The hidden truth behind the phrase “freedom as a freelancer” (hint – you might not like it)
Freelancing is great. It gives you the ability to work your own hours, choose the clients you work for and never have to answer to a boss again.
You’ve heard that all before, right?
Well, what if I told you that the entire phrase “freedom as a freelancer” is complete shit and you’ll never be truly free as a freelancer?
The truth about freelancing
Some people might not like this harsh reality, but the simple fact is this – freelancers have bosses, deadlines, work hours & stress just like 9-5 workers do.
Yes, there are benefits to freelancing, just like there are drawbacks to freelancing, but what I want to debunk in this post is the notion that when you become a freelancer, you become free and independent.
That’s bullshit.
Every client you get is your boss. Once you sign a contract and begin working with them, you’re actually working for them. What they want, what they request, what they ask to be changed – you’re just reacting to their actions.
Want more time off to do your own thing? Freelancers generally work more hours than your average 9-5 worker does. You might get to choose to work in the morning or in the dead of night, but the hours will suck.
Remember that check you got every Friday from your boss? Yeah, those days are gone. Freelancers tend to get paid late by clients – or even worse, not at all – on a regular basis. The feast or famine cycle is real and it does a number on your pay days.
Then there’s the stress you’ll have if you’re unable to continue working your normal schedule.
- Will your current clients become upset?
- Will you still receive leads for new business?
- Will you be able to still pay your rent on time?
These are all legitimate fears when working as a freelancer. Think about it for a second – you’re the whole entire operation in your freelance business. If you don’t work, you don’t get paid.
Does that sound like true freedom?
How do you become truly free?
Supplementing your income and building up your own side hustles is a great way to start the process of becoming truly free.
The amount of work you put into freelancing, you also should be putting into things you can make money off of on your own.
- Designers – Why not release premium design packs like you see for sale on GraphicRiver?
- Writers – Do you have a guide/ebook for sale? If not, why haven’t you wrote one yet?
- Developers – Have you thought about building out website templates for sale?
The goal with these side hustles is to build passive income. This way, even when you’re sleeping the money will still be able to come in.
Digital products that can be downloaded instantly. For instance, I’ve released to guides here on Guerrilla Freelancing (Guerrilla Guide + One Man Army) & both have instant payment + instant download features.
This allows me to earn money from the ebooks over and over again, even when I’m not around.
Remember the post I wrote about business from beyond? If not, read it here. Building a passive income is a great way to ensure that your loved ones can continue being provided for even if you’re no longer alive.
Think about that for a second.
You can earn a living for your family, even if you’re not alive.
Freelancing can be a great way to earn an income on your own, without the need to leave the house or get dressed, but beyond that, you’re not truly free.
We all want freedom, right? Well then I’d suggest brainstorming and starting to build up a side hustle or two that isn’t dependent on clients.
I hope to explore this topic a bit more in future posts, so feel free to comment below if you have any questions or input about the lack of freedom as a freelancer.
