Are You a Good Candidate for Freelancing

Are You a Good Candidate for Freelancing

I worked in corporate America for 20 years before deciding to make a career change. It was time to start a new profession as a freelance writer and end the era of working for someone else's gain and attending unnecessary business trips and after-hours events. My hard work would finally pay off, and I'd have the freedom to select my own hours, clientele, and projects. This would be the first time in my life that I got to make all of the decisions, be my own boss, and determine the rules of the game.

Think it sounds great to you as well? You can probably assume that making it as a freelancer wasn't as simple as I had hoped. Instead, it necessitated lengthy periods of restraint, tenacity, and effort. Here are five things to consider if you're thinking of going freelance as a graphic designer, webmaster, writer, or consultant:

Think about the goods and services you want to sell

It's possible that your hobby might become a lucrative career if you're good at manufacturing jewelry, flipping houses, or unearthing rare artifacts. However, before quitting your day job to devote all of your time to, say, creating ant farms or playing full-time online poker, you should calculate your likely earnings.Can you offer the services of a skill, talent, or interest that could be of value to others?

Examine your budget carefully

If you are the main breadwinner in your family, this is a very important step. Is your employment the primary source of financial support for your family? Even if this is the case, you can still go into business for yourself as a freelancer; however, you will need to make preparations to see that your family's requirements are covered during the time it takes you to transition from your current employment to your new enterprise. Not only will you have to pay the bills as they come in, but you'll also need to set aside money for future investments in things like inventory, advertising, marketing, and office supplies. Are you willing to make the required financial sacrifices?

Gather a following

Of course, if you decide to go into business for yourself, you'll want your loved ones to support you.Use their confidence that you can succeed to push yourself even farther. Enlist their assistance in promoting your company by answering phones, distributing mailers, and spreading the word to their social circles. Don't forget to lobby for local backing from like-minded businesses and associations, either. You can usually visit the local chamber of commerce twice before committing to joining. Women's business networks and marketing groups exist in several cities. Do you have people who can help you when you need it? If that's the case, how much effort do you anticipate it taking to establish that network?

Take a hard look at who you are as a person

While every firm has its own unique characteristics, the most successful entrepreneurs share some commonalities. We have people who are original thinkers, pioneers, objective analysts, and communicators, as well as those who are more traditionally labeled as "go-with-the-flow" types. We are well-versed in both the needs of our clientele and the capabilities of our business. Most importantly, we have no qualms about taking bold actions and putting our pride on the line. So, the real question is: are you?

Figure out where you excel and where you need improvement

Each of us has been given both skills and shortcomings through education, experience, and genetics. Understanding one's company's strengths and shortcomings is essential. It might be helpful to acquire a piece of paper and fold it in half, as I have suggested. On one side, jot down your best qualities, such as your interpersonal skills, business acumen, and decision-making prowess. But also include things like "uncomfortable with recruiting and firing" and "mediocre bookkeeping abilities" on your list of shortcomings.

When you've finished both lists, it's a good idea to get some feedback from someone who knows you well (a spouse, close friend, peer, mentor, etc.). Your wife, for instance, may know that even if you don't think you're very good at bookkeeping, you always balance your checkbook to the penny.

After that, give some thought to your best and worst qualities. Embrace your best qualities and use them to your advantage. Your people skills would make you an ideal candidate for a spokesperson role at your organization. Get involved with the layout of the website and other promotional materials if you consider yourself creative. However, if you lack business acumen or despise crunching numbers, you may choose to hire a third party to handle some of the managerial duties. Don't bother taking care of mundane tasks like hiring important personnel or keeping the books. Have you considered hiring experts for the jobs they excel in while delegating the rest to focus on your areas of expertise?

You should be able to make an informed conclusion about whether or not starting your own freelance business is the appropriate move after giving serious consideration to the aforementioned five factors. I hope you find great success as a freelancer for a very long time.