The life of a freelancer has a number of “free” things in it. Freedom from offices; freedom from oppressive employers; free time, if you can swing it; and free reign over your own schedule, priorities and ability grow.
And then there are the other “free” things that aren’t so fun, like, say, the free market that doesn’t always swing your way. Or the freedom of every client to need everything at the same time. And when free from an employer, you’re also freewheeling; there’s no boss to demand you stay late, but there’s also no boss to understand when everything is falling through and you might not make the deadline. There’s no one to call in your sick day to, or appeal to when unfair or unreasonable assignments arise. You just have to figure out how to make it happen. And when you can’t, you just have to get over it.
And it’s worth it, right? Because there is no working in pajamas at 11am on Thursday without working in your pajamas at 11pm on Saturday. There’s no taking Tuesday off for your husband’s birthday without having worked all day Sunday. And there’s no setting your own priorities without having to buck up and do everything you signed up for along the way.
Oh, and by the way, I’m taking tomorrow off because it’s my husband’s birthday. Yay for freelancing.
Natalie Burg 