anatomy of a freelancer

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Anatomy of a Freelancer Reflections on the last ten years of freelancing... t: @al_the_x j: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

Post on 18-Oct-2014

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I've been a freelance developer for almost 10 years now, and I regularly get asked what it takes to be a successful freelancer. Let me share with you my observations about Freelancers, Moonlighters, and Nine-to-Fivers, and the pros and cons of each lifestyle.

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Page 1: Anatomy of a Freelancer

Anatomy of a FreelancerReflections on the last ten years of freelancing...

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

Page 2: Anatomy of a Freelancer

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

Who is this guy?• David Rogers (@al_the_x)

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: orlandophp.org/

• Github: github.com/al-the-x/

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/althex/

http://j.mp/1bw5sy4 https://joind.in/10675

http://anatomy-of-a-freelancer.com

Page 3: Anatomy of a Freelancer

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

Disclaimer• I don't exclusively advocate freelancing over any or all

other means of employment. • Freelancing is hard and isn't for everyone; I'm not

selling you anything, just observing. • I am not an expert; I've just been freelancing successfully

for most of my career. • Caveat Emptor: I may define "success" differently than

you do, YMMV. • Feedback is appreciated, audience participation more so.

Page 4: Anatomy of a Freelancer

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

Defining “Success”• Details vary for each person.

• Measured by longevity, sustainability, and consistency.

• Incorrectly measured by financial gain, hourly rate, or utilization.

• Produces a sense of satisfaction, belonging, and purpose.

• May be contagious.

Page 5: Anatomy of a Freelancer

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

Freelancer Nine-to-fiver Moonlighter

Meet the Archetypes

Page 6: Anatomy of a Freelancer

The Freelancer Laborem Solus

• Too many hats. • Notably independent: may have

difficulty as team player. • Obsessed with efficiency and

efficiency-boosting techniques and gadgets.

• Bad with requisition processes. • May appear inconsistent or less

committed; moves on quickly. • Understands strategic business

concerns better than other employee types.

t: @al_the_xt: @al_the_x

Page 7: Anatomy of a Freelancer

Pros and Cons The Freelancer Lifestyle•Freedom of choice in: • What clients / projects to

work on and when. • When NOT to work on a

project or with a client. • What technologies and

tools to use and when. • What equipment is

necessary (or desirable). • What to charge for

services and deliverables. • Assigned rights.

• Personal responsibility for: • Finding work. • Negotiating contract and

payment terms. • Delivering estimates and

invoices and verifying payments.

• Scheduling project deliverables / deadlines.

• Ensuring the work is completed and approved.

• Running a business.

w: http://j.mp/1bw5sy4 t: @al_the_x

Page 8: Anatomy of a Freelancer

The Nine-to-fiver Laborem Consistentem

• Highly values the stability of consistent and predictable work from a larger organization.

• Appears dedicated, focused; fully invested in “the day job”.

• Good at following policies and navigating office politics.

• Better at separating the workplace from home life.

• Can be uninterested in discussing work or work-related problems outside of work.

Page 9: Anatomy of a Freelancer

• Illusion of job security through consistent pay and benefits.

• Can lead to potentially misplaced or unfair obligations (overtime).

• Within the organization, compensation is always capped and promotion may be restricted.

• Everything is a request; limited individual empowerment; aka politics and bureaucracy.

Pros and Cons The Nine-to-fiver Lifestyle• Limited responsibility

for anything that isn't in the job description.

• Recognizes the value of division of labor and aggregation of benefits.

• Predictable cash flow makes personal budgeting easier, leaves room for disposable income.

• Draws clear lines between work and personal time; ensures plenty of both.

t: @al_the_xw: http://j.mp/1bw5sy4

Page 10: Anatomy of a Freelancer

The Moonlighter Laborem Continuus

• Usually distracted and overly tired due to alter-ego double life.

• May rely on chemical assistance or augmentation for performance.

• Prone to repetitive burnout cycles or recuperative sabbaticals.

• Always chasing or frantically completing the next side-project.

t: @al_the_x

Page 11: Anatomy of a Freelancer

• The apparent stability of a day job with some of the freedom of freelancing.

• Much more attainable transition to full-time freelancing than “all-in” approach.

• Supplemental income is better than payroll.

• More interesting and attractive work than the daily grind.

• Reputation builder!

Pros and Cons The Moonlighter Lifestyle• All the responsibility of

freelancing and all the obligation of a day job.

• Difficult to sustain due to conflicting demands.

• Difficult to excel in either position due to division of attention.

• Leaves little time for recreation, education, self-improvement, or family.

• Difficult to exit cleanly due to burnout, reputation, and commitments.

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

Page 12: Anatomy of a Freelancer

Success and FailureKnow what you're good at.

t: @al_the_xw: http://j.mp/1bw5sy4

Page 13: Anatomy of a Freelancer

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

What am I doing wrong?• Aspiring Freelancers often "fail" because they: • Price themselves too low... or too high for their value. • Don't manage relationships well. • Waste time on unproductive activities. • Spend all their time working. • May be ill-suited to be Freelancers. !

Freelancing is about running a business that sells who you are, what you can do, who you know, and what you can learn. You must be a salesperson.

Not a bad thing.

Page 14: Anatomy of a Freelancer

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

Old Fashioned Marketing• Print and carry (up-to-date) business cards. • Go places. Meet people. Learn about them. • Make friends and be friendly. • Make connections and connect others. • Help people that need help. !

Attend (and speak at) professional groups, social gatherings, and (un)conferences. Start communities and conversations (not controversies); don't wait for permission.

t: @al_the_xw: http://j.mp/1bw5sy4

Page 15: Anatomy of a Freelancer

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

You can take this job...• Nine-to-fivers often consider freelancing (or

moonlighting) because they: • Aren't making as much money as they need or are currently

spending; freelancing won’t help. • Are frustrated with the process, conditions, expectations,

or quality of work at their job. • Want more freedom or mobility than what is currently

available at their job.

DON'T ABANDON HOPE!

Page 16: Anatomy of a Freelancer

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

I only do this because...• Beware the trap of moonlighting:

• Getting less than 8 hours of sleep is detrimental to learning and productivity.

• Contextual switching and mental fatigue make for less productive time.

• Stealing time from your day-job is still stealing... and can get you fired.

• Without a planned escape route, it can consume your life... indefinitely.

Page 17: Anatomy of a Freelancer

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYV

So which one are you?

Freelancer Nine-to-fiver Moonlighter

Page 18: Anatomy of a Freelancer

t: @al_the_xj: http://j.mp/1bwipYVDavid Rogers (@al_the_x)

[email protected] • orlandophp.org • github.com/al-the-x • linkedin.com/in/althex

http://anatomy-of-a-freelancer.com