Your client’s perception is coloured by how seriously you take your business. Are you the type of freelancer who effortlessly works on your laptop anywhere you please, like this fashionably business casual 20-something man who can afford an apartment with trendy mid-century chairs and too good a view? Is this what your clients think you do? Photo by Austin Distel Not all freelancers are equal. It’s a generic label that can mean a wide array of relationships to work. We’ve chosen to run our own indie businesses for different reasons. Or it hasn’t been a choice at all — maybe you’ve been thrust into this lifestyle by accident. As a result, we all have different levels of commitment to our businesses, and different feelings towards the purpose and longevity of our freelance careers. When you say you’re a freelancer , do your clients think that means a casual digital nomad or local full-time pro? Do they envision someone doing gigs as a stop-gap measure while between jobs, or someone who’s committed for the long haul to build lasting relationships? Do you even have a clue how your business is perceived? Look your career in the mirror, and see which one of these freelance types best describes you… Full-time permanent pro freelancer You’re a freelancer by choice. You’ve built a reputable business and sustainable career from it. You do this full-time and don’t intend to ever be “employed” again. Hence you take your business seriously and operate with extreme professionalism and commitment. You have to, because you and your family depend on this as your primary source of income. Your business becomes steady and secure . Your clients become long-term partners . You’re a freelancer by accident. You were made redundant or quit your soul-crushing job and decided to give it a whirl because it was taking too long to land your next opportunity. You may even continue to contract for the employer you just left. You don’t consider freelancing a career — it’s just a stop-gap measure in between “real” jobs. (Unless by accident you fall in love with it and realise it’s better than what you thought you were looking for). Part-time side hustle freelancer Your day-job is alright, but it doesn’t make enough money or isn’t creatively satisfying. You start freelancing on the side to earn extra cash or learn new skills. One day you might build up that freelance business big enough to jump ship and make it full-time, or it may forever remain a side-gig. You can afford to start slow and experiment with freelancing because you’re not reliant on it as your main source of income. Digital nomad freelancer You love travel more than your work. Travel is your career. Your freelance business is just a means by which you afford your nomadic lifestyle. You work when you need to, wherever you are, to earn enough money for your next adventure. Remote freelancing means freedom to be untethered to anywhere. Casual gigster, not a […]
