We’ve heard them all before, but which are true and which are false?
The Rumor: Freelancers don’t earn much and are deadbeat workers.
If your family is anything like mine, you’d understand. When my folks found out I was working online they were like, “Why?” Apparently, I shouldn’t have any difficulty getting employed since my other successful relatives could easily “help you find a decent job”. In the end, they’d patronize you and have you pegged as a bohemian wasting away your potential.
The Truth: Freelancers can be parasites at the beginning of their adventure… and sometimes even right in the middle, when they hit a low period (which can happen every now and then). But we can still earn a lot from what we do, all that’s needed is a multitude of patience and a wealth of willpower.
The Rumor: Freelancers are cheap.
And by cheap I mean inexpensive. The reason most people think we don’t earn much is because there’s no profit sharing with a backing company or management, and as a result, we can go as low as we want.
The Truth: Freelancers who charge low rates don’t often give good results. They generally belong in a certain category: the temporary hobbyists, the fly-by-night operators, the experimenters. Or, they could be talented neophytes who are seriously into the game and looking to get their feet wet. The true professionals – those who produce quality output – don’t come cheap.
The Rumor: Freelancers are unreliable and cannot be trusted.
Some people have this notion that freelancers aren’t dependable and are difficult to keep in contact with, because they hold their own time and are answerable to no one. They think that freelancers don’t produce quality work or meet deadlines because there isn’t a manager around to supervise.
The Truth: On the contrary. Freelancers are essentially businessmen, too, a veritable jack-of-all-trades managing their own enterprise. They advertise their own services, negotiate on their own behalf, do their own bookkeeping and time management, and personally accomplish the job they were contracted for. They understand the demands of a business, and truly sympathize with a client when it comes to work.
The Rumor: Freelancers are anti-social.
Why else would they choose to work at home?
The Truth: Freelancers have more fun than “normal people”, that’s because they have more time to do the things they want to do. They can go shopping, visit a friend, or go sightseeing – in the middle of the day, when everyone else is toiling away at their desks. They are less jaded than their employee counterparts, and are able to appreciate life more.
The Rumor: Freelancers are generally lazy, unkempt creatures.
Freelancing means you don’t have to put on new clothes or brush your teeth. Heck, there’s such a thing as working in your pajamas, right?
The Truth: I can’t speak for all freelancers, but the few I do know personally – myself included – are hardly the stereotype people paint us out to be. And being presentable isn’t simply for show; just because I came around to visit doesn’t mean they dressed up for me. Freelancers are known to be highly creative individuals. Messy surroundings, an un-fresh feeling, and restlessness generally bring malaise which kills that creativity and makes us less productive.
Now, tell me: Are you one of those freelancers who live the truth, or perpetuate the rumor?
1. I earn enough for my needs.
2. I up my fee every time I learn something new.
3. I have very cute pajamas
Very nice post. Freelancers are a very important part of the business environment and creates opportunities for people to earn an income, specially needed in the bad economic times we are experiencing.
Let me guess… you got those pajamas for Christmas!
Seriously, thanks for posting Maryke! Indeed, freelancers contribute a lot to a business; it isn’t just the work they do, but also the ideas they bring in, which are actually a part of who they are.