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I’ve worked as an online freelancer since about 2014. During that time I’ve tried to introduce it to friends and acquaintances. One of the lessons that I’ve learned during that time is that freelancing online isn’t for everyone.
In this blog, I’ll give you 6 reasons why it may not be suitable for everybody.
1) You don’t like sitting in front of a computer
They’re a lot of people who don’t enjoy working with computers. People, who do manual labor, for instance. I’ve had people, who drive for a living, tell me they couldn’t work around a desk.
This includes people who are used to working with computers. Some hate the idea of doing a side gig around a computer. After they go home after work, a computer is the last thing they want to see.
2) You’re not self motivated
Freelancing online takes a lot of self-motivation. It can sound like a good idea to earn some money. The truth is, though, that you have to find motivation from within to work online.
3) You don’t have self-discipline
It takes a lot of self-discipline to work at home. They’re so many distractions when you’re working from home. Yes it’s true that your hours are flexible.
In the online freelancing world, if you miss a couple deadlines, your goose is cooked. A couple bad reviews can break your career online.
If you need somebody to stand over you, this is not for you.
4) You need a regular paycheck
If you need a regular paycheck, working online may not be for you. Some months will be lean and some months will be like Christmas.
The best way to get around this is to have several gigs working for you. If you’re doing it on the side, however, this won’t apply to you.
5) You think its easier than a 9 to 5
Since you’re working for yourself, you’ll probably end up putting in more hours than a regular job. The sky’s the limit when you’re freelancing online, but that comes with a price. 8 hours a day just won’t cut it as an online freelancer.
You’ll end up putting in a 12 and up hour day sometimes. If you’re willing to this, you’ll be far richer than when you were in your day job.
If it’s a side gig for you, prepare for a lot of late nights. It won’t be easy, but it’s worth it if you’re willing.
6) You think it’s a scam
Many people are not convince that you can work online. They believe it’s one big scam. I’ve introduced it to many people over the years and there’s no convincing them otherwise.
There are scammers online, but it’s actually not as common as you might think. You do have to do your due diligence when selecting an online platform. If you’re a very skeptical individual, though, you probably won’t be convinced to get started.
If you fall into one or more of these categories, freelancing online may not be for you.