Comments on: Four Types of Freelancing: Working Full-Time While Freelancing (part 1 of 4) http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/ Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:06:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ryan Gibson http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-222 Ryan Gibson Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:42:35 +0000 http://freelanceshow.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-222 Great post Neil. I have been in a similar predicament since September last year and things have been extremely difficult. You find yourself getting up at 6-7am on a Saturday/Sunday because your mind is on the work. It takes dedication and understanding friends and of course Girlfriend/Wife. Fortunately i have been able to build a position where i have a number of good clients. Unfortunately i then reached the full time work/freelance work threshold and something had to give. Thankfully after approaching my manager and company have agreed to reduce my working hours to four days a week as opposed to full time hours meaning i have a day (will probably be a difficult 10 hour day) to do the majority of my freelance work. The opportunity has provided me with a real chance to combine both my full time job (which offers the security to pay the bills and the social side of things) and my freelance work (which i absolutely love). Furthermore it provides me with a day to really plough through a huge amount of work and ultimately free up weekend time to see friends and spend time with the immediate family without having work on the mind. This is another avenue i would recommend. Sure you will lose 4 days worth of wage in a month but with a relatively successful freelance client base you should be able to facilitate the wage you are losing. Freelancing on the side was a fantastic platform for me to develop my own work however it comes to a stage where something needs to good. Thankfully my work were extremely accomodating with this. Keep up the great inspiring posts. Thanks Ryan Great post Neil. I have been in a similar predicament since September last year and things have been extremely difficult. You find yourself getting up at 6-7am on a Saturday/Sunday because your mind is on the work. It takes dedication and understanding friends and of course Girlfriend/Wife.

Fortunately i have been able to build a position where i have a number of good clients. Unfortunately i then reached the full time work/freelance work threshold and something had to give. Thankfully after approaching my manager and company have agreed to reduce my working hours to four days a week as opposed to full time hours meaning i have a day (will probably be a difficult 10 hour day) to do the majority of my freelance work.

The opportunity has provided me with a real chance to combine both my full time job (which offers the security to pay the bills and the social side of things) and my freelance work (which i absolutely love). Furthermore it provides me with a day to really plough through a huge amount of work and ultimately free up weekend time to see friends and spend time with the immediate family without having work on the mind.

This is another avenue i would recommend. Sure you will lose 4 days worth of wage in a month but with a relatively successful freelance client base you should be able to facilitate the wage you are losing. Freelancing on the side was a fantastic platform for me to develop my own work however it comes to a stage where something needs to good. Thankfully my work were extremely accomodating with this.

Keep up the great inspiring posts.

Thanks

Ryan

]]> By: Four Types of Freelancing: Running a Freelance Business Full-Time (Part 3 of 4) | Freelance Show http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-160 Four Types of Freelancing: Running a Freelance Business Full-Time (Part 3 of 4) | Freelance Show Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:25:46 +0000 http://freelanceshow.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-160 [...] at dif­fer­ent approaches to free­lanc­ing and which one may be best for your sit­u­a­tion: Part 1: Work­ing Full-Time while Free­lanc­ing and Part 2: Work­ing Part-time while [...] […] at dif­fer­ent approaches to free­lanc­ing and which one may be best for your sit­u­a­tion: Part 1: Work­ing Full-Time while Free­lanc­ing and Part 2: Work­ing Part-time while […]

]]> By: Neil Brown http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Neil Brown Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:50:44 +0000 http://freelanceshow.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-121 @Megan That's great that you are now your own boss! Sometimes a layoff or job loss is just what you need to be that push into a successful freelance career. Best wishes! @Megan

That’s great that you are now your own boss! Sometimes a layoff or job loss is just what you need to be that push into a successful freelance career. Best wishes!

]]> By: Megan http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Megan Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:01:54 +0000 http://freelanceshow.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-78 Neil, I only just found your website a few days ago and already have read most of your older posts! This is just what I need for encouragement and confirmation that I am not on my own out here. I just started my own business with that final kick to do so being 3 rounds of layoffs at my full time job. Always wanted to be my own boss and that was just the shock needed to push me! Thanks for providing great insight and basically detailing my life at the moment! A struggle, but so rewarding. Neil, I only just found your website a few days ago and already have read most of your older posts! This is just what I need for encouragement and confirmation that I am not on my own out here. I just started my own business with that final kick to do so being 3 rounds of layoffs at my full time job. Always wanted to be my own boss and that was just the shock needed to push me!

Thanks for providing great insight and basically detailing my life at the moment! A struggle, but so rewarding.

]]> By: Neil Brown http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Neil Brown Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:50:59 +0000 http://freelanceshow.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-36 @Mikerdzign Thanks for the comment. Having a family and mortgage definitely impact things. My wife and I have two young daughters ourselves. I actually had a one-year period where I went into business with a partner several years ago. Things went well for a while but we ultimately went our separate ways when my wife and I were expecting our first child. I ended up going back to work for my former employer for the stability in income during that period. That wasn't the time to start from scratch building a new client base. My priority was my family and being sure I could provide for them. In a way, it was a small setback to me, but in hindsight it was the best thing that could have happened. I really focused on the business of design and knew at some point I was going to take the plunge again, but this time on my own and in complete control of my own destiny. I enjoyed the job and my coworkers and my boss was supportive of my freelancing, so it was the best of both worlds and made things manageable until I was prepared to go for it again! @Mikerdzign
Thanks for the comment. Having a family and mortgage definitely impact things. My wife and I have two young daughters ourselves.

I actually had a one-year period where I went into business with a partner several years ago. Things went well for a while but we ultimately went our separate ways when my wife and I were expecting our first child. I ended up going back to work for my former employer for the stability in income during that period. That wasn’t the time to start from scratch building a new client base. My priority was my family and being sure I could provide for them.

In a way, it was a small setback to me, but in hindsight it was the best thing that could have happened. I really focused on the business of design and knew at some point I was going to take the plunge again, but this time on my own and in complete control of my own destiny. I enjoyed the job and my coworkers and my boss was supportive of my freelancing, so it was the best of both worlds and made things manageable until I was prepared to go for it again!

]]> By: Mikerdzign http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Mikerdzign Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:56:45 +0000 http://freelanceshow.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-35 Yes, I agree with Jenni, you completely got it right on target. I worked my own graphic design business for three years from home before a nice City job came along, doing the same line of design work with steady pay and benefits. As a husband with a mortgage and a father of three I couldn't pass it up, the freelance as you know can be uncertain and paychecks don't come in regularly. I retained the majority of my clients and continue to work freelance on the side, and it is a great help to us, along with all the pros and cons you mentioned, but I think it stabilizes me and my ego as it gives me the pride of my own projects, my own creativity and a little security regarding job cuts in these current economic times. Thanks for the post. Yes, I agree with Jenni, you completely got it right on target. I worked my own graphic design business for three years from home before a nice City job came along, doing the same line of design work with steady pay and benefits. As a husband with a mortgage and a father of three I couldn’t pass it up, the freelance as you know can be uncertain and paychecks don’t come in regularly. I retained the majority of my clients and continue to work freelance on the side, and it is a great help to us, along with all the pros and cons you mentioned, but I think it stabilizes me and my ego as it gives me the pride of my own projects, my own creativity and a little security regarding job cuts in these current economic times. Thanks for the post.

]]> By: Neil Brown http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Neil Brown Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:37:50 +0000 http://freelanceshow.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-32 @Jenni Thanks for the kind words! I think this describes how many (if not most) freelancers began before becoming completely independent. It certainly describes my experience of working FT as a Creative Director while freelancing for several years. It's really best, I believe, to work for a company or agency out of college or just starting out. You really gain so much valuable experience and can sharpen your design skills, build a professional network and learn as much as you can about business before making the leap! @Jenni

Thanks for the kind words! I think this describes how many (if not most) freelancers began before becoming completely independent. It certainly describes my experience of working FT as a Creative Director while freelancing for several years.

It’s really best, I believe, to work for a company or agency out of college or just starting out. You really gain so much valuable experience and can sharpen your design skills, build a professional network and learn as much as you can about business before making the leap!

]]> By: jenni has her head in the clouds http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-31 jenni has her head in the clouds Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:02:42 +0000 http://freelanceshow.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-31 wow you just described my life verbatim, I'm really enjoying your blog so far. It's much different from other blogs about freelancing, much more enjoyable and realistic. wow you just described my life verbatim, I’m really enjoying your blog so far. It’s much different from other blogs about freelancing, much more enjoyable and realistic.

]]> By: Four Types of Freelancing: Working Part-Time While Freelancing (Part 2 of 4) | Freelance Show http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Four Types of Freelancing: Working Part-Time While Freelancing (Part 2 of 4) | Freelance Show Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:57:18 +0000 http://freelanceshow.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-30 [...] dif­fer­ent approaches to free­lanc­ing and which one may be best for your sit­u­a­tion. In part 1 of this series, we dis­cussed work­ing full-time while [...] […] dif­fer­ent approaches to free­lanc­ing and which one may be best for your sit­u­a­tion. In part 1 of this series, we dis­cussed work­ing full-time while […]

]]> By: Neil Brown http://freelanceshow.com/2009/09/four-types-of-freelancing-which-one-is-best-for-you-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Neil Brown Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:42:27 +0000 http://freelanceshow.com/wordpress/?p=34#comment-19 @Tanner I'm a big fan of Gary Vaynerchuk. The passion and excitement that he has in contagious! I'm going to pick up a copy of Crush It! for sure. @Kyle Steed It is hard to manage working FT and freelancing, especially when you start adding classes and spending time with your spouse, etc. I think the work / life balance is one of the most difficult things to manage. I like to look at working FT and freelancing as a way to jump start your solo career. If you can manage the long hours for a period of time and ensure you still take care of your important relationships, then you can build a good client base (with referrals) and make the transition easier than just jumping in cold turkey. It's good to define goals and set a date so you can stay focused and keep the end in sight! @Tanner
I’m a big fan of Gary Vaynerchuk. The passion and excitement that he has in contagious! I’m going to pick up a copy of Crush It! for sure.

@Kyle Steed
It is hard to manage working FT and freelancing, especially when you start adding classes and spending time with your spouse, etc. I think the work / life balance is one of the most difficult things to manage.

I like to look at working FT and freelancing as a way to jump start your solo career. If you can manage the long hours for a period of time and ensure you still take care of your important relationships, then you can build a good client base (with referrals) and make the transition easier than just jumping in cold turkey.

It’s good to define goals and set a date so you can stay focused and keep the end in sight!

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