Why I Went Freelance Part 2
Make sure to check out part 1 of this series to learn about my journey to freelance life. Continuing on….
Choice
During my days as a full-timer, I occasionally had to work on projects or tasks that I did not fancy. Sometimes I had to swallow my pride to get the job done just because my boss asked me to.
As a freelancer, I consider myself lucky to now have a lot more choice in terms of the kind of work I take on. I recognize more choice in my work is across:
Clients - I’m no longer locked into working for one type of company. I can now be choosey with the types of companies (and the people who run them) I work with.
Projects - I do the work that I am hired to do and don’t have to worry about the rest.
Marketing Disciplines - As a seasoned digital marketer, I have dabbled in lots of facets of marketing. I am better at and enjoy some disciplines over others. I now get to lean into the skill sets I want to pursue (content creation) versus the ones I can do but don’t necessarily love (new software implementation).
Collaborate with other kickass marketers and creatives
As with many creative professions, it’s important for practitioners to keep their skills sharp and continuously learn. One great way to do this is collaborate with others in your field aka your marketing team.
This was actually one of the fears I had with going freelance - the lack of learning from others. Boy was I wrong!
I joined Arch Collective, a Collective of marketing talent from across the US and a Fractional CMO. I get to collaborate on client projects with executive-level marketers and crazy talented creatives on a daily basis. Working with other marketers and creatives from diverse personal and professional backgrounds helps me stay sharp and uncover new skill sets.
No more meaningless meetings
Ok, this reason may sound a little harsh but it’s true! Any former or current full-time employee can attest to the fact that they’ve sat through some meetings that were not a good use of their time. Am I right?
Sitting through meetings that didn’t pertain to what I was currently working on (at all) or didn’t provide an opportunity to share feedback and collaborate was one of my biggest pet peeves with working full-time. Especially during the time of COVID, people don’t want to be forced to sit in front of their computers for another hour just because it’s a recurring, weekly meeting. As a freelancer, I am only invited to meetings that I need to be a part of.
Time
My fiance is a crazy talented animator. Needless to say, the man works long hours. For the last six years of our relationship I have informed him a handful of times that I believe “I’m just not cut out to work a full-time job.” He never really understood what I meant and you might not either. So let me explain my thinking.
It’s not that I'm afraid of hard work or don’t want to put in the necessary hours to complete a project. I simply think the 40 hour work week is B.S. Why is this structure, which was conceived 100 years ago, still widely adopted across businesses of all kinds? As individuals, we all have different energy levels at different points throughout the day. Some people are more creative in the evenings and task-oriented in the early mornings.
As a freelancer, I have a lot more control over my schedule. I work until the project is done and don’t feel pressure to stick around until 6pm because everyone is still working in the office. I strive to be as efficient as possible. More time = more freedom = more happiness!
Wrapping it up
This year, the world has seen a massive shift across many facets of our daily lives, including how we work. When COVID hit Los Angeles, I initially felt overwhelmed with not only figuring out my next career but also figuring out how I can support others. I took a leap of faith into the freelance world, I trusted my gut and couldn’t be happier.
As a freelance marketer, I experience two clear wins: 1) I get the opportunity to help clients make real impacts in the world and 2) I have grown professionally. I’ve been able to hone in on what I’m best at and refine my offerings. The more I grow professionally, the better-suited I am to serve my clients... it’s all connected!
If you’re the founder of a female-focused brand and you’re looking to grow your business online, feel free to check out my digital marketing services here or you can drop me a line by getting in touch with me here.
