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It’s Episode 11 and our book this time around is My So-Called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman. We even have Michelle with us briefly in this episode to answer a few of our questions for her about being a seasoned freelancer. You can get info on Michelle’s other book and all of her online writings at her website Anti9to5Guide.com
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A lot of it is just a matter of semantics. The word “freelance” WITHIN the community is just the most commonly word used and i think everyone understands is a just being someone who does not have 1 full-time employeer but either runs their own business OR works as a free-agent for a collection of agnecies.
Now, OUTSIDE of the online design/dev community — (ie, with clients, friends, family, acquaintances, etc.) I also say “I work for myself” or “I run a one-woman design studio” because many people perceive the word “Freelance” to mean more that you don’t really HAVE a job but are sort of floating around from place to place uncommitted.. (or that you just dont want to say yr unemployed!) I however.. AM employed by just one business.. and that’s CMD+Shift Design — so for me … yea, i prefer “business owner” status.
Not to ignite another debate, but how do we define “freelance” anyway? I’ve struggled to transition away from the hired gun/temporary employee/contractor who works on-site for a variety of clients to a one-man agency/solopreneur who works on my own projects from home. In both cases you’d be called a “freelancer.”
I prefer to use the term “Independent Designer” to describe the self-employed nature of our work. It’s a subtle change, but it helps when meeting people to say “I work for myself” rather than “I’m a freelancer.” Somehow, they’re more likely to pick my brain — and later to hire me — if I’m independent, rather than a freelancer. Perhaps they view freelancers are mavericks who are selfish and unreliable. Who knows.
Anyways, I agree with your views that the toughest part of self-employment and self-direction is staying on track. Finding “the zone” is often difficult, and there are entire days — even entire weeks — where I just can’t find my own productivity. The result is that I’m in this continual state of quasi-productivity, including late nights, weekends, and during meals. But as you say, when there’s a hard deadline or rush, I find a way to motivate myself.