Tag: Freelancers

Vital Components of Thriving in the Gig Economy

The Vital Components of Thriving in the Gig Economy

Freelancers, independent consultants and contractors, side hustlers, and part-timers all form a part of the global phenomenon known as the Gig economy. With the coronavirus disrupting the employment world in 2020, there has been an increase in the number of people joining the Gig economy in 2021. This shift was also influenced by the need to find more flexible work.Technology has been an essential tool in this growth as most of these workers get work online. Apps and websites such as Uber, Fiverr, Upwork, Etsy, and Instacart are facilitators of this since you can work from anywhere, as long as you have a way of accessing the website/app for work.For individuals considering joining such work, several things are critical for your survival. They include: Understanding What Your Purpose Is:A comprehensive sample of freelancers reports that work is more than just a paycheck. You need to know what you're passionate about because there are times it will get complicated, and you will need to remind yourself why you followed that path.Assuming you have had a job as a car mechanic for the past three years and are considering switching to work that involves car modifications. Make sure you understand what it is about car modifications that make you want to take the risk. The Uncertain Nature of Work:The majority of people do not join the Gig Economy because of this type of work’s uncertainty. While starting, income will likely fluctuate, a good reason for you to set up an emergency fund for yourself. You should jump into the first opportunity that comes your way without necessarily compromising your work’s worth; you must gauge the work-time to pay ratio of a task before taking it up.But since you are starting, you might need to make a bit of a compromise. Say you would like to work on modifying sports cars, but the available clients own vans and trucks, don’t ignore this sort of work. Instead, accept the job, order some plastic molding company RYD tooling merchandise and get to work. Time Management:Since you will be both the worker and the boss in this work environment, you must let personal calls, texts, and emails go unanswered while working. Employ the use of time tracking apps to understand how much time you spend in executing tasks.Manage your time wisely, or you’ll end up losing gigs over not meeting deadlines. Set Up a Productive Work Environment:A physical workspace plays an essential role in how productive your work will be. Establishing a workspace can involve setting up a home office or finding a corner table at your local cafe; either way, you need a space that brings out productivity in you.However, if you're an individual that likes organized office spaces, you should try out a shared office space that could be closer to what you need. Be open to converting your home garage into a commercial space. Establishing a Routine:Morning routines play a crucial role in how your day goes; some have reported that on days they miss performing their morning routine, they end up being less productive than on days they achieved it. You must establish a routine such as meditation, working out, taking a walk, etc. Just do the things that help you arrange your thoughts, and make sure you do the same each day. Communicate Your Worth:Performing work and later on realizing that you have undercharged a client is one of the few ways you can demotivate yourself. Ensure that each time you get a client, you inform them of how much you will charge for their work. If you maintain discipline in doing this, you might end up being among the top percentage of freelancers earning more than $100,000 per year. Finances:Stay on top of your finances to ensure that you stay on top of things when it’s time to pay the tax. Differentiate between your business and personal accounts, pay your taxes, save up for retirement, and track all your expenses versus the income you get. Healthcare Plan: Being a freelancer does not come with the healthcare plans that a corporate job will have; you should acquire healthcare coverage. Research the various options available for you and get the best. If you have a spouse, you might qualify for their coverage, so consider that option too. Socialization: This line of work is characterized by hours of work where one is alone; researchers have established that there are repercussions towards isolating yourself for so long. You should find a group of peers that you can share experiences with; you could even have a group of people you hang around to ensure that you are not always alone. Being alone might have adverse mental effects on you. Redefining Success: In traditional careers, success comes with a level of job security that you cannot equate to in the gig economy, so you should redefine what you term as a success. You could consider a successful career as one that has a balance between predictability and possibility, one that promises continued work and allows one to feel alive, present, and authentic in their work.The benefit of working in the gig economy is that you will still overcome the struggle no matter what happens. Conclusion: The gig economy is vast and keeps growing each day, but there is one thing that never changes about it, the fact that you are the one who defines everything. So before you switch from your traditional employment career, make sure you can handle all these aspects on your own first. Be great.Read Also:The significance of face-to-face networking for freelancers How Business Owners Can Better Utilize Freelance Work What They Don’t Tell You About Freelance Careers Five Reasons Why Freelancers Should Use a Coworking Space

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The significance of face-to-face networking for freelancers

Face-to-face networking is one of the most important communication tools that we have in the modern world. The fact that digital communication is taking over all the aspects of human life does not imply that offline communication has completely lost its place in the modern world. As a freelancer, you can develop a brand and find new clients with the help of networking. The best way to do this is by going into the offline world of live meetings with people. This article puts forward the importance of face-to-face networking for freelancers. Intro for a self-presentation : You have a limited amount of time to provide the right impression on people. You will show your confidence, mood, and expertise through face-to-face communication. What you need is a confident handshake, a smile, and eye contact. It’s good to prepare a presentation that will last from 15 to 30 seconds. Your goal is to attract the listener’s attention to your personality and your project. The most important thing is to make sure that the presentation is precise. Active listening : It’s absolutely ok if you have some selfish expectations for networking. However, you should realize that you should give people something valuable if you want to get something from them. One of such things is active listening. You will demonstrate that you really care about what someone else is saying to you. Active listening comprises your facial expression, your body position and asking questions. You need to make good use of active listening if you want to take face-to-face networking for freelancers to the next level. A good portfolio : Just take it with you to give to other people. If your design site, just prints the best variants. If you ask people to go to a website where they can see your portfolio, they will probably forget about you the next day. It’s easy to do and you will have a much greater effect than just giving your business cards to everyone. Make sure you make a rich portfolio that will showcase your abilities. The portfolio is important because it communicates your capabilities to your target audience. A good follow-up : One single meeting won’t give you the result that you aim at. You cannot build a long-lasting relationship at once. One of the easiest ways to keep in touch is sending an email within 24 to 26 hours after the meeting. You can write what you liked and write something that relates to the words you have heard from this very person. Follow-up plays a critical role when it comes to networking for freelancers. It’s the only way to make sure that efforts bear the right fruits. Get the most from networking : If you see that there’s a chance to attract a new client or an important person for you, don’t lose it. You cannot predict the result of a new connection, so do your best to get the most from each. You can get exhausted from so many new connections, but we think that it’s worth trying. So, organize a meeting, do the follow-up and keep in touch to reach the goals that you have.In summary, face to face networking is highly significant for freelancers. The most important thing is to put in the right strategies that will bear the expected results.Read More :Five Reasons Why Freelancers Should Use A Coworking Space 5 Important Considerations To Get Supply Chain Management On Cloud

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Five Reasons Why Freelancers Should Use a Coworking Space

Being a freelancer can be an empowering job. You have the freedom to move around and work from anywhere, you can pick and choose which jobs you want to take, and at the end of the day, you answer only to yourself.However, freelancing is not without its challenges. Working alone can be isolating. You lack the camaraderie of traditional office jobs, and your friends may not relate to your struggles and challenges.For this reason and more, freelancers should consider investing in coworking spaces. Here are just a few of the career-boosting benefits to be gained: 1.Networking Opportunities Networking on a daily basis can be challenging for freelancers. Unless you are actively working your LinkedIn contacts or attending local networking events, you rarely get the opportunity to talk about your work with outside parties.Working in a coworking space immerses you in a shared setting with people from different organizations. While everyone in the shared space is there to do their work, it is easy to strike up a conversation while waiting for the coffee to perk or during a break. You may find that your neighbor not only has a penchant for caffeine but also needs a freelancer for future projects. 2.Removes Household Distractions Sometimes the biggest challenge to freelancing is the most mundane: housework. When you are a freelancer, sometimes your office doubles as your kitchen or living room. While the small task of putting in a load of laundry or unloading the dishwasher doesn’t seem like much, these time-consuming distractions can add up.There’s also the added sense of guilt work-from-home individuals often face, feeling like, even though they are working, they should be doing more to maintain their home. Leaving the house doesn’t make your dishes magically disappear, but it does put them out of sight and out of mind so you can focus on your work. 3.Reduces Isolation and Depression Social interaction plays a huge role in mental health, even for introverts who thrive on solo work. Freelance work can be an amazing opportunity for someone who struggles with depression and social anxiety, but it can also contribute to these disorders.Going to a coworking space gives you a reason to get up, get dressed, and get out of the house in the morning. Even if you don’t have a meaningful conversation with anyone, you will benefit from being immersed in a social environment. In a virtual world, face-to-face social interaction is a rare commodity with surprising antidepressant benefits. 4.Better Productivity Statistics show that people working in a coworking space have 68% better focus overall and 64% better adherence to deadlines. This boost in productivity may be a culmination of the other factors on this list, but the numbers speak for themselves.If you find yourself in a motivational slump or know you have a large amount of work to get through before a deadline, working in a coworking space may be the boost you need to charge through and get things done. 5.Changing The Scenery It is estimated that by the end of 2017, over one million people will have worked in a coworking space. This growing trend has created market demand for coworking businesses around the globe. As such, there are different options to choose from.As a freelancer, you could work in different places at different times of the year. Depending on the commitment requirements of the space-- and the cost implications-- you could keep things fresh by changing coworking locations on a regular basis.On the other hand, if you find a particular provider you enjoy, you could check out their coworking spaces in other parts of the world. This opportunity will fuel both your social needs and your travel bug in one shot. Refuse to Settle These are just a few reasons why you should consider investing in a coworking space as a freelancer. With libraries reaching capacity throughout the day and coffee shops changing their time and laptop use limits, a coworking space is a perfect opportunity to get your work done in a fresh, engaging environment.Read More:Questions To Ask When Working With A Web Developer Why Your Business Should Care About Social Responsibility Top 4 Reasons To Outsource White Label PPC For Your Business 5 Important Considerations To Get Supply Chain Management On Cloud 10 Reasons Why Automation Of Procure-To-Pay Cycle Is Critical

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