Taking a salaried job is still the most common way to earn money and survive in life. However, there are other options. Let’s consider freelancing.

When talking about a freelance job, people often relate to it as when you work in a short-term contract basis for several different companies; yet it may generally refer to a job on which you can build your own empire by becoming your own boss. Indeed, working as a freelancer may help you to be more prolific in life as it provides many advantages. As a self-employed person, you have more freedom to set a plan for a more dedicated job, in any area of work which certainly meets more your expectations and needs, and most importantly you feel passionate about. At the same time, you can choose any work that matches you the most or that you find to be in conjunction with your personality and personal values. Your flexibility and freedom in time and choice allow you to become what you wish for according to your predilection fields, experiences, and skills. You can become a freelance writer, a freelance photograph, a freelance designer, and suchlike.

Nevertheless, freelancing is not for everyone. There are a few misconceptions about it. Most think that freelancing is an easy job that only consists in being self-employed workers who do not need to follow any restrictions nor any commands from anyone. They think that they can do whatever they want without any challenges and continuously get paid. In other words, they assume that they could do it with their eyes shut. Unfortunately it is far from being an easy work, contrary to common beliefs. Freelancing can be a very tough work for beginners. These are some proven hard realities about being a freelancer that people need to know before deciding to take on this path:

1. The dream is not what it seems. As a freelancer, you need to work hard so as to achieve your goals and fulfill your dreams because it will not always be “la vie en rose”. You have to work your fingers to the bone.

2. Underselling oneself is all too easy. Sometimes freelancers face situations that lead them to undersell their talents and capabilities. They may deal with clients who are too demanding in terms of work pay, leading freelance beginners to undervalue their skills.

3. Defining one’s skillset is a big deal. As new freelancers start out, they may struggle with defining their skillset since they compete with many other freelancers who are also trying to show up in the freelance job circle.

4. Burnout is a real danger. A freelancer’s life can be stressful. At some point, freelancers may find themselves at their lowest and darkest times.

These are only a few of the challenges that freelancers must overcome when starting a career where competition is fierce. However, despite struggles and hardships, they just start, and it is up to them to choose to continue or to let it down. However, this does not necessarily mean that everyone will cope with these challenges to live a successful freelancing experience. That is the case of Samà David, a freelance translator in Antananarivo, who shares his experience of work with us. He has been working as a freelancer for two years now. He makes contracts with clients and works for them for a specific time. He keeps planning his work and sticks to the plan he has set. David reveals to have never found specific difficulties on being a freelance translator because he loves his job and always persists on doing the best to excel in it. Now, he plans to offer more services apart from translating.

 Sources: success.com/ bidsketch.com / Envato Tuts+