Inspired by Thursday Bram’s recent post on FreelanceSwitch, which explored next steps in a freelance career, I wanted to broach the topic here. Fellow freelancers, do you see yourself freelancing for the rest of your career? Do you ultimately hope to open a creative agency? Retire to some sunny, exotic locale? Or eventually reenter the work world once the economy rebounds? I’m curious.
Some people assume that freelancing is a temporary thing for me (especially with so many pink slips going around these days). However, I have no intention of going back to an office unless I were making major bank and working for a company I absolutely adore. It would have to be a pretty sweet gig to lure me away from my freelance life. My hope is to continue freelancing, find bigger and better paying clients, and eventually land a book deal. And although it’s kind of anti-feminist in some circles to admit this, motherhood is important to me, too. And the freelance life seems more conducive to that than the alternative. So I’m sticking with freelancing, at least for the foreseeable future.
Leave a comment and let us know about your future plans. Do they include freelancing? Or another form of self-employment?
I actually wrote that post because I've been thinking about what I want quite a bit lately. I love the sort of writing projects I do, but I want to continue to earn more money every year. I definitely wouldn't mind working more on my own projects. So I've set my goals with all that in mind.
I want to create more projects of my own that bring in income, while still taking on awesome clients.
I don't make a living as a writer. But I have worked as a freelancer in the advertising industry for over 17 years.
Some times I work at a "gig" for a few years and become their in-house Producer. Nonetheless, I go in with my freelancer mindset. I'm not an employee, I don't care if I don't have an office. Actually can I work from home? And I enjoy not getting involved in the office politics.
Nonetheless, for the last 4 years I was with one company. It's hard to work as a Producer in multiple companies at the same time. But since January I been looking for the next gig as my assignment was terminated. And it has been extremely difficult.
Not only calling people but changing the mindset of right I'm a freelancer. I forgot. I forgot how much I like setting up my own day and going about it.
Sorry long comment. My ultimate goal is to open a development company or continue freelancing until I do.
Great post!
I totally relate to the future-mom plans. I don't think that's anti-feminist at all. It's smart to plan ahead and find a way to balance family and career. I think there are a lot of women out there who would love to be able to spend more time with family without giving up on their career goals.
Hi! Great question! First let me say that motherhood is by far the most important thing I've ever done and the most meaningful. Second, I share your goals–freelancing for a career and maybe a book "someday." But my main goal, besides nurturing my children, is: I really would like to make a regular living at writing– trying to find better paying assignments. What some of these local markets offer won't pay for my printer cartridges! I'd also really like to feel like I've helped other writers and encouraged them to be professional, which helps professionalize the industry (and maybe help us get better pay?)
Not a clue right now… Used to think I would work my way up into bigger pieces, maybe more lucrative trade magazine work, but I suppose you know where that one went… Sigh.
Thanks for the great post. It is good to take time out and think about long-term goals. I agree that there's nothing wrong with letting motherhood shape your career goals. I became a freelance editor with mainly that in mind–I want to be home when we have kids.
My goal is to make enough money at freelancing to pay for all the extras–vacations, cars, fun new gadgets, etc–while still having time for myself and my family.
I am not sure if I go freelance but I definitely would like to work as an independent professional, hooking up with people with different expertise on project-basis. If that happens in a paid environment great, but probably not, so freelance might be the way. I think ultimately it is about having ownership of our lifestyle/workstyle.
My future goals? Right here in freelancing. I'm hoping to get to a point where the fiction side begins to make money and I can concentrate on that, but for now I'm happy with what I've built.
I love having the independence that freelancing brings, although I am lucky in that I have one very well-paying gig that supports the other lesser-paying ones. My ultimate goal is to be able to travel with my work — and yes, to also have some flexibility when and if I decide to have a family.
And as a card-carrying proud feminist, I don't find this anti-feminist at all.
Feminism is about allowing women to have as many choices as possible and at minimum the same ones as the men in their environments have. And about being able to have control over your own life. For the majority of people, life includes the experience of being a healthy, happy parent with healthy, happy children. The typical 9-to-5 job is structured to maximize profits and efficiency, not the personal fulfillment of individual employees, so you might argue that this is what's anti-feminist. And just sort of anti-people. Even if you're a committed free-market capitalist (which I kind of am), you can't argue with a straight face that it's good for anyone for families to pay huge daycare fees and being away from their kids for the majority of the day — male or female, careerist or non-careerist.
Which brings me back around to your point about why freelancing can be the best possible choice if you want to structure your life around what's important to you, versus what's allowed by your day job.
Working anytime, anywhere is the greatest reward of being a freelancer. To answer your question, my ultimate goal would be: Financial Independence. Be Blessed!
I can't imagine going back to a brick-and-mortar building right now. As someone who is just starting out, I don't know where my life will take me. I at least have to try!