While freelancing and running your own business is the cool thing to do these days, not everyone is cut out for it. In fact, some people would simply panic or just don’t see it as a way to support the way they want to live, both of which are completely okay.
The problem becomes when people don’t know what it actually takes to run a business. It’s one of the most rewarding and freeing things a person can do (and a very smart move for your money over time), but it will require a lot of you. Here are three signs that you may not actually be cut out for freelancing.
You hate risk.
I used to say that I’m pretty risk averse. In some instances this is true. For example, I’m pretty methodical when making financial decisions to the point where my accountant says I’m a bit too controlling sometimes. I also sometimes tend to overanalyze a decision to death.
However, as I grow my freelance business I’ve realized I’m actually pretty okay with risk – otherwise I wouldn’t be a freelancer. In fact, after reading The Upside of Stress, I’ve realized a part of me actually loves risk because it allows me to step up and show up for my life. Needless to say, after reading this book I’ve completely changed the way I see stress, anxiety and risk.
Of course, not everyone falls into this category. Some people have far more peace getting a paycheck every two weeks. If you happen to fall into that category, you may not be cut out for freelancing.
You hate the hustle.
Freelancing requires you to hustle. Hustle to build your brand, hustle to find clients, hustle to get paid and then hustle some more. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not enough to run a cool blog or have a social media following, you actually have to work.
This requires you to not only love what you do but also love the process of building a business. For example, I’m fascinated by how it takes money to make money, how businesses are created out of nothing and how business owners grow over time. I’m not just fascinated by writing, I’m fascinated by the hustle itself.
Hustling is a big part of having a freelance career. If that’s not something you’re comfortable with you may not be cut out for freelancing.
You like things to be straight forward.
There is no such thing as comfort when you freelance or run a business. Every day is a new adventure, decisions need to be made, money sometimes doesn’t come in and nothing is ever black and white.
For some people, like me, this sounds like the adventure of a lifetime. Granted, it’s taken time for me to understand that business is actually extremely flexible and that it’s mostly a gift. I had to work pretty hard to realize that the rules that apply to an employee don’t apply to a business owner.
Truth be told, running a business is a bit like organized chaos.It takes a certain kind of personality to be cut out for freelancing and all that comes with it. If this isn’t something you see yourself being comfortable with, then it’s probably not a good idea for you to freelance.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that different things work for different people depending on the situation. For some, freelancing is the perfect vehicle for experiencing more money and freedom in their lives. For others, it really just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The point is to figure out what works for you.
