As freelancers we work alone.
A lot of the time that’s a good thing. No time wasted on commuting. No time lost in dreary meetings. No ducking behind the cubicle to avoid the most annoying person in the office.
But…working alone can be tough sometimes too.
It can be particularly tough when your inner fire begins to run low.
What you’re inner fire? It’s the source of drive and energy that propels you forward each day. It’s the driver behind all your hopes and ambitions for the future.
It’s that same energy and belief in yourself that probably got you started as a freelancer in the first place.
Once you have launched your business, you still need that fire to burn bright. It’s what keeps you moving forward. It’s what drives you up to higher levels of success.
But…and I think this happens to all of us…there are times when the fire burns low. And because we work alone, there is nobody else close by to help us fan the flames back to life.
So what is a freelancer to do?
Here are three options for you:
1. Review your projects and your clients
If you feel your enthusiasm waning somewhat, one possible cause might be that you are not doing the kind of work you enjoy most, and/or you’re not working with clients you really want to help.
It’s hard to keep the fire burning bright when you don’t have a passion for your work. If this resonates with you, it’s time to sit back and review the kind of work you are doing. Maybe you would be happier working on different types of projects for different kinds of clients.
How can you find out if this is actually a problem for you? Talk with people! Raise your concerns with a friend, or with someone you know through work. Big problems can often be quickly solved with the help of an outside perspective.
And while on the subject of seeking feedback from other people…
2. Get out and meet people
However well-suited you are to working alone, I think it’s important to get out and meet people on at least an occasional basis. I’m not talking about your social life here. I’m talking about stepping away from your desk during work hours, and meeting people who are in some way connected with the work you do.
I’m having lunch with a former work colleague later this week, and brunch with a couple of other people I know through work next week.
These aren’t clients or even prospects. They are just people in the online marketing business. Sitting down with them gives me a chance to catch up, enjoy their company and, most important of all, refresh the parts of my brain that hunger for the company of other people who understand what I do for a living.
3. Find other freelancers online
If you don’t know anyone locally, you can always find groups and communities online, through places like Facebook and LinkedIn.
This doesn’t offer all the benefits of getting out of the house and enjoying a meal or coffee with someone, but it at least keeps you connected with other people who understand the struggles you face each day as you sit down to work.
Whether through meeting people in person or by joining groups online, you will enjoy the benefits of no longer feeling completely alone, and those connections can help rekindle the flame that gives you the energy to move forward with a smile on your face.
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