Today, we are back with the last installment of the 3 part series of being a freelancer. I hope so far, the articles have inspired you and thus, creating a real sense of what being a freelancer is like.
Opportunities
One thing I truly love about being a freelancer is how many opportunities I get. As I have mentioned that I get opportunities to take a peek of industries that I have never dabbled before. I get to pick the hirer’s brain and thought processes and I always have long Skype conversation with them into the night. Ever since I stepped into the freelancer’s world, I have gained insight to international chain hospitality, travel, international and local bridal, beauty, outsourcing call centers, real estate, recruitment, and FMCG advertising. All these on top of the industries that I already have experienced. Wow!
What I love as well is that most of my clients have stayed in touch even after the project is over, and we became fast friends. Some of them even asked me to let them know if I ever visit their country so they could bring me out for a meal and meet me face-to-face!!
That is not all, being a freelancer allows me to ‘meet’ more people around the globe and I do get business offers from time to time. This is great exposure for me as well for MiddleMe!
So what does this mean for me:
Learning curves like this are far and a few. In the past 6 months that I have been in this trade, I have truly learned a lot. And this somehow couldn’t measure by the effort or time I input in.
The Other Side
There are so much out there in the field. I felt the pressure to continue to learn more in order to add in value to my clients, which is not easy.
Eating a humble pie
Perhaps I am a little too passionate about the work I do, I do contradict with my clients sometimes. However, after I have said my piece if my clients insist on his way, this is his project, his business after all, I will do it in his way in the end. There are also difficult customers that are simply hard to please despite going your way out. There are potential clients who couldn’t make up their mind who would change what they want at the last minute or even after you submit your work.
I also have to learn to manage expectations, learn to manage my accounts, learn to manage my time and manage to swallow my own pride.
So what does this mean for me:
Being a freelancer is like owning your own little business with zero employees. The satisfaction I get from returning clients and compliments are fantastic, some of them even acknowledge my efforts by rewarding me with tips.
The Other Side:
Unlike working for a company, I can’t take sick leave. If I am sick in bed, the laptop follows me in bed. If I have deadlines to rush, I would have to work into wee hours at night in order to submit the required work on time. There would never be promotion and you can never give yourself too high a pay raise otherwise, no one could afford to hire you anymore.
Summarizing
To me, being a freelancer, perhaps might not make anything close to what I was making previously as a manager but it gives me the freedom to do the things I want, like writing for MiddleMe or travel every now and then. The income might not be stable and I worry every time when one project is ending, whether do I get another one but I learned a lot as a freelancer and I love that I mingle with the big boys, the one man gig and even the new business start-ups. It can be extremely lonely working alone at a desk all day, with no one to lunch with or share the latest office gossips but the satisfaction I gained from my clients are way more awesome than a boss giving appraisal to an employee.
Ultimately, don’t quit your job and jump the ship to be a freelancer. Use freelancing as a form of supplementing your income. Unless like me, you are already stay-at-home full-time, then you have nothing to lose to try your hand at freelancing. Who knows you might be a pro at it!
What do you think of the freelancer series? Leave some suggestions of freelancing topics I should cover in my next article and I’ll try to publish it as soon as possible.
Next up, I’m working on articles “Different Types of Freelancing Websites”, “My Startup Journey as a Freelancer” and “How to Sell Yourself Better Online”.
Join MiddleMe at Twitter (MiddleMe_net), FaceBook (MiddleMe.net) and WeChat! Best things in life are meant to be shared, start spreading MiddleMe around, after all, sharing is caring.
MiddleMe 
That’s something nice to know. What I have experienced is being a technical guy I face difficulties in explaining technical challenges with few of non technical customers as some of them are very adamant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, I know how it feels. Hence when comes to technical terms, I always use simple analogy to explain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As a freelancer myself, though not anywhere near your league (!) I thoroughly enjoyed this post. All I can add is, reading your article makes me tired! Don’t wipe yourself out on this job. Take care o’ you!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks!! Haha!! I enjoy myself when writing useful information and sharing with you all here. It’s no chore at all. 🙂
LikeLike
I liked the freelancing series. I think you gave a very balanced account of both the good points, of which there are many, but also the difficulties too.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you. I’ll have many more articles focusing on freelancing upcoming soon! Stay tuned!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve absolutely loves this series!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Millie!! I hope they are helpful to you!!
LikeLike
nice article kally..
LikeLike
Thank you!!
LikeLike
My cousin started her own business a few years ago and she works once in a while at places, where other freelancers also work. Between working you can interact with other people, exchange information & tips, etc.
Maybe an option for you? Kind regards, Patty
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Patty!! That’s a great idea!!! But unfortunately, there are no such places in Malaysia yet. I usually ended up having conversations with my kittens. Lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I apologize deeply…haven’t taken the time (yet) to read where you’re at the moment 😉 Maybe you can start in setting up something simular?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are giving me a lot of ideas for businesses!! Maybe I could try.. Haha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are lucky to have a writer like you Kally,thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!!! Your words made me smile the widest smile. 😁 Big hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Big hugs to you too dear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You wrote it very nice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Essere un libero professionista implica una grande responsabilità, verso se stessi e gli altri. Complimenti.
(Ti seguoi da poco, mi puoi dire di cosa ti interessi? Se credi. grazie).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your compliments. I don’t really understand what seguoi means. 🙂
LikeLike
Ho scritto male, era seguo 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post. I think when you want to live differently you have to pay a price. As freelancers we get freedom to make our schedules, but then have to keep up with client expectations and demands. The pay is bit low and no sick holidays but we pick projects that interest us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good sharing of thoughts. I also like to have control over the projects on how it flows. Clients usually don’t micromanage unlike bosses. Haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great series!! How do you get paid though?
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are a few methods available but the most popular one is through PayPal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great insights shared Kally!
I do appreciate your candor about your freelance experience. I highly recommend visiting Ramit Sethi’s website –http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/– geared towards learning from the client’s point-of-view, personal psychology and your business, freelancing career and other entrepreneurial opportunities. His honest, no-nonsense approach is a worthwhile learning experience. I think it will provide you with great insights as well.
Thanks for visiting my blog. Wishing you epic success in all that you do. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for the referral link! I’ll definitely hopping over to read it right now.
LikeLike
Okay – I read the three excellent articles in the ‘I am a Freelancer’ series, but I’m still left with the question – what do you do to make money Kally?
I’ll read on – hopefully it will become clear. 🙂
LikeLike
That’s a humble piece Kally! It’s really fierce competition out there… I’m on my third trial as a freelancer and finally decided to set my own platform. Until now I’ve got my 1year contract through Facebook! Yippieee…But that’s not enough…At times I think instead of looking for online jobs I should start my own job platforms like Upwork! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Go for it if you believe there’s a need for your own job platforms. Freelancing demands are on the rise as economy slows down. I see that that there are more jobs than freelancers. You just need to know how to find the jobs or let them find you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kally!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person