23 November 2007 - 5:25The Plunge
2007 has been a significant year in my life. I got married, traveled new places, finally kicked a pigeon (ask me about this one if you don’t know), quit a job, and started a new job. And there’s still change yet to happen before the year is done.
When Peter and I were on our honeymoon in St. Croix in June, we were there during their “low” season (i.e., less tourism). Aside from never having to wait for a table at a restaurant and booking same-day snorkeling trips, a big benefit was that the locals genuinely wanted to talk to us and so we got to have some great conversations. One discussion we had was with a woman originally from Boston, who had quit her desk job and come to St. Croix. She said she wasn’t making a fraction of the money she used to, but she was the happiest she had ever been.
This makes sense, and I’ve heard it all my life, but seeing someone putting it into action - realizing their dream - was inspiring. So on our last day in St. Croix, as I reflected on the trip, I made a goal to realize one of my dreams - to work for myself as a designer.
When I returned home I made a plan on what it would take to get there, and what I needed to do to. I created a more substantial portfolio site, finalized my own branding, applied for a fictitious business name, created separate finances, and invested in a powerful computer. I started browsing Craigslist for freelance work and landed some gigs.
Since then, a combination of word of mouth advertising and web site inquiries has built up to 20-30 hours a week of freelance work - work performed in addition to my 40-hour a week job. Still, I hesitated. Peter has been successfully self-employed as a web developer for a few years now and I’ve watched work ebb and flow - he’s gone a few months without seeing a check before. It’s the nature of the industry.
A few weeks ago a client, whom I had found through Craigslist and been doing a bit of web production for off and on, presented me with an opportunity to work for the business in a larger capacity. Still as freelance, but with a stable retainer (consistent agreed-upon payment in return for my availability to perform a number of hours of work each week). I feel like this is what I have been waiting for to realize my goal.
So beginning on Thursday, November 29th, Janet Lackey Design is my job. I’m excited.
| Tags: personal
23 May 2008 - 5:28
Great, but you are no longer freelancer, if the hours you agreed upon are anywhere above 20… it’s just part time job. The whole point of freelance work is to be able to:
- choose the time when you work, including a) time during the day, b) periods (at least weeks) of freedom from work spread throughout the year (you contract probably kills condition b)
- choose the clients you work for so you don’t have to do that stupid work you had to on a full time job again - again, binding yourself to one client may force you to “listen to him”
It looks like you feel very scared of what’s out there for a freelancer, so you just came back to the old model of work as closely as possible to get back to the comfort zone…
23 May 2008 - 5:59
Hi Elsindel,
I appreciate your comment! Legally I was freelancing since this was not employment, taxwise or contractually. Client or myself could sever ties at any moment, which is exactly what ended up happening. In fact this agreement only lasted for a few weeks. I did not update the blog to mention that.
While you’re correct that there was fear initially, this graduation into full time freelancing was what I personally needed to take the plunge. At the time my husband was self employed so I was the only guaranteed paycheck we had.
I am now what I think you would consider a “real freelancer” and I am loving it - I am enjoying the benefits you mentioned and I am also taking on the stuff I don’t enjoy as much - the financial paperwork and working more hours than I used to. But it is all on my terms.
Thanks again - Janet