Many people see freelancing as the best way to work, especially now that office work no longer appeals to many. In freelancing, you can work whenever and wherever you want and have complete control over how much you can earn.
However, it is common to hear about people who shifted from 9-to-5 to freelancing who regretted their decision. But why?
Here are some reasons why these people regretted their choice to become a freelancer, which can also help you see if freelancing isn’t for you:
Organising Is Difficult
As a freelancer, especially if this is your first foray into the career, you may think it is easy to be organised since you have full control of your schedule. However, if you want to earn a lot of money or work at your preferred time, you may end up discovering that you don’t have the free time you expected.
Rejection Isn’t Easy To Deal With
With freelancing, you must constantly market yourself to catch clients, and most will say no. As a freelancer, it is not uncommon to experience constant rejection until you find the right one. This work is not for you if you are not good with rejection. It may be even more challenging for introverts to talk about themselves and their skills consistently. I must swallow my ego and tell myself the client is probably the wrong fit whenever I get rejected. It can be more challenging than looking for traditional employment.
Isolation Is Constant
This gets me a lot. Freelancers often work independently most of the time wherever they plan to work. It will go on for months without stopping, which can get lonely. Unless you have access to a co-working space, this will not be good for you if you are not used to working alone for long periods of time.
Change Is Hard To Bear
To succeed as a freelancer, you must be ready to do all sorts of tasks and change your work routine. Even though it is no longer a 9-to-5 job where you sit at your desk all day, there are times you need to adjust to clients’ time zones and deadlines. You must also ensure everyone knows the changes and respects your new work. It would be best to change how you perceive the industry since it will be challenging to catch the right task. If you can’t keep up with these changes, succeeding can be tricky.
Saying No Is Not An Option
When you first start out as a freelancer and build your reputation, finding clients to request your services is pretty tricky; you find it hard to deny a client when they ask for your freelance service. If you find it hard to say no and are unclear about the type of work you want to do, this is not the work for you.
Patience Is Not Your Virtue
Many are disappointed that success is not automatic when they enter freelancing work. One will need to be patient to find the right clientele and build your online presence so you catch more clients in the process. If you cannot focus, you will not find it easy to be a freelancer.
No Recognition
Freelancers significantly contribute to businesses and projects, often providing crucial support in various capacities. However, the lack of recognition can make their contributions undervalued or underestimated. I found myself explaining why I am freelancing and what freelancing is to my parents and older folks who do not value that freelancing can also be a good career option.
Other times, it could be that clients do not appreciate your contribution, and the rate they pay you reflects how much your time is worth. Learning that you are only worth $5 per hour to a client can be devastating and demeaning. Sometimes, I get that, so I ask my new clients to try me out first. 10 out of 10, they always agree that my rates are fair, and I always output more than I clock in.
In All Honesty
Freelancing is not for everyone, and if you are considering the move, do your research first. When you do your research, you can determine if the freelancer lifestyle is indeed for you and make a decision. If it is not enough, you can do a trial run to see if you can stick with the work style. In a safer option, you can try your hand at freelancing for a side hassle before you quit your day job and jump into the deeper end of the water. Once you have built a nice list of regular clients, you can consider making this a full-time career.
At the end of the day, you will decide to make, and when you do make the decision, own it! So, if you think freelancing is indeed for you, go for it. If not, there are other opportunities out there that can help you with your career.
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