Freelancing is a modern jungle of uncertainties.
Some of you writers, designers, editors, and marketers have been plugging away part time for years, trying to usher your "side hustle" into the position of "main hustle". Others have recently taken the leap to full time freelancing because of a great gig or a crucial connection. There might be a few of you who are reading this because you're considering freelancing and haven't quite gotten out of the idea phase yet. Then there's me, a freelance picture book illustrator, tapdancing between those worlds for nearly five years. Wherever you land on that spectrum, I'm here to share a bit of what I've learned since I started freelancing, but hopefully in a fresh way that sounds less like LinkedIn and more like National Geographic.
Chatty like a Chihuahua
Yes, being a freelancer means being like a chihuahua. For some of you, this may be the last animal you want to be compared to, but let me reassure you, their natural virtues feel, to me, just like freelancing. Chihuahuas are incredibly vocal. They are the most yippy dogs out there, which brings me to my first point: you have to own up to what you are, and be yippy about it. The first thing most adults ask when meeting a new person is, "What do you do?" Even if you are a three-hour-a-week freelancer, you need to wear that on your sleeve. "What do I do? I'm a writer." You may work at IHOP 35 hours a week to pay bills, but that's not where your heart is (nor is it a good point of conversation - most people ask about work to better understand your passion!). Owning up to your passion does two things: it makes it more real for you, and it is one of the best ways to market yourself. Because of your vocalness, when your acquaintances have a friend who has a friend that needs a caricature artist, you'll be at the top of the list.
Chihuahuas are not only vocal, they are also warm - once you get to know them. Your bark as a freelancer shouldn't always reflect your bite. Why? Because if you are working directly with the client, there is an opportunity to form a strong human relationship with them. A strong relationship will go even further than a reputation of cold professionalism.
Resourceful like a Raven
If you know me, you know it was very difficult for me to not use only birds for this blog. Ravens are incredibly intelligent birds. They have been known to implement tool usage to acquire food, and can count up to the number 7. As a freelancer, you need to be clever. Write your ideas down as soon as they come. Listen to the needs of people - how can your services or products help meet that need in a new or better way? Niches may seem like poison to growth, but in the age of shared interests, it's quite the opposite. Seek out a special client base - they will most likely love what you love. Drilling into a niche can take years, but if you're clever like a raven, it will be rewarding.
Something most people know about ravens is that they will eat practically anything, and some may discount their cleverness because of it. I think it's quite the opposite. A good, resourceful freelancer is humble. They are willing to work with what they have to get to the next meal. Weigh the costs - is what you want to do worth making financial compromises? Some weeks, it may be a feast of french fries, others, a crumb of carrion. As an American, a lot of lifestyle ideals I've been fed throughout my life will have need to take a backseat if I want to continue to use my gifts well to serve others. If you really love what you do, I hope I can encourage you to do the same.
Engaged like an Elephant
My wife and I enjoyed a docuseries about elephants last week, and I learned a lot about the complex social structures elephants have. All bull elephants eventually set off from the herd and go it alone. It's a solitary life from then on, but not an unsociable one. At watering holes, the bull elephants will still engage with other herds, teaching younger elephants and catching up with siblings, aunts, nieces, and nephews.
You guessed it, freelancing can be this way too. I have found that the personal journey of every freelancer, particularly freelance artists, is incredibly different. There are routes and byways we need to meander on our own because of our specific strengths, desires, needs, passions, and connections. To look at another freelancer and compare is like comparing an elephant to a chihuahua. There's so little in similarities from one freelancer to another, that I even questioned writing this blog. But I was reminded of the continual social engagement that elephants partake in, even the lone bulls.
We need to learn from and listen to one another, if not for our development, at least for our health. Humans aren't meant to be solely solitary, even artists. It's because of people that we do our work in the first place, right? However, that doesn't mean that we need to compromise, back out, or lose heart in our work because we see how others are doing it. Hold fast to your vision if you truly believe in it; it will come around to bless others if you do.
Yip! Caw! Yip! Yip! Caw! Brrrrrrmmmmm!
(Translation: Thank you for stopping by and visiting. If you're an artist trying to get your dream project off the ground, check out this other article I wrote. Also, I haven't said this here before, but I am open for new illustration work. You can contact me here to tell me about your project, and I would be more than happy to see if I can lend my services.
Tune in next week to read about the importance of hobbies - especially if you do what you love for work. Until then, safe travels.)
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