Freelancing is for Everyone — And Yes, That Includes You
Nearly 3 million Canadians (15% of the total workforce) are self-employed. With more people pursuing freelancing as their full-time gig, are you interested in joining in on the fun?
The Myth of the Freelancer Stereotype
More often than not, when we think of a “freelancer” we think of a very particular type of person. Many of us grew up in households where either one or both parents worked a steady 9-5 or shift-based job — so it’s not surprising that our exposure and knowledge of self-employment options is poor at best.
In addition to this, many of our parents and older family members may warn you about the dangers and massively high risks of becoming self-employed.
“Self-employed people are all starving artists!”
“You’re a freelancer now? Say goodbye to having a stable source of income!”
“Are you sure you want to throw away your REAL career for this?”
And while our family and friends may just be trying to look out for us, it is important to take these types of comments with a grain of salt. It’s time we deep dive into what it really means to be a freelancer and explore the truly endless possibilities and opportunities that come with being self-employed.
Why People Love Freelancing
While so many people are focused on the negatives when it comes to self-employment, not a lot of people take the time to consider the real benefits of choosing to work as a freelancer. In my short time as a full-time freelancer, I have quickly realized that the risks and “dangers” of working for myself pale in comparison to the things I have been able to gain. Here are just a couple of the benefits of choosing to work as a freelancer that nobody will tell you:
Gaining freedom and independence — Working for yourself means you take on a lot of extra responsibilities, but it also means you get to do things on your time and on your terms. Gaining the ability to work independently is listed as the number one reason why self-employed Canadians choose to work for themselves.
Being your own boss — Establishing your own schedule is a massive draw for people to explore self-employment options. Being able to work your own hours, at any time of day, is a massive benefit for anyone who already has a busy personal schedule.
Opportunities to work with new clients from around the world — One benefit I didn’t realize until I started working as a freelancer. I’ve been able to work with amazing clients from places like the United States, Australia, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and more, all because I decided to start working independently.
Flexibility to change it up — If you’re feeling stuck in a rut at your current job, freelancing can offer you great job flexibility. With room to explore, you can build on your base skills while also taking creative risks to explore newer and interesting projects in other spaces.
Doing what you love to do, every day — We all know the terrible cliche, “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.” When it comes to freelancing, this saying does start to ring more true (even though I definitely have worked some days as a freelancer.) Getting the satisfaction of making your own money from your own work has helped me feel very fulfilled and satisfied with myself and my skills.
Freelancing is for Everyone
If reading this article has got you daydreaming about starting to freelance yourself, I would love to help you get started! I strongly believe that everyone has unique skills, assets, and areas of expertise that people will pay good money for — you just need to know how to get the ball rolling.
As a registered nurse working a full-time job just over a year ago, I would have never believed what I would be able to achieve today as a self-employed worker. If you want to learn how to use your already existing skills to create a successful freelancing part-time to a full-time career, I have got the resources to help.
Leave me a comment or connect with me on Instagram — I would love to chat with you about what the wondrous world of freelancing could have in store for you!