| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: As a freelancer, how do you feel most of the time? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| I used to feel stressed | Oct 15, 2010 |
.. but after about 8 years I have established good relationships with clients and now I know how to manage my work.. If I am stressed it is because I want to work more ...
| | | | Robert Forstag 
United States
Local time: 06:45
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Agree with Rebecca, Thayenga, and Amanda... | Oct 15, 2010 |
...that the binary choice is limiting. To me, a certain degree of imbalance is part of being a freelancer. When there is plenty of work, the work can be all-absorbing and leave time for little else. This can even be the case in the absence of tight deadlines, given the fundamental reality that time is money. Thus, it follows that if I complete that $1000 job in two days rather than within the five days provided by an agreed deadline, I will have made more money in less time (and will also have c... See more ...that the binary choice is limiting. To me, a certain degree of imbalance is part of being a freelancer. When there is plenty of work, the work can be all-absorbing and leave time for little else. This can even be the case in the absence of tight deadlines, given the fundamental reality that time is money. Thus, it follows that if I complete that $1000 job in two days rather than within the five days provided by an agreed deadline, I will have made more money in less time (and will also have cleared my schedule to take on more work and earn more income than if I had proceeded at a more relaxed pace).
Given the inevitable slack periods that I know I will eventually face, I therefore feel a certain inherent pressure to take advantage of whatever opportunities I am given, and to do so as efficiently as possible. My guess is that many other freelancers operate the same way.
[Edited at 2010-10-15 17:25 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I agree with Robert | Oct 15, 2010 |
Robert Forstag wrote:
...that the binary choice is limiting. To me, a certain degree of imbalance is part of being a freelancer. When there is plenty of work, the work can be all-absorbing and leave time for little else. This can even be the case in the absence of tight deadlines, given the fundamental reality that time is money. Thus, it follows that if I complete that $1000 job in two days rather than within the five days imposed by an agreed deadline, I will have made more money in less time (and will also have cleared my schedule to take on more work and earn more income than if I had proceeded at a more relaxed pace).
Given the inevitable slack periods that I know I will eventually face, I therefore feel a certain inherent pressure to take advantage of whatever opportunities I am given, and to do so as efficiently as possible. My guess is that many other freelancers operate the same way.
[Edited at 2010-10-15 17:02 GMT]
Nothing to add! This is what freelancing is about.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:45
Spanish to English
+ ...
Usually a bit of both, in turns. I agree totally with Robert-F too.
Basically I am (or like to think of myself as) in command etc... and feel OK about things. Nevertheless, there are times when I do feel stressed and put upon, usually due to outside influences, such as:
- internet failure, frequent in my neck of the woods
- format problems, for example when a document has been formatted ready for printing before they decide to have it translated and it turns out to be u... See more Usually a bit of both, in turns. I agree totally with Robert-F too.
Basically I am (or like to think of myself as) in command etc... and feel OK about things. Nevertheless, there are times when I do feel stressed and put upon, usually due to outside influences, such as:
- internet failure, frequent in my neck of the woods
- format problems, for example when a document has been formatted ready for printing before they decide to have it translated and it turns out to be unwieldy or incompatible with my SW, increasing the processing time
- demanding clients, especially those that require elaborate POs, physically signed paper invoices, credentials etc... ▲ Collapse
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Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 12:45
English to French
+ ...
in my professional world or very seldom only. Stress does exist though, in my private life sphere...
| | | | | It just takes a little excursion... | Oct 15, 2010 |
...in the world of employment now and then to make me realise that I feel in command and self-confident as a freelancer, and how much so.
| | | | | Stress junkie | Oct 15, 2010 |
Robert put it very well.
To the extent that I sometimes feel stressed, overworked, and subject to clients' whims, it's because I often choose to, as they say, "make hay while the sun does shine", as well as to be my clients' go-to problem solver when they themselves are faced with insane deadlines and demanding jobs.
Plus, I'm a little bit of a stress junkie.
[Edited at 2010-10-15 18:48 GMT]
| | | | | With Robert and M.E.W. and the rest | Oct 15, 2010 |
 all of you have explained many of the dychotomies of freelancing perfectly!
Have a nice weekend everyone
Rocío
[Edited at 2010-10-15 19:37 GMT]
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| Self sufficient | Oct 16, 2010 |
for sure...and I do have more options and flexibility. There are times when I am at the mercy of deadlines, but so are we all. That's part of the job. I like knowing that after an intense period of work or having to work a weekend, I can take monday off when everyone else is at the office! I'm very satisfied.
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