Anatomy of a FreelancerReflections on the last ten years of freelancing...
t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV
t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV
Who is this guy?• David Rogers (@al_the_x)
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: orlandophp.org/
• Github: github.com/al-the-x/
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/althex/
http://j.mp/1bw5sy4 https://joind.in/10675
http://anatomy-of-a-freelancer.com
t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV
Disclaimer• I don't exclusively advocate freelancing over any or all
other means of employment. • Freelancing is hard and isn't for everyone; I'm not
selling you anything, just observing. • I am not an expert; I've just been freelancing successfully
for most of my career. • Caveat Emptor: I may define "success" differently than
you do, YMMV. • Feedback is appreciated, audience participation more so.
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Defining “Success”• Details vary for each person.
• Measured by longevity, sustainability, and consistency.
• Incorrectly measured by financial gain, hourly rate, or utilization.
• Produces a sense of satisfaction, belonging, and purpose.
• May be contagious.
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Freelancer Nine-to-fiver Moonlighter
Meet the Archetypes
The Freelancer Laborem Solus
• Too many hats. • Notably independent: may have
difficulty as team player. • Obsessed with efficiency and
efficiency-boosting techniques and gadgets.
• Bad with requisition processes. • May appear inconsistent or less
committed; moves on quickly. • Understands strategic business
concerns better than other employee types.
t: @al_the_xt: @al_the_x
Pros and Cons The Freelancer Lifestyle•Freedom of choice in: • What clients / projects to
work on and when. • When NOT to work on a
project or with a client. • What technologies and
tools to use and when. • What equipment is
necessary (or desirable). • What to charge for
services and deliverables. • Assigned rights.
• Personal responsibility for: • Finding work. • Negotiating contract and
payment terms. • Delivering estimates and
invoices and verifying payments.
• Scheduling project deliverables / deadlines.
• Ensuring the work is completed and approved.
• Running a business.
w: http://j.mp/1bw5sy4 t: @al_the_x
The Nine-to-fiver Laborem Consistentem
• Highly values the stability of consistent and predictable work from a larger organization.
• Appears dedicated, focused; fully invested in “the day job”.
• Good at following policies and navigating office politics.
• Better at separating the workplace from home life.
• Can be uninterested in discussing work or work-related problems outside of work.
• Illusion of job security through consistent pay and benefits.
• Can lead to potentially misplaced or unfair obligations (overtime).
• Within the organization, compensation is always capped and promotion may be restricted.
• Everything is a request; limited individual empowerment; aka politics and bureaucracy.
Pros and Cons The Nine-to-fiver Lifestyle• Limited responsibility
for anything that isn't in the job description.
• Recognizes the value of division of labor and aggregation of benefits.
• Predictable cash flow makes personal budgeting easier, leaves room for disposable income.
• Draws clear lines between work and personal time; ensures plenty of both.
t: @al_the_xw: http://j.mp/1bw5sy4
The Moonlighter Laborem Continuus
• Usually distracted and overly tired due to alter-ego double life.
• May rely on chemical assistance or augmentation for performance.
• Prone to repetitive burnout cycles or recuperative sabbaticals.
• Always chasing or frantically completing the next side-project.
t: @al_the_x
• The apparent stability of a day job with some of the freedom of freelancing.
• Much more attainable transition to full-time freelancing than “all-in” approach.
• Supplemental income is better than payroll.
• More interesting and attractive work than the daily grind.
• Reputation builder!
Pros and Cons The Moonlighter Lifestyle• All the responsibility of
freelancing and all the obligation of a day job.
• Difficult to sustain due to conflicting demands.
• Difficult to excel in either position due to division of attention.
• Leaves little time for recreation, education, self-improvement, or family.
• Difficult to exit cleanly due to burnout, reputation, and commitments.
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Success and FailureKnow what you're good at.
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What am I doing wrong?• Aspiring Freelancers often "fail" because they: • Price themselves too low... or too high for their value. • Don't manage relationships well. • Waste time on unproductive activities. • Spend all their time working. • May be ill-suited to be Freelancers. !
Freelancing is about running a business that sells who you are, what you can do, who you know, and what you can learn. You must be a salesperson.
Not a bad thing.
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Old Fashioned Marketing• Print and carry (up-to-date) business cards. • Go places. Meet people. Learn about them. • Make friends and be friendly. • Make connections and connect others. • Help people that need help. !
Attend (and speak at) professional groups, social gatherings, and (un)conferences. Start communities and conversations (not controversies); don't wait for permission.
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t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV
You can take this job...• Nine-to-fivers often consider freelancing (or
moonlighting) because they: • Aren't making as much money as they need or are currently
spending; freelancing won’t help. • Are frustrated with the process, conditions, expectations,
or quality of work at their job. • Want more freedom or mobility than what is currently
available at their job.
DON'T ABANDON HOPE!
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I only do this because...• Beware the trap of moonlighting:
• Getting less than 8 hours of sleep is detrimental to learning and productivity.
• Contextual switching and mental fatigue make for less productive time.
• Stealing time from your day-job is still stealing... and can get you fired.
• Without a planned escape route, it can consume your life... indefinitely.
t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV
So which one are you?
Freelancer Nine-to-fiver Moonlighter
t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYVDavid Rogers (@al_the_x)
• [email protected] • orlandophp.org • github.com/al-the-x • linkedin.com/in/althex
http://anatomy-of-a-freelancer.com