Why I'm Breaking Up With Freelancing
(But not with clients.)
TL;DR
No, I’m not going back to a 9-to-5. But it’s time to drop the term “freelancer.”
“Free” is a problematic word.
Freedom in freelancing is an illusion.
Lancing is something you do to a boil, not your work.
For at least a year, I’ve been avoiding the word “freelancer.” And kind of hating it when other people identify me as one. So let’s dive in.
“Free” is a Problematic Word
Yes, the “free” in freelancing is meant to indicate not being bound to a specific employer. But the fact is that people de-value freelancers.
“Oh, so you want to get paid for what you love to do? Then you’ll work cheap.”
Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr have been exploiting freelancers for years, making it a race to the bottom. In the publishing industry, hybrids and small presses aren’t much better, because they know that if an ambitious freelancer won’t accept the rate, then there are a hundred other desperate freelancers out there willing to take it like a scene ripped from The Grapes of Wrath.
Which brings us to . . .
Freedom in Freelancing is an Illusion
My ghostwriting buddy Adam Knorr said it best, “Don’t quit your 9 to 5 until you’re ready to work a 5 to 9.” And it’s true.
Freelancing lends itself to Famine & Feast cycles. You aren’t your own boss at all—you have all the bosses.
That’s why more and more I’m admiring what Justin Welsh has done. He’s not a freelancer. He’s a straight up entrepreneur who has figured out how to scale his offerings in a way that leaves him truly free.
And that’s what I want. Actual freedom. Not the illusion.
Lancing is Something You Do to a Boil, Not Your Work
Okay, this one’s just wordplay. But there’s some truth to it.
Lance/lancing is a violent word. What we independent professionals do is creative. We build up, not tear down. We add, not subtract.
Shifting Gears
From now on, I won’t be using the word freelancer for myself—or for others. I’m in the midst of shifting gears in my business model, and I couldn’t be more excited—but also exhausted, though hopefully that’s just for the short-term.
Instead of content ideas this week (sorry), I’d love to get your input on this poll
P.S. If you’re looking for content ideas, then just visit my Stan Store to Go from Zero to 100+ Content Ideas with 25 Questions.
Until next time, keep changing the world—one story at a time.
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