Freelance: the freedom to work how, where, and when you want

The life of a freelancer is based on a good dose of freedom and independence. As a freelancer, you have the freedom to choose how, where, and when to work.

The life of a freelancer is based on a good dose of freedom and independence

No fixed hours, no boss, no need to ask for permissions, holidays, leave—in short, no need to follow the rules of a traditional job. A freelancer answers only to themselves and their dreams, desires, and aspirations. In fact, the workday of a freelancer is fluid and changeable, but this does not mean it is uncertain or unstable; rather, it is characterized by flexibility; a freelancer has the freedom to choose which projects to accept and the field in which to work; they can organize their work, appointments, and administrative tasks according to their needs, choosing the best times of the day and how many hours to dedicate to each activity.

Being free to manage your own time

For a freelancer, everything revolves around planning and managing their time according to what suits their lifestyle best; what matters is to complete assignments effectively and satisfactorily. So, if someone prefers to work early in the morning rather than late at night because they are more active and focused, they are totally free to do so. Similarly, a freelancer can choose the place where they carry out their work, whether it is their own apartment, studio, a coworking space, and/or coliving, or a local café. Wherever they feel most productive and efficient. Being a freelancer means never feeling under a magnifying glass, without anyone checking what you do, how, when, or how long: a freelancer is a free and independent worker.

The freedom to organize and manage yourself: pros and cons

Certainly, having the freedom to choose who to collaborate with, which clients to work for, when, where, and how, is a significant and certainly appealing aspect; however, freelancing is not for everyone and is certainly not a lifestyle free of complexities. Being self-employed requires great organizational and entrepreneurial skills. After all, being a freelancer is like running your own business, finding clients, choosing collaborators if needed, and signing contracts. For this reason, it is necessary to be good communicators capable of generating interest in their services and building lasting and stable relationships; it is also essential to be able to select the right clientele, accepting projects compatible with one's capabilities. Additionally, the importance of personal branding should not be forgotten: especially at the beginning of a freelance career, but also during its development, it is crucial to get noticed and make a good impression. In this sense, it is wise to invest some resources in marketing activities aimed at finding clients and collaborators and at the same time making yourself discoverable by them. Balancing the luck of working with full autonomy and freedom is the challenge of managing oneself. This means learning to handle finances, taxes, and invoices. This aspect is as important as being free from rules. Indeed, freelance work is free from rules and constraints regarding hours and location, but it is also a job that does not guarantee a fixed monthly salary. Therefore, it is essential to ensure compensation for the work performed; it is not uncommon to face clients who are late or fail to pay. In such cases, freelancers must be confident in asserting their work and collecting what is owed.

Choosing collaborators and networking: the importance of building relationships

Although freelancing is often seen as solitary remote work, building relationships and networking are integral parts of the job. Having a network of contacts, friends, and collaborations—such as being part of the BeetCommunity | Connected Professionals group—helps build trust around your name and therefore your work, creating a good reputation. This can trigger a virtuous circle of word-of-mouth that can lead to new clients and projects. Juggling different clients and projects is a challenging and stimulating activity, but as said, being multitasking is certainly not simple. For this reason, it is important to choose the right place to work and also recognize the right moments to take a break; resting the mind helps maintain clarity and minimize time lost and distractions. At BeetCommunity, you can find the work environment that suits you best: computer stations with essential software tools, meeting rooms, kitchen, and spaces for break time. Take a look and choose your option. Once you've found the right rhythm and set your routine, freelancing can become a highly rewarding and definitely profitable career.