As much as it's upsetting to know that other people are facing the same obstacles as I am at the moment, it is of course comforting too. Misery loves company and all that. I'm halfway through my second year of freelancing and am desperately clinging onto the regular client(s) I still have, living in perpetual fear of something changing on their side. Despite everything, I am feeling so determined not to give up on this. I'm currently throwing myself in literally every direction possible, sowing the seeds wherever I can, in the hopes that something....anything...else will come through. I have (perhaps naive and misguided) hope that the tides will turn soon! Just discovered you through LinkedIn and looking forward to your next post!
As cheesy as it sounds, we are all in this together 💪 I'm also keeping faith and it sounds like you're doing exactly the right things. Self-employment is always going to be seasonal, so sowing those seeds now will no doubt lead to something down the line.
Get out of my head!! I have been thinking about all of these things and you articulated them so well. I've gone through all four "Cs" many times and recently, over the course of the past four days (several times). Thanks for putting what so many of us are thinking and feeling on paper.
As someone who went freelance this year and only started looking for work in March/April, I relate so much to this. It really feels like I’ve chosen the worst year to try freelancing 😅 but like you I have a bit of financial security behind me for a while to allow me to keep going… but not sure how long to give it before I go back to perm!
It's definitely tough out there, but it always takes a while to get going as a freelancer—hang on in there! I'm hoping that things will improve again soon, as being self-employed has so many benefits too.
As much as it's upsetting to know that other people are facing the same obstacles as I am at the moment, it is of course comforting too. Misery loves company and all that. I'm halfway through my second year of freelancing and am desperately clinging onto the regular client(s) I still have, living in perpetual fear of something changing on their side. Despite everything, I am feeling so determined not to give up on this. I'm currently throwing myself in literally every direction possible, sowing the seeds wherever I can, in the hopes that something....anything...else will come through. I have (perhaps naive and misguided) hope that the tides will turn soon! Just discovered you through LinkedIn and looking forward to your next post!
As cheesy as it sounds, we are all in this together 💪 I'm also keeping faith and it sounds like you're doing exactly the right things. Self-employment is always going to be seasonal, so sowing those seeds now will no doubt lead to something down the line.
P.S. Excited to read your Substack too—you had me at Jia Tolentino!
Ahh thank you for subscribing!
We need a bit of cheese right now. And I’m really telling myself it is just a bad season. I don’t think the freelance bubble has burst (yet)!
Get out of my head!! I have been thinking about all of these things and you articulated them so well. I've gone through all four "Cs" many times and recently, over the course of the past four days (several times). Thanks for putting what so many of us are thinking and feeling on paper.
So glad it resonated, Ben!
As someone who went freelance this year and only started looking for work in March/April, I relate so much to this. It really feels like I’ve chosen the worst year to try freelancing 😅 but like you I have a bit of financial security behind me for a while to allow me to keep going… but not sure how long to give it before I go back to perm!
Thanks for writing 😊
It's definitely tough out there, but it always takes a while to get going as a freelancer—hang on in there! I'm hoping that things will improve again soon, as being self-employed has so many benefits too.