You, Me, & COVID-19
How I’ve Handled Being a New
Freelancer During COVID-19
It has been more than a month since I’ve started my freelance writing–more like marketing but we will get to that later–career and holy shit has this been a ride. My expectations, and wallet, were prepared for the 2-3 months of uncertainty that are commonplace when you are just starting out. Then the COVID-19 pandemic became more of a daily reality than anyone expected.
Many people that I follow in the freelance community spoke openly about gigs being canceled and leads drying up. Companies just don’t have a clear idea of what their pocketbooks will look like in the coming months, and that causes them to spend less freely. Even I had opportunities disappear which, for anyone shifting gears professionally, made me weep over all the money that could have been.
However, this is not a “break-up with freelancing” post! I’ve had a few wins professionally despite the setbacks and have learned a couple of things along the way that I’ll take with me on this journey.
First, I’ve learned to lean on my network. Career strategists give this advice to everyone looking for work, whether you’re a freelancer or not. After my official launch on March 15, I began to look for work everywhere. I scoured websites like Upwork, Guru, and Problogger, peddling my writing samples and a newly designed resume. ~Crickets~
Then I began applying for writing jobs offering contract security. Again, I found myself at a dead end. The only strategy that I’ve found successful was to reach out to my network of friends, family, old coworkers, and classmates, asking if they could use any of my services. I was surprised at the response. I never put much stock into asking people for help but this strategy, so far, has been the only one that works.
Another lesson I’ve learned this early in the game is to know when to pivot. Initially, I only offered writing services. I didn’t feel experienced enough to offer any graphics or branding help, despite having more experience than most in those areas. I was embarrassed to be an amateur.
Despite my initial fears, I’ve found that adding marketing services that are within my skill set has attracted more clients. And to further calm my fears about performing poorly, I’ve decided to use online resources to continue and improve my graphics education. Working while learning makes this newbie feel confident and makes my clients feel confident about what they are paying for.
Lastly, I’m discovering just how important it is to be patient when building my business, regardless of the external pressures (MONEY! BILLS! INDULGENCE!) that come my way. I keep my launch date in mind, not only for anniversary purposes but to remember just how little time has passed since I’ve begun. When I feel the anxiety of impatience rise inside of my chest, I remind myself that March 15 was not that long ago. I also use social media to follow entrepreneurs that I admire who give a fresh, honest perspective on just how long success in self-employment takes.
Working for myself has been no cakewalk. My financial goals look vastly different from when I was working full-time and the pressure of handling all aspects of my business can be daunting. Sometimes I miss the days of being able to sit at my desk and fake work while collecting a paycheck. But I think the type of fulfillment I’m looking for comes at a higher price than most are willing to pay. My dream life costs me a payment of patience, perseverance, and creativity every day and I think that it’s well worth the investment.