be a LOT different.
With that in mind, I’ve decided to throw myself back into the job market. I already have a few companies in mind… although I’m not looking for a specific job, but I do have some requirements. For starters, I want to have the flexibility to continue freelancing and working on open source projects.
I know some of you might be nodding your heads or puking from disgust, but I assure you when the time is right, i’ll be back ;)
For the time being, I’ll continue doing what I usually do. If something interesting happens to fall on my lap then I might just consider it.
Thanks for reading!
Carlos
July 11, 2007
2:51 pm
Alex, before you accept that 9 to 5 job again, try reading this book. It might inspire you to keep trying for your ideal.
The problem with freelance is that you’re the lynchpin. If you don’t work, you don’t make money. The book will help you realize it and maybe help you figure out indeed how to make some money on those Web apps, or something else.
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/
I just finished reading it last night. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Alex
July 11, 2007
3:25 pm
Thanks Carlos! I love these types of books and have already read a few, including the e-Myth revisited “Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It”.
Unfortunately these books always make it seem as though “not working” is part of the ideal life. I actually do enjoy working and couldn’t see myself sitting on a beach every day drinking Sangria.
Either way, i’ll make sure to pickup a copy.
Cheers!
Barry Hess
July 11, 2007
7:12 pm
Alex,
I’ve read the book as well. I don’t see it as choosing to sit on a beach all day. I see at as choosing to do what you want to do. If you could build a boring affiliate marketing web site to take care of your basic needs and a little more, that would free you up to do fun things like build a new social network web site. Of course, much like when I bought speakers before I bought an A/V receiver, I have cart before the horse. Now I’m trying to break the affiliate marketing code.
Originally, I was just going to reply “NOOOOOOO!!!” But I had to change gears to correct a misconception that anyone can tell you what your ideal life would be like. For instance, if money weren’t an issue I’d be reading SICP, learning PHP so I could do a project with you :), writing scripts to automate more things in my personal life, and probably building a large personal information application.
I also wouldn’t mind learning to play guitar and piano and trombone or learning Spanish. And I also wouldn’t mind relocating to Florida every March to take in all of Spring Training. There is a lot of stuff I’d like to do if I just had a baseline income supplanted by occasional freelance work.
Charles
July 12, 2007
12:01 pm
Alex,
Sorry to hear that. I’ll be honest that I was quite surprised at your revenue figures, and not in a good way. Is it possible that you are undercharging for your services? You mention that find yourself doing *more* freelance work, which implies that there is demand for your services. Perhaps if you raised your rates you would be more in-line with what you’d receive at a job, while retaining the perks of freelancing?
Alex
July 12, 2007
1:46 pm
Most people seem to focus on the fact that I haven’t made much money, but that’s not the issue at hand.
My problem with freelancing is that I don’t ONLY want to freelance.
I want to work on my business projects. Unfortunately I can’t do that if i’m always freelancing and working on other peoples projects. This is why I want to get back into the job market. To give myself time to find/create/refine my ideas, save some money (a lot more), get more experience and then jump back into the business world.
I *could* raise my rates and I *could* work a lot harder as a freelancer, but that is the equivalent to having a job (actually, it’s worst).
Alex
July 12, 2007
5:03 pm
@Barry: I would love to work with you on some web projects… maybe sometime in the future?
Barry Hess
July 13, 2007
12:50 pm
@Alex: My ears are always perked!