The future of freelancing
Ep. 90: the future of freelancing with Paul Evans
Isn’t it funny being on the other side of “employee culture”?
Most of my real-life friends (not you lovely online lot) are not self-employed. I love hearing about their organisations’ awkward attempts to navigate the Not-So-New Normal.
One friend was telling me about their office’s new IRL Zoom room – a room adapted specifically for calls with remote colleagues, so those working from home don’t feel left out of the in-person action.
It has cameras that pop out on a stalk and turn towards whoever is speaking. Anyone who moves (or “adjusts their trousers” 😳) is immediately put centre stage. Even the window cleaner gets his own square on the screen sometimes, so eager is the facial recognition software to include everyone.
(Meanwhile, the folk working from home have their cameras off.)
I’m not prising open the WFH debate here. It’s just wild to think about how much the workplace has changed.
But what about us?
What do the recent shifts in working culture mean for freelancers?
Whether it’s the rise of remote working, the growth of the gig economy, the abundance of new AI-driven tools – running your own business amidst so much change certainly keeps you own your toes.
Your secret weapon? Your ability to adapt.
What would you say is the one personality trait you need to succeed in self-employment?
I think it’s the ability to cope, and hopefully thrive, in uncertainty.
(A healthy dollop of self-belief goes a long way too.)
You can put plans in place to reduce some of the uncertainty.
Building a solid pipeline of leads means you’re not opening up your inbox wondering when your next client will show up. Paying yourself a monthly salary means you don’t need to panic if your income dips (or indeed, let loose in the Apple store when you have an unusually strong month).
But there will always be surprises. Your market may change. Your competitors may up their game. Your services may need to change.
Are you ready to adapt?
The future of freelancing with Paul Evans
A few weeks back, I spoke to Paul Evans on the 15 Minute Freelancer podcast about what the future of freelancing might look like in the context of all this change.
Paul is the director of Fourth Estate Creative and creator of the Freelance Fellowship platform – and as someone who sits on both sides of the client-service provider table, he’s got a useful perspective on what the changes might mean for freelancers.
ICYMI, our convo covers:
The drivers behind the growth of the freelance economy (plus a few key benefits and pitfalls to watch out for)
The gig economy and workers' rights (and how to advocate for yours)
How to spot knowledge gaps in companies you'd like to work with (and pitch your services to fill them)
How to combine your skills and become a "triple threat"
The power of collaboration between groups of freelancers
How Paul works with freelancers in his own business.
Listen here »
Speaking of change and uncertainty, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Are you shifting the way you position your services this year?
Are you noticing differences in how client teams are operating compared to a year or so ago?
What's working for you right now when it comes to securing and running successful projects?
Press reply and let me know.
Until next time, happy freelancing!
Louise xx