3 Life Lessons I've Learned as a Freelancer

It's difficult. It's frustrating. It's scary.

I hear there is a new American Dream. It's no longer the nice car, nice house, sustainable job, and wealthy lifestyle. After a generation impacted by an unexpected pandemic, it shifted the ways Generation Z and those that follow see the term "success." Yes, is no longer the dream our parents had. The COVID-19 pandemic created opportunities we never thought possible, and work that looked a lot different than we ever could imagine. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commission recently described this phenomenon in this light: "Young people have redefined success, and their new definition values experience over possession. The word "experience" may sound like a code word for 'free,' but the change is not necessarily a reaction to underemployment or even a desire to save money."

Soon enough, people started to realize the true value of flexibility and ownership. As a freelancer, I've been able to experience this firsthand. Here are five things I've learned in the last few years of being a freelancer.

1. It's Okay to Say No

Often throughout my freelancing career, I have taken every job that comes my way. In the beginning, that is a smart thing to do, because it gains your experience and adds to your portfolio. 

But, once you were at a point where you have enough work to sustain you for a while, you can start to niche down and become the expert in that realm for your service. That is the only way to start driving revenue because you can raise your rates once you become an expert in that realm. 

For example, if you raise your rates on your clients, and you end up saying no to several of them, the higher paying clients who care more about your work and the quality of it will take advantage of the opportunity to continue working with you.

• Make a List of Weekly Tasks
• Organize By Priority 
• Time block your calendar

2. Trust the Process

The freelancing road can be scary, and can often be daunting. Many freelancers find themselves having a difficult time finding the encouragement to continue and persist through. Always be sure to write down your reasons why you believe in freelancing. Often, those around you, even if your close friends and family, ken express areas of concern or instability. 

But society has been rapidly changing since the beginning of the internet, and I believe that freelancers have a true opportunity to build a sustainable career out of their services, so long as they do it right, they are wise about it, they are dedicated, and they are willing to take the risks and sacrifice. In my mind, it's always worth it in the end. 

Digital marketing and social media are becoming huge assets to large companies, and if you become a problem solver in those realms and spaces, you will become a valuable asset to any company and they will want to hire you.

• Journal about your experience
• Gather with other freelancers to collaborate and share ideas
• Join a freelance site, such as Upwork

3. Perfection Isn't Necessary

I used to think that I should be perfect. I used to think that I was supposed to be perfect. I mean, I know I wasn't a perfect person, but I always thought that if I would just follow all the rules and do everything I'm supposed to, I will have very few problems and life will basically be a breeze.

I was wrong. Very wrong. Actually, I realized that true creative freedom is found in failure. That's the only way we grow. And that had to happen in the face of clients as well. It taught me that not everything in life is going to go how you planned. Sometimes you have to be very flexible and work hard and what you are aiming at. This is the beauty of it all, even if most of the time, it does not seem like it. At all.

It's okay to fall behind because it happens to all of us, but remember to keep pushing along so that you can catch up... Give yourself grace. Something I had to learn from the ground up.