Prior to starting freelancing, I lived as a dog for 6-weeks in a shelter for strays. Every day when people came to look for a new furry best friend, I’d bound at my pen gates in different ways and experiment making different barking sounds. I did whatever I could to get anyone’s attention in the hope of being adopted.
Sadly, my efforts didn’t work. No one in their right mind would ever adopt a naked adult man from an animal welfare charity. The thing is, I knew that going in. What I wanted to test, was whether I was prepared for the rejection, the starvation, and the mad howl of hundred of other people all around me all wanting the same thing.
I n my case, I was wanted by the FBI so I didn’t really have a choice. You do. That said, if you do continue down your new career path, I can give you some practical advice:
- Prior to commencing freelancing, make someone you trust promise to intervene if you ever get too addicted to Netflix
- Prepare to be treated sub-humanly from time to time
- Ready yourself for the fact that you will suffer recurring dashed hopes and disappointment
- Never tell people you work from home on your computer. They will only start coming to you in droves whenever their phones or computers freeze
- Don’t be Mr. Nice Guy. When someone asks you for samples, says they have had bad experiences in the past, or says, “I’ve got regular work for you,” run
- Don’t price yourself at $5. You’ll just end up feeling as emotionally dead inside as a Walking Dead extra
- Prepare to wait months for things to get started, then prepare to to start losing your hair as things slow down for months
- Stop eating bread and pasta immediately
- When you lose track of the days, get ready for the day you will lose track of years
Other than that, enjoy! 