Did you know that more than 1 in 3 workers, that is, 53 million Americans are working as freelancers contributing 700 billion to the economy? As technology becomes more ubiquitous, it is becoming easier for freelancers to find work in this gig economy.
Are you thinking about going into freelance work as well? It’s an enticing situation to be sure. But before you get too enthusiastic about jumping in, check out some of the things you must know before freelancing shared below.
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Are You Self-Motivated?
The first thing to note is that as a freelancer, you will need to motivate yourself to complete your work. In most cases, there isn’t a boss breathing down your neck, forcing you to finish your tasks on time. If you have a hard time motivating yourself without external compulsion, you might want to rethink the freelancing business.
Are You Okay Spending Lots of Time on Your Own?
Freelancers spend a lot of time on their own doing their work. It can get pretty lonely at times.
Even if you visit a cafe or a coworking space to do your work, it still isn’t the same as going to an office every day, hanging out with colleagues, and having a team to work with. Make sure you get prepared for this from the get-go.
Do You Have a Proper Desk Setup at Home?
You don’t want to spend all your time hunkering down on your couch or armchair to complete your work. Not only is this terrible for your back, but it can also result in depleted motivation and procrastination. If you have a space that you can call your work desk, then you can create a separation between your home life and work life, even if you work from home.
How Do You Feel About Selling Yourself?
Freelancers have to spend some time every week or month selling their talents and skills so they can get new clients. Unless you work for a business that’s given you long-term contract work, you are going to have to learn to sell yourself. If you are uncomfortable doing this, then maybe the gig economy isn’t for you.
Have You Thought About Insurance and Other Protective Measures?
When you work for a well-established organization as an employee, you have health insurance, disability insurance, Worker’s Compensation, and more all set up already. As a freelancer, you have to procure these yourself. Look into getting self employed workmans comp insurance for yourself when you first get started as a freelancer.
Freelance Work Can Be Extremely Rewarding
For a person with the right temperament and skill set, freelance work can be a boon from the heavens. You will wonder why you ever worked as an employee before.
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