Characteristics of Successful Freelancers
My daughter likes the idea of dogs more than she actually likes the reality of them, sort of like me and home ownership. So we both enjoy these things safely at a distance. “What a cute house!” I say as I walk on by. “What a cute dog!” she says as she walks on by.
A lot of people think they would like freelancing (No boss! Work from the beach! Set your own hours!) but wouldn’t do well with the reality.
How Do You Know if Freelancing Is for You?
The key is to know yourself before you take a leap. Here are some characteristics most successful freelancers share:
- They’re not afraid of risk (some caution is helpful; too much makes freelancing a misery)
- They’re self-starters – they don’t procrastinate (at least, not too much)
- They can organize their own work – they don’t need someone to set their priorities for them
- They’re okay with ambiguity – there’s always more work they could do, responses they’re waiting on, clients they haven’t landed yet
- They have an in-demand skillset
- They don’t take “no” personally
If that sounds a bit like you, then you might enjoy freelancing. If it doesn’t sound like you at all, it might be time for a reality check.
