Dangers of Freelancing — How to Survive.
If you work remotely for a company or work as a freelancer on Upwork, Fiverr, BeGig, or other intermediary freelance platforms, come closer. Let me tell you something. Especially if you are a full-time freelancer like me, the risk is higher, but don’t worry, I come bearing solutions.
Danger 1: Not Getting Projects
In April. I quit my 9–5 full-time job for freelancing, and my biggest fear is uncertainty—what if I don’t get the next project? How do I pay my monthly bills and rent? How do I fuel my car, and fund my family and my goals? How do I pay for courses and subscriptions? I do, of course, have my fears, but they have never materialized because I always meet up with my bills and savings.
Solution:
- Build long-term client relationships:
Every top freelancer understands that a long-term relationship with a client is paramount. If you are currently struggling to get your first client, keep learning and improving your profile, samples, and proposals, and you will eventually get that first client. You don’t need a million clients to earn steadily as a freelancer. My first-ever client on Upwork paid me $100. I offered to do the next two projects for 75%. I am 100% sure of my excellent delivery. I persuaded that client from being a once-off client to becoming a long-term client. She referred me to another client, who referred me to over four other clients within a year's span. That chain of referrals never stopped for me. Yes, I send out proposals and get other jobs on Upwork and other platforms.
2. Invest:
One of the most important things I learned at university is diversification. Make sure you have multiple sources of income. I diversify in several forms of investment, including stocks, cryptocurrency, and advertising my local company, among other things. I am sustained on rare occasions when I do not receive new projects.
3. Have other side hustles:
Yes, I am a top-rated plus on Upwork, but I don’t rely on Upwork only. I make money on Fiverr and other platforms like Capterra too. I get local clients within my country and Speaking Pen International Concept. You need to spread your tentacles. Never entrust your family’s next meal to a single source of income.
Danger 2: Physical Inactivity
Freelancers and Remote Workers are prone to have an inactive lifestyle. If you are like me, a full-time freelancer, I am glued to my laptop screen for 24 hours a day! The few times I go out, maybe to get food, I drive. Inactive lifestyle results in metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart diseases, increased feelings of depression and the one I personally dread more than the deadlier, pot belly!
Solution:
1. Eat healthily, we freelancers snack a lot!
2. Ensure you work out daily. You can get a free home workout app. You can buy exercise equipment like a skipping rope and a tummy trimmer. These are so cheap. In my case, I also bought a pair of dumbbells, and I don’t drive if it’s a very short distance, walk. Don’t stay glued to your laptop forever, go on a 5–10-minute break every 1–2 hours.
3. Get an ergonomic chair, back pain taught me this!
4. Protect your eyes. Your eyes are always glued to your system’s screen for long hours. Get UV glasses.
Danger 3: Social Disconnection
Your social connections with others around you are prone to negative disruption. For instance, if you use the ‘Nightwolf Strategy’ as a freelancer, you are awake when your neighbours are asleep and asleep when they are awake. You are likely to lose track of whether today is Monday or Saturday. You find yourself chasing multiple deadlines. If you are not deliberate, you will lose connections with family, friends, and sometimes pen pals.
Solution:
1. Set a reminder to call family and friends. Freelancing gives you freedom, and allocate your time. Sunday afternoon is my scheduled day and time to check on family and friends.
2. Join associations, professional bodies, and religious bodies. Be active in one or two. Be intentional about this.
Thanks for reading!
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