365 days of being a freelancer, 365 of being me - what have I learnt? Maybe it is too early to say but here are some gems I have picked up on the way.
(1) Freelancers do need an alarm clock
Someone this year asked me whether I still had an alarm clock!! Unfortunately yes freelancers do need an alarm clock because a day can go just as quickly out of a 9-5 routine, though you can snooze for longer, you can work in your pyjamas and you can watch a lot of Pointless. Then again, who doesn’t like Zander and Richard!!!
(2) Have professional crushes
I wish I could claim this as my own but I was recently in a room of creatively brilliant people and this phase came up in conversation and it is true. Business is about relationships and number of hours you spend with work colleagues, there has to be a professional spark between you. And it isn’t about working with people who think like you, talk like you. It is about being able to respect each other and constructively challenge each other to further advance what you are offering clients. There will always be difficult working times, but when you hit harder times, surround yourself with the people who will be working late with you as well as drinking the champagne with you when success is being celebrated.
(3) Dreams of a clutter free office
No matter how many times you reorganise a room, if you have too much stuff moving furniture around doesn’t change the fact you have too much stuff. My office is a box room off the living room of our flat, it is packed with my interests and my history - some of which needs to live in a black bag.
(4) Remember your own self worth
I am incredibly lucky to have Chris who supports me every day of my life. During the first three months, he supported us financially as I wasn’t earning any money. When I did start earning money again; it was an incredible confidence boost because someone puts their trust into you to help them with their business.
(5) Never slam doors
This sounds like something your dad would say, but this is one of the best tips I could give anyone for their career. No matter how difficult work gets or how much it gets you down; always try to leave a place with a smile on your face and your dignity. This big professional world we work in is very small place and you must always leave with a possible return route. It comes back to point 2, not every situation works out but don’t let one bad situation overcast possibilities in the future. It is okay to learn from the past; it is not okay to let the past control your future.
(6) Always check the date filter
How to get you blood racing on a Monday morning, by checking a campaign’s data and panicking only to realise your date filter is wrong? It’s okay to increase your heart beat but there are better/more fun ways of doing it.
(7) Planning needs to be your best friend.
It is fun to float like a butterfly! However, I have realised being carefree needs to be planned; or else you lose time and you find that it is October when your head is in June. Planning gives you control to dance freely in the world.
(8) Be brave
How do you know you can’t do something if you never tried? Reach for the moon and if you don’t quite get there; you are still surrounded by stars.
(9) Slow down and switch off
It is okay to be a tortoise sometimes and take time to appreciate the here and now. Life moves so quickly and one of the hardest things to do is to switch off from the emails, social media and the world around us. Don't tell anyone but it is okay to switch off and recharge.
(10) Be thankful for every day
In some respects this has been a very sad year personally as a number of people have entered heaven (some expected/some not) and I know one thing that I didn't want goodbye to any of them. There are also people who I love battling illness and when you watch people suffering, you realise that you have to make life brilliant today because no one knows what is going to hit you tomorrow,
Life is the most precious gift we will ever get and you have to make the most of it every single day because there are no re-runs.
Freelance life -
1% complete,
99% of my time is filled with excitement; opportunity; laughter and happiness.
No regrets.
