What I’ve Learned as a Freelancer

These are some of the most important lessons I have learned as a freelancer:

• Understand the big picture and the little details (they’re both important)
• Take risks, but have well-diversified income to limit risk
• Customer service is key (communication skills = good)
• Don’t be too specialized; have a broad knowledge base (you can always look up little details)
• Be extremely resourceful (if you don’t know, find out)
• Get good at creative problem solving (think outside the box)
• Always overestimate time & costs (build in a buffer)
• Sign a contract and/or require 50% upfront for ongoing projects with new clients
• Get good at bullshitting*

* I will explain what I mean by this in an upcoming post…