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Freelancing is simultaneously the most terrifying and amazing thing that any human being can do. (Or, in our case, any two.) It's scary, overwhelming, and immensely rewarding.
And when you're starting out, there's a lot of stuff that people THINK you should know. Some of it's golden. Some of it? Less so.
After three years of Syntactical fun, we've been reflecting. Asking ourselves what we wish we'd known on day one. Cutting through the noise: Nobody knows it all. And nobody really needs to. But here are three things that all new freelancers should know as they embark on their unique professional journeys...
1. One good client is worth a thousand bad clients.
When you're scrambling to get started, it's easy to say yes to everyone who comes along. But we've learned, from experience, that that's a bad move.
Find clients you like working for. Clients who respect what you can do. Build positive, collaborative and lasting relationships with like-minded individuals. These will be the kinds of relationships that yield regular work.
And regular work that you enjoy? That's the HOLY GRAIL of freelancing!
2. 95% of what people say you "HAVE TO DO" is subjective.
Hop onto Instagram on a bad day, and you'll positively terrify yourself.
There are a thousand different approaches to what you do, whatever your field or industry. And just because something works for someone else, doesn't mean it'll work for you.
Create your own success story, rather than trying to walk in the footsteps of a story that was never yours.
And remember: Unnecessary over-complication of your brand, workload or creative process is one of the biggest productivity killers of all.
3. Things go wrong ALL the time. It doesn't matter if you're a day, a year or a decade into your career.
We all know that freelancing can be pretty up in the air, right? Work can dry up, clients can cause trouble, websites can crash, and half-finished emails can get sent accidentally.
Unfortunately, none of that changes when you hit a certain experience level.
Fortunately, the way you deal with disasters does change.
The best thing you can do is learn how to weather the storm. Hone your communication skills, manage issues quickly and efficiently, and don't let small snags get to you.
Everyone is learning. Every single day.
Interested in any of our services? Don't hesitate to get in touch.