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Reflecting on My First Year After Freelance

Daniel Nisbet
Aug 28, 2017 · 3 min read

The writing was on the wall that Monday. Bid rejections were becoming the norm and I could tell I was running out of energy trying to feel angry about it. On Tuesday, I got a phone call asking if I could start a full-time job that Friday. I agreed.

This month marks my first full year away from being a full-time freelance designer. I’m still taking on small projects and retainers. But, there’s now a steady paycheck and a place I have to show up to for 40 hours a week. While the prospect was scary at first, I’m now starting to realize the good it has done for me.

I’ve noticed a very positive shift in my mental health. Having living expenses covered is a gigantic weight off the shoulders of my family. The stress of having to take on clients I wasn’t crazy about for the paycheck is gone. Now I can say “no”… and feel good about it.

Moving to an in-house design position instead of an agency has been a new but exciting experience. There’s fewer tight deadlines and not as much constant pressure. I’m fortunate to work in an environment that encourages me to give 100% during the day but turn off when I go home

It’s allowed me to grow my side projects that were always put off. Brew City Type has been getting more attention this summer. I plan to release my second typeface before year’s end.

I also wanted to re-do my personal portfolio to better reflect the projects and styles I’m interested in. They’re not client projects, but I’ve had fun creating my own briefs. I’ve enjoyed pushing myself to try new things I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

There’s a lot of great discussions out there on what it means to be a freelance designer. Setting your own hours, accepting the projects you want to work on, or having the flexibility to try something new is something I still miss.

That said, I’ve learned that you have to keep an eye on the negatives. There’s more stress when it’s only you. I enjoy doing design work, but selling myself is something I didn’t do well enough at. I stressed about it and I know I could have done a better job. Often, I’d sell myself short because I lacked the confidence (even though I had the ability).

In the last year, I’ve watched as many of my friends have struggled with their businesses. I’m grateful that I’m in a spot where I can be a cheerleader and offer understanding and encouragement. But, it hurts to watch when I know they’re going through what I did one year ago. The frustration of business not going right isn’t something I’d wish on anyone.

No matter how well your business is going right now, take some time to reflect on yourself outside of your business. How’s things going? Are you doing non-business things to take care of yourself?

If there’s one massive lesson I learned, it’s that I didn’t do it enough. I let the successes and failures of my business define every minute of my day — both sleeping and awake.

There’s more to life than being a freelancer. Make sure to stop and smell the roses every once in a while.

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