What Makes a Freelancer’s Life So Desirable?

Success means different things to different people. Today, for many, it means the freedom to be available for the ones that truly matter—regardless of the distance, time, or cost involved. And freelancing gives you just that. No wonder, then, that in recent years, there has been a surge in the number of freelancers. Talented professionals take up a freelancer’s life to test the waters, if and when they decide to quit their job and pursue the former full-time. 

Working a corporate job leaves hardly any mental space to be creative and pursue writing. But many times, that is precisely what inspires you to pen down some words. Even after a tiring day at work, writing becomes a conduit to let the fatigue out. Although day jobs are well-paying and impactful, sometimes, the feeling of not doing enough refuses to leave you. 

It is one thing to draw a handsome salary with a designation to die for, and it is quite another to make money doing what you love. Thanks to social media, people can now make a living without giving up their lives. The presence of multiple freelancing websites has proven to be a catalyst in the emergence of freelancing opportunities.

As reported by Business Today and many other sources, the global freelance market is poised to grow to $455 billion by 2023. Here’s a graphical representation of the fastest-growing freelance markets, based on earnings:

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6 Reasons Why a Freelancer’s Life Is So Desirable 

Of late, more and more people have been making the switch to freelancing. Here are a few reasons why.  

1. Freedom

This is the most important reason why you should contemplate being a freelancer. You have the freedom to choose not only the assignments, but also the duration and time you want to devote to each. Since freelancing implies working for yourself, it is akin to running your own business. The freedom to decide its pace and scalability is in your hands. You are free to choose your priority for the hour, day, or week, and not be forced to align it with a particular organization’s priorities. This is the level of autonomy many aspire to.

2. Flexible work hours 

The freedom to decide your work hours—particularly when you have young kids or aging parents to look after—is what has pushed people to take up freelancing. This is particularly true in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can fulfill all your personal responsibilities and still complete your assignments within the deadline by adjusting your work hours.

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That said, freelancing is not always hunky-dory. Just like any other business, the benefits you reap out of freelancing are directly proportional to the efforts you put in. It is ultimately your call—how you choose to add and retain clients, close new deals, submit the assigned tasks, honor deadlines, and more. The rate at which you work towards scaling is completely up to you. 

3. Location flexibility 

Since freelancing implies being your own boss, it is location-agnostic. The presence of freelancing websites has facilitated it in a big way—you could be living in a remote village in India and submitting assignments for a client in Singapore. You just need a good device and a fast internet connection, and you are good to go. 

4. Uncapped earnings 

Abraham Lincoln’s quote, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax,” can be applied to the freelancing journey too.

Building your strength from assignment to assignment may take time. But when you are getting started, the focus should be more on the work than the earnings.  As you grow as a freelancer, you can expect an incredible payoff. And once you achieve that, you need not wait for anyone to give you a raise. You can then fix your own rates. However, this takes time, as you need to deserve before you desire.  

5. Community building

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There will always be a platform or person that will show you the way forward. Nurture such relations, for some things are more valuable than monetization. Relationship-building will go a long way in this journey, as the freelancing industry is more collaborative than competitive. 

6. Improved skill set

When you sign up for a job, your profile more or less remains the same—unless you switch jobs or get a promotion. Freelancing gives you the opportunity to work for clients across the spectrum, thereby helping you enhance your skill set.  Not every move you make can be monetized, but the rewards are far more fulfilling. The transformation of your passion into a sustainable business—something that will grow with you—is unmatchable.

We certainly are at the cusp of a revolution. Freelancing is going only one way from here—up, up, and above. Once you start freelancing, there is most likely no looking back. There are ample online resources you can make use of to fine-tune your craft. 

You may read stories about how the lack of opportunities in the corporate world led to the growth of freelancers. However, the story that would be intriguing is this: how, despite a successful corporate career, people chose freelancing. 

What happens when doing what you love is your only choice and not one of several options? If there is a dearth of such success stories, perhaps it’s time to write one.

Naghma Rahman has over 13 years of experience in leading banking operations in diverse roles across the organizational hierarchy. Having recently discovered the power of content creation, she aims to create impact through writing fiction as well as non-fiction.