First name / Can you believe it — I've been freelancing for a whole year!
October 19, 2020 was my first full day of freelancing. I worked part of the day for a whitelabel content agency that paid me considerably less than advertised (a story for another time), and part of the day for the agency where I had previously worked full-time.One year later, I'm splitting my day between my excellent daily content gig at DEV, and executing some custom social strategy for an artist client who has become a friend (hi Katie! 👋🏻😊). Tomorrow, I have a digital strategy session with a kind-of-a-big-deal local business, and a planning meeting with another client for an Instagram story takeover by their staff. Next week, I'm hosting some virtual workshops to give small business owners the tools to apply my approach to their own marketing. I've learned so, so much over the past year. Too much to distill into a single newsletter! But the biggest lesson I'm taking with me in to year 2 of independent work is this: I'm a freelancer, not a business owner. |
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I've definitely used both to describe myself over the past year! The title "business owner" just has this alluring, professional sheen to it. In the eyes of the government, I'm a sole proprietor. But in my work, in my working relationships, and according to my values, I'm a freelancer. Here's how I know: |
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⭐ I don't have any interest in scaling up or hiring full-time employees, because I don't want to be the gatekeeper to anyone else's ability to earn income. I'm not a CEO, and I don't aspire to be one, ever (although I do love to jokingly rave/complain about "my boss," meaning...myself). |
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⭐ I'm an independent worker, but I'm also an interdependent worker. I depend on my clients, a variety of online services, my wifi provider, my trusty touchscreen stylus. I depend on word of mouth, on a handful of online communities where rates and referrals are shared. I'm stronger and more capable when I'm part of a grounded network rather than a competitor climbing to the top of the market. |
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⭐ I'm not working to generate wealth or acquire capital. I make a profit, and it all goes right back into me living my life, which includes doing my work. If I take on additional expenses, I take on additional work. I don't keep separate business and personal finances, because I have no intention to grow my business. This also keeps my taxes simple, which I appreciate. |
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I'm hugely privileged to make a living doing the work I do, so it's important to me to take my relationship to "working" seriously and think about it a lot. Consider my impact. Consider my intentions. Make sure it all lines up as closely as possible each time I take another step forward. |
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So, thank you times one million for your support of my work. To the next step forward! 🍻 |
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Did you know — word of mouth is valuable currency 'round these parts. Consider telling a friend about my newsletter? 🗣️ 💌 That's all for now! Talk soon, |
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PS — Love Flodesk? Me too! You can use my affiliate link to get 50% off your subscription. Due to Flodesk ending its Beta phase, this offer is only available until 11/2. For the sake of transparency, I'd like you to know that if you use my link to save yourself $200, Flodesk will give me $19 in return. |
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