Freelancing Angst: When The Work Never Ends!

Far be it for me to say that someone is working too hard, but when I read an article this week in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) detailing the endless work week that some freelancers are experiencing, I immediately thanked God that I wasn’t in their shoes. In, “For the Self-Employed, It’s an Endless Workweek,” the WSJ showcased an emerging trend among some freelancers who fearing the current job market, they cancel or shorten vacations; leave home fully connected with laptop, blackberry or cell phone nearby; or embrace some other behavior that leaves everyone else miserable and themselves tired.

I Work All Night I Work All Day…

Life can be like a ball and chain if you never get a break. But for some freelancers, work is a never ending quest as they worry about getting the next gig and paying their bills.

I’m not surprised that the trend to work all of the time has been emerging. After all, with work hard to come by and with more freelancers then ever to count among the competition, any delay getting back to a potential customer could mean lost business. Perhaps forever. People know that if you’re not available someone else is, especially if they’re looking to use you to work on a one-off project such as writing a press release, updating web content or helping them with a time sensitive marketing campaign.

But I have to say that if I worked as hard as some of these people do without taking a break, then something has to give. And that “give” would likely come in the form of harming my health; neglecting my wife and children; or simply failing to deliver my best work because I’m tired all of the time.

…To Pay The Bills I Have To Pay…

Last month, my family and I packed our stuff up and headed from our home in North Carolina to see family in New Jersey where we hail from. We left on a Thursday and returned on a Tuesday, a short trip but long enough for us to see just about everyone, including some relatives we hadn’t seen since our last trip back in 2006. Yes, I brought my laptop along and I had my cell phone on, but we still managed to have a good time as I limited my “work” to checking my email once in the morning and again in the evening.

Thankfully, there were no fires to put out and, even though I didn’t tell most of my current clients that I was going away, the one query I had was able to put off until the day after we returned. There is no way that I would have canceled the trip – I needed a break personally and our family needed to get away together. I returned refreshed and ready to tackle the world and as for my immediate family they were thrilled to reconnect with aunts, uncles and cousins they hadn’t seen in some time.

…Ain’t It Sad!

I’m of the mind that some work that can’t wait is not worth doing in the first place. I suppose that this is easy for me to say when my workload is heavy, as it has been throughout the year, but there comes a point when a few days of uninterrupted break is not only beneficial but necessary if you are to recharge your batteries and connect with family and friends without being permanently tethered to your work.

So, how about you? Have you been able to take a break yet this summer? If so, did you take a “working break” or did you manage to disconnect from your computer and connect with those whom you love?

Photo Credit: Jeff Prieb

Song Credit: Abba — Money! Money! Money!

Launching Your Own Business? Consider These Steps First!

Job loss continues to climb, despite the best efforts of politicians to curb the problem. Some analysts expect that unemployment will top 10% by the end of the year, a rate not seen since the early 1980s.

Unlike previous downturns, this one is likely to have long legs to it, especially for mid and later career workers who are discovering that their original career path has come to a dead end. For these people, they’ll have to retrain whether that means formal schooling or learning a new business.

Birthed Out Of A Recession

Do you have a bright idea to launch a new business? With so many workers rethinking their career plans, carefully cultivating your business plans is a must.

I launched my writing business in November 2002, when the New York City area was going through a downturn. That recession was localized, a direct result of the terrorist attacks of September 2001. Recovery came the following year, but by then I was already immersed in my new venture.

Since then, I’ve tweaked and refined my business, shedding those tasks that were poor money makers (or I was disinterested in) while acquiring new skills and clients. I have to say that I’m happy with what I do, but the work isn’t easy. Good thing I like working sixty hours a week because I can’t imagine myself holding down a job I hate even if that means “only” working forty hours each week.

Different Strokes For Different Folks

People ask me how they should get started with a business, but I know that there isn’t any “one size fits all” plan. However, over the past seven years I’ve picked up enough ideas so that I can confidently share with you what works for me including the following:

Work Your Passion – Never, ever start a business that doesn’t interest you. Why would you want to run a flower shop if you’re more interested in selling model cars? Sure, one job may “pay the bills” but I believe in the long run your passion will pay you more. Besides, if you have to work hard, why not work hard at doing what you love?

Plan Carefully – “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” John Steinbeck said that, I didn’t. But his statement is true. In any case, you still need to craft some sort of business plan outlining your ideas, listing your short term goals and what you need to do to help sustain your business for many years. While initial planning is an absolute necessity, tweaking your plans as you go along is essential.

Stick To A Budget – The “B” word or budget isn’t a favorite of many people, but it will help you survive for the long term. The percentage of business failures is quite high, but it could be much lower if small business operators stuck to a budget, regularly and carefully reviewing their income and expenses.

Smart Networking – Social networking is all the rage, a way to bring people together online. For internet based businesses this is a must, while brick and mortar shops would do better to concentrate on local networking first. Join the Chamber of Commerce, seek assistance from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), find a mentor, take a class, etc. After that, make sure that your online profile is known, joining LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to cultivate a wider network of contacts.

Ask For Help – When you’re immersed in a business, you can get overwhelmed by the many different responsibilities and problems that crop up. Your networking base can be tapped when you need advice or a friend consulted during those times when things seem like they are unraveling. There will be times when you need to give the business side of you a break, while you pursue activities that you enjoy (reading, exercise, lunch with a friend, travel, etc.). You may not be able to take a one or two week vacation just yet, but a few hours off here or there could be all of the refreshing that you need for the moment.

Managing Your Own Business

As I mentioned earlier, there is no “one size fits all” plan for running a small business, even if your business is operating the local franchise of an international food establishment. Guidelines can certainly help, but people, places and circumstances are frequently unique, requiring that you respond accordingly.

Years later I can attest that starting my business was the best step I’ve taken over the three decades that I’ve been working. I’m not likely to ever work full time for anyone ever again, but that is okay for me. I’ve tasted self employment and am perfectly happy to be my own boss — perhaps you would be too.

See Also — So, You Want To Be A Freelancer?