So you think you want to freelance?
If so, congratulations! You’ve taken the important first step in surviving and thriving in the changing, modern work environment. It’s expected that by 2020, in the U.S. specifically, more than 40% of workers will freelance in some way. That’s a trend that’s true across the globe. You getting started now means you’ll be prepared for global shifts in work and earning for years to come AND you’ll have additional tools to combat unfair pay practices, down periods between jobs, and general frustrations in your job.
As you decide to build your freelance career, there are a few things you need to keep in mind…
- Yes, Black people freelance and do it successfully. We aren’t the common face of freelancing, but from content strategists to web developers, to makeup artists, academics, and writers, we’re out here and have been for a long time.
- Yes, it is possible to make a good living. You might even earn more than your current job. It takes some dedication and effort, but you can build a flexible, profitable career that’s aligned with the modern economy, and just as serious as any traditional career (in fact, even most traditional careers, from law, to engineering, to accounting have freelance counterparts.)
- No, it doesn’t happen overnight. Shaping a freelance career is just like developing an employment-based career. It takes time (years, not weeks or months) and it’s a learning process, but if you invest in yourself, focus on a skill and work to find a niche that works for you, you have a really good chance to see some amazing benefits.
You probably have a ton of questions and are wondering what it’s like, so here are some resources to get you going. Before you start though, make sure to sign up for the free newsletter to help you keep your momentum.
Questions Exercise to Get You Started
The First Thing You Should Remember About Racism in the Workplace
A Note on Freelance Skillsets
People Want to Pay You…You Just Have to Know Where to Look
Freelancing Isn’t Just For Writers
Why Aren’t You Selling Your Work?
Getting Past the Fear of Charging for Your Work
5 Things I Had to Say “No” to BEFORE I started Freelancing
You Don’t Have to Get Freelancing Right the First Time (or even the second)
Where’s the Opportunity?: (Upwork’s review of the fastest growing freelance skillsets.)
Freelance Skills You Can Develop On Your Own
What they don’t tell you about life as a freelancer…
Health and Diet: Freelancing Changed My Relationship With Food
