Why I Freelance.

After an extremely busy and tough week I think it's safe to say I've experienced almost every emotion freelancing. This past week tested my work ethic, time management, creativity, patience and overall passion.

Towards the end of my rollercoaster week I found myself reading more articles with advice for freelancers. Every article reiterated that when times get tough, remember why you became a freelancer. As I sat thinking about this I kept coming back to the same things:

“control and freedom”

To me control was the most important aspect. I decide what type of work I pursue, how my day is structured, my career path, my growth, my success and failure. Anyone that knows me will tell you I hold design close to my heart and take pride in what I'm doing. Having complete control over every aspect of my career allows only me to decide how I grow as a designer and a professional.

The second most important thing was freedom. The ability to take an extra week on vacation, or go to the beach and work there for the week were huge draws for me. Most importantly I wanted creative freedom. Control plays a huge part in this, but being able to choose the exact direction I want to take a project or my design was vital.

So those are the two things I kept coming back to. When I'm working long hours on something that might not pass the client test, or struggling to find work, I have to remember why I got into this. My success and happiness is completely in my hands, and I love that.

~written February 14, 2010