Today, I would like to talk about three more common mistakes that home – based freelance professionals make, and how you can avoid them. Taking on too much work is a common mistake for freelance professionals and for the self – employed in general. It is also a sign of a larger problem – having unrealistic expectations. We all want to make as much money as we can, and we need to earn enough to pay the bills. However, we also have to be honest with ourselves about what we can realistically expect to accomplish in the time that we have available to dedicate to work. When you first start out as a freelancer, you may underestimate how much time it will take to complete projects. As you do more work, you will soon learn how long it takes you to do each type of work that you do. This knowledge will help you bid projects more effectively and it will help you to manage your workload too. To keep your work load (and your expectations) reasonable, each time you get a job write down when you will do the work. This way, when you want to take on more work you will be able to know whether it can fit into your schedule.
When you are just starting out, it is natural to want to take whatever work you can get your hands on. However, not being selective about the type of work you do or who you work for can be problematic. If you fill your schedule with work that you do not enjoy, you will not be as motivated to do your work. Try to find projects that you will enjoy, or at the very least that you will not loathe. Being selective about who you work for is important too. If you bid on a project and then you get a feeling that the client is going to be very difficult to work with or that they are a poor match for you, end the business relationship before it even really begins. You want to develop good relationships with people that appreciate you and the work that you do.
Lastly, try not to become a hermit. Working from home can get kind of lonely sometimes and it is up to you to make sure that you get out into the world from time to time. This applies to both your personal and professional lives. Attend professional development events from time to time, or get together with a similarly employed friend once in a while for lunch. If you’re a stay at home parent, head out to the playground or invite parents of similarly aged children over for a play date. After all, one of the best things about freelance work is that it enables you to create a scheduled filled with more of the things that you enjoy.
Photo by justcola on morguefile.com.