MiddleMe
In recent years, freelancing has grown into a significant industry. Many people are pulled into the industry because of its promise of work flexibility and the ability to work anywhere. There is also the appeal that people can earn more in freelancing than in regular 9-to-5 jobs.
However, freelancing is not as easy as it sounds. Some people who turned to freelancing would later turn back because of the difficulties they faced along the way. Others would discover that it is a challenging field to be in.
Why exactly are these freelancers giving up on freelancing? Here are some of the reasons why it happens:
Work Is Not Consistent
Contrary to popular belief, freelancing work is not consistent. There will be times when you find yourself with too much work and when there is no work. Because of this, you can never tell if you can afford your expenses at any given time. To counter this, you should try to get more regular clients instead of getting assignments from clients on the go.
There Is No Security In Freelancing
The competition in freelancing is challenging, especially with the number of freelancers competing for a small pool of clients. As a result, it can be hard to score clients, and if you do get one, you are afraid of declining the task even if you are unfamiliar with it. This worry can cause you to break your belief that this career has job security compared to a 9-to-5 job.
Work-Life Balance Is Impossible
Some freelancers discover that having a work-life balance is quite impossible to achieve. Even if you have some free time, you never know when the next client will come in and ask for your portfolio. This really boils down to how disciplined you are in managing your time. For me, I don’t touch my phone or my laptop during family time. Clients can wait for an hour or two for my reply.
Managing Yourself Is Hard
It can also be hard to keep tabs on oneself since no one monitors your work. Because of this, it can be pretty tempting to become lazy even if you have a task you need to complete. You may also end up cramming the task or multitasking. This is not an issue for me because I can sometimes work pretty hard (or rather, terribly hard) without breaks, even when I have a nice, comfy bed beckoning in the background.
No Strong Client Relationships
As a freelancer, you open yourself to a wide variety of clients who each have their demands. Some may even be hard to deal with and withhold payments even if the work is completed. It can be difficult to continue if you are not used to this type of clientele.
It Can Get Lonely
Ah.. this is a killer for me. While some would love freelancing because it frees them from office drama and chaos, one may become very lonely working alone at home or wherever. Some may even miss the chaos if they switch from a 9-to-5 job to freelancing. If you are an extrovert, the isolation can make the career more challenging than it looks. I miss the face-to-face interaction and the human touch sometimes, like the light jokes at the pantry or the gathering at lunchtime.
Taxes Are Complicated
Since you are working independently, you must sort out your taxes. In a regular job, the employer assists with the paperwork, and they do the deductions for their employees. Freelancers have to do it themselves or get an accountant to handle it.
Freelancing is not for everyone. Whether you plan to move to this career or are just beginning, it is best to research and test the waters before you fully commit to it. If you see that you will find it hard to pursue, you may want to reconsider your decision. If you’re going to succeed, plan and do your best. It will take a while before you make a name in this industry, but once you get your groove, it will come in shortly.
If you want to learn about the mistakes you’ve made in freelancing, check out my A to Z guide book to Successful Freelancing.
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Kally
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