Freelancing is a challenging career path to choose. Chances are you know very few people in your family who have picked this career path, and everyone who has done so seems to be flying by the seat of their pants. I'm no freelancing expert, but this has been my life's path for the last year and a half. I wanted to shed some light on a few phrases that I hear all the time in the freelancing world. If you're going to do what's right for your sanity, though, you will remove these phrases from your life!
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Related Reading: 8 Phrases To Abandon In 2018
1. “Everyone can do my job.”
This is something we tell ourselves that is blatantly not true.
Not everyone can write, create graphics, run their social media accounts, or do their accounting.
Some people can, but they choose not to do so.
As a freelancer, you have a skill, and you deserve to be paid well for that skill. Many people have never taken the time to develop that talent, and you should be paid for your perseverance.
When I was in college, I always got excellent grades for the papers I wrote. They seemed a bit rushed to me, but I never got less than a B on any of the articles I wrote for teachers. It confused me, but great grades are always welcome. After a while, I noticed what my other classmates and students were writing. I did a few peer-reviews that helped me believe that writing was not everyone's strong suit. Later as a graduate assistant, these thoughts were compounded as I realized that not everyone has the gift of writing.
We are blinded by our realities. We think that everyone can paint or sew or whatever our talents are. Trust me when I say, you are helping out people who cannot do what you do themselves. Sure, you aren't the only one who can write or draw, but you will help a ton of people who cannot do those things.
Tell Yourself: “I am great at my job!“
2. “My success is fleeting.”
While it's true that there seems to be a feast and famine cycle with freelancing, I think we spend way too much time being negative.
We spend so much time waiting for the other shoe to drop, it's a wonder we ever get any successful periods.
When you are in a feast, don't think about the upcoming famine. It shouldn't even be on your radar.
Allow me to get fully woo-woo for a second, if we control our destiny with the law of attraction, are you attracting your next famine cycle by focusing on it too much?
I understand the need to be prepared for every possible scenario. I am sure we have been trained that way from the time we started practicing fire drills in school.
Those preparations are great, save the money, diversify your income sources, etc. What you shouldn't do is associate those tasks with famine or tell yourself over and over that your success is fleeting.
You got this girl!
Tell Yourself: “Success comes to me constantly.”
3. “I lucked into my current position.”
It's so easy to believe that where we are is due to luck.
I am going to take a page from my fave small business Metal Marvels and their bangle set that says “I believe in the hustle, I don't fuck with luck.”
You've worked damn hard to get here, girl! You have busted your booty, stayed up late, worried way too much, and put in way too many hours to think this way.
You didn't just luck into your current position; you've earned it. If all else fails, take a page from Beyonce, “I dream it, I work hard, I grind 'til I own it.”
Tell Yourself: “I deserve my current position, I worked hard for it.”
4. “I can't find decent jobs anywhere!”
I honestly understand where you are coming from, but your words are powerful here.
You ultimately bring to yourself what you put into the universe.
When you believe that you can't find decent jobs, you will do anything in your power (subconsciously) to validate that argument. You won't be able to see the great jobs around the corner.
When you stop the desperate cries of “I can't find decent jobs anywhere!” it allows you to think more methodically. Instead of searching from a place of fear, you can focus and search for jobs without the panic.
Be kind to yourself, guide your body in the right direction, put yourself in the right mentality to find those great jobs.
Tell Yourself: “Decent jobs are all around me, I just have to look harder.”
5. “Cheaper freelancers are killing the rates I can charge.”
The truth is, there will always be cheaper versions of things.
An excellent burger place doesn't get upset when a McDonald's comes to town! Sure, some of their patrons may check out the McDonald's or spend money there, but most of their patrons are for them. The nice burger place doesn't get upset to see McDonald's drawing a crowd. Most of the people who go to McDonald's may never be able to afford some of their burgers anyway.
McDonald's thrives because they can sell a lot of burgers and fries. The fancier burger place succeeds because of customer service and higher priced foods. They may serve fewer people, but each purchase likely brings in more money.
You have to think, do you want to be the McDonald's in this situation? Do you want to be forced to dole out multiple burgers or freelance jobs to succeed? That likely isn't your end goal. Your end goal is to develop strategic relationships with a few select clients at a time.
Don't get mad at the McDonald's in your industry. The customers they bring in are not for you.
Tell Yourself: “My rates are my rates because I offer premium services.”
Conclusion: You Got This!
There will never be a shortage of bad things you could tell yourself to sabotage your career.
As a freelancer, you need to be willing to see through your own bullshit. Call yourself out when you are using the wrong language!
I hope that today's article has helped you see what you could potentially be doing to sabotage yourself. With this information, I hope that you can make the right decisions, catch yourself in the act, and start thinking more positively about your own career.
