Having a Freelance Job
photo credits: asterisc21 (SXC)
Freelancing has kept me busy once more. I was swamped with a lot of projects, that had kept me from updating this blog.
Now that I have less to do, I am back to being myself once again. I like to share my experience with freelancing so far.
And I have also realized that there is indeed a lot more to freelancing than what I have discovered.
First, I am learning how to handle my finances. It is not always the case when jobs truly come one after another. The freelancer encounters an empty well at times.
Second, I am learning how to find other sources of income. One site is not enough for me, but there are other sites that offer jobs that are suited to my skills. I just have to learn to start from scratch, create and polish my profile and apply to jobs.
Third, I learned to diversify. Being dependent on one site to give you jobs is not enough. There are other means of earning money both actively and passively. For me, having both skills in programming and writing is an advantage for me. Programming has given me high paying jobs and a “more fixed” income. Writing is fast and I can just earn money in less time.
Fourth, I have to how to specialize. Being a specialist rakes in a lot more money with lesser people to contend with.
Fifth, I have learned how to relax. Freelancing is a lot different from 8 to 5 PM job. I cannot always have 100% of my weekends to relax. Occasionally, there are projects that need to be done.
Freelancing is a great option to have as a job, if you get yourself unemployed. It can provide much time flexibility and have time with your loved ones.
This has kept food on my table so far!
Edwin Sanchez
September 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pm #
Hi Gem,
I’ve been reading your posts for some time but this is the first time I commented. I saw you active in odesk forum and it happened that I landed in your own blog. I did freelance before but it’s actually an on and off thing. That’s because of the risks involved and then I am too busy for the day job. I’m actually amazed at how you do freelancing and I can not imagine the discipline involved. What I did not do before is your 2nd and 3rd points above on finding other sources of income and diversifying. I think that’s my failure. Thanks for the lessons you have here and for inspiring others to do this as well. I actually linked your blog in my 1st post to my new blog xploremas.blogspot.com
Thanks, Gem and more power
Gem
September 19th, 2008 at 4:54 pm #
@Edwin Sanchez
Thanks. There are so many part time freelancers on oDesk! Diversification is truly the key!