Freelance - Fashionable or feasible?

Let's face it, the life of a freelancer seems like a dream come true but does the experience match all the hype? I weigh in from my own experiences. In a nutshell, it's not for the fainthearted.

"What do you do? No really, what do you do?" I've heard this question on more than one occasion. It's a fair question. After all, many a day most people only see me on the way to or from the gym. However, besides working out and posting my fair share of gym selfies and inspiration, I also do some commercial modeling on the side and write. Okay, perhaps that last sentence was misleading. I write a lot and not just here. I'm a copywriter by profession and once upon a time I was a #freelance #copywriter.

Freelancer

noun

1. a modern day mercenary

Freelance is a Different Kind of Freedom

Writer's Block. It's a thing.

It's one thing to write for a co-working space blog and detail the pros and cons of freelancing; it's completely another to live it. What's more, not all that glitters is gold. Freelance - I suspect like entrepreneurship - is not for the fainthearted. That being said, there are pros and cons to freelancing and they're not always black and white:

Pro: You're your own boss

Your hours. Your money. Your workload. Sounds magical right? It honestly can be. As a freelancer you are in direct control of how much you work, when you work, who you work for and how much you make. It's liberating to have direct control over your finances. You can beat your chest, roar atop the mountains and recite those famous lines from William Ernest Henley's Invictus, "I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul."

Con: You're your own boss

This really means that the fruits of your labour are subject to your labour. If you don't put in the hours, you don't manage your time or take on too little (or too much) work only YOU will suffer the consequences. There is no cushion against a quiet quarter or a muted month of work. Your grind and your graft are truly your bread and butter.

Pro: You work when you want to work

Effectively being your own boss allows you to work at times when you feel most productive which we all know isn't always the case when you're tied to your desk. This means you have the opportunity to ALWAYS (which I'm assuming is the goal anyways) wow your clients because you can choose to work at times when you're at the peak of your powers.

As the cool kids say, "But first coffee..."

Con: You work when you want to work

Now when you work for The Man, you're not alone. Greg is always in the kitchen hovering over the coffee machine, just waiting to start a conversation that always ends in awkward silence and an even more awkward parting of ways. Oh and let's not forget Susan. Ah yes, how could we forget Susan? Susan is surely man's first successful attempt at AI. She never tires of work or passing that look of judgement as you start to slowly nod off in front of your screen. You can despise Susan all you want for never having the time to indulge your unfathomably funny memes but she does offer just enough guilt to remind you to get your work done. In freelance; it's you, that fridge that you always hope has that thing you want (but have not idea what is) and a new browser tab that says "Hey, I hold the keys to untold wonders! Step up! Click on me!"

Pro: You can work anywhere & you get to meet people

Networking is part and parcel of successful freelancing. Note I'm not saying I'm a success yet, just merely sharing what I know to be true. In freelancing, you cross paths with people who might need your services or know someone who does. They can even help you hone your craft by offering advice or open your mind to new ways to distinguish yourself from the competition.

Con: You can work anywhere & you get to meet people

When you freelance coffee and cafe's come as a packaged deal. It gives others the impression you have more time to spare, and leisure is your best friend. Unfortunately, nothing could be further than from the truth. It's a misconstrued image that serves only to label you as open to conversation and hanging out, when really your next deadline is approaching faster than Jacob Zuma's resigna... see what I did there? It's already passed and so will your deadline. If you're not careful, both friends and acquaintances will unintentionally undermine the importance of your time leaving you to work the graveyard shift.

Pro: Revenue is determined by your rate

If you have developed enough of a reputation to support the rates you want to charge for your toil and have a strong client base, you can look forward to a more than modest income.

Con: Revenue is determined by your rate

If you have not developed enough of a reputation to support the rates you want to charge for your toil or don't have a strong client base, you will most likely find yourself haggling for the bare minimum and sacrificing yourself for modern day slavery.

My worst con and sometimes second favourite pro: It can get lonely

It’s a healthy habit to talk to one’s self. It’s therapeutic. It gives clarity. It allows you to reflect, question and find clarity. However, everything needs moderation and too much “me time” can take its toll.

Me, myself, I and these guys. Pretty much.

My Favourite Pro: You can wear whatever you want to work

Shirt, tie, jacket and boxers for Skype. Teddy-bear onesie for invoicing. Birthday suit for a 1000-word blog about the benefits of insurance. The only limit is your wardrobe and your conscience. Need I say more?

Okay, speaking of word counts that turned out a lot longer than I expected so I'll wrap it up here.

My name is Kuda. I lift weights. I occasionally do commercial modeling. I post a lot on Instagram and I'm a copywriter.

Have you ever been a freelancer?

What was your experience? Why did you stop? And if you still are, why do you continue?

Comment down below, this is a safe zone.