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Developing a freelancer mindset: shifting from employee to freelancer

Foundations of Independent Work

Exploring Employment Models
Defining Employees, Freelancers, and Intrapreneurs  
  • Employees work under a formal contract with set hours and responsibilities.
  • Freelancers operate independently, managing their projects and schedules.
  • Intrapreneurs act like entrepreneurs within an organization, driving innovation
Differences in Responsibilities, Flexibility, Risks, and Benefits
  • Employees enjoy job security and benefits like health insurance and pensions.
  • Freelancers have greater flexibility but face fluctuating income and fewer benefits.
  • Intrapreneurs blend the security of employment with the autonomy of freelancing.
   

Legal & Financial Implications

Freelancers are responsible for managing their taxes, insurance, and retirement plans, which gives them greater control over their financial planning but can also be overwhelming. They must navigate contracts, intellectual property rights, and liability issues independently.

In contrast, employees often have these aspects managed by their employers, providing them with legal protections and benefits like health insurance and retirement plans. However, employees with an intrapreneurial mindset can blend the security of employment with the autonomy of freelancing, taking ownership of innovative projects while still enjoying the support of their organization. 

 
Building Autonomy in Work Settings
Self-Management Skills  
  Self-management is crucial for freelancers and employees, involving effective time, resource, and energy management without constant supervision.
Taking Initiative  
  Taking initiative is essential for entrepreneurial growth, requiring the ability to identify opportunities and act upon them proactively.
Benefits of Autonomy  
  Building autonomy enhances professional growth, encourages innovation, and fosters a sense of ownership in projects.

The Five-Second Rule

The Five-Second Rule is a technique that encourages individuals to take action within five seconds of having an idea, helping to disrupt hesitation and procrastination.
By counting down from five to one, individuals can shift from thought to action, overcoming the fear of failure and the natural tendency to stay within comfort zones.
This technique promotes quick decision-making, helping to build confidence and initiative in both personal and professional settings.

Seven-Skills for Self-Management
 

Time Management
The ability to control how much time to spend on specific activities, crucial for prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines.

 Self-Motivation
The inner drive to pursue goals and complete tasks without external pressure, essential for maintaining productivity.		 Stress Management
Techniques to manage stress effectively, ensuring a balanced approach to work and maintaining mental health.
Adaptability
The capacity to adjust to new conditions and challenges, enabling effective responses to unexpected changes.		 Decision Making
The skill of making informed choices quickly and effectively, crucial for navigating both opportunities and challenges.		 Goal Alignment
The ability to set clear goals and align daily tasks with those goals, ensuring focused effort towards achieving desired outcomes.

 

An exercise

  1. Identify a Task: Write down three tasks you have been putting off (e.g., starting a new and unfamiliar assignment, going jogging, etc).
  2. Set a Timer: Choose one task and count down in your mind: “5…4…3…2…1…Go!”
  3. Immediate Action: As soon as you reach "Go," take the first step toward completing the task. 
  4. Reflection: Did the 5-Second Rule help you start the task more quickly? What thoughts or excuses came up when you counted down, and how did you push past them?

    Repeat: Try this technique with your remaining two tasks and note if it gets easier with practice

Goal Setting for Growth

Defining Personal and Professional Goals
Importance of Reflection  
  Reflecting on long-term aspirations helps clarify your values and what truly matters in life. This process lays the foundation for meaningful personal and professional goals.
Examples of Personal Goals  
  Personal goals may include living a healthy lifestyle, nurturing relationships, or pursuing creative passions, such as painting or writing.
Aligning Goals  
  Professional goals can align with personal aspirations, such as becoming a freelance graphic designer to achieve the flexibility needed for a balanced life.

An exercise

  1. Personal Goals: Write down three long-term personal goals (5-10 years). These could involve areas like health, relationships, lifestyle, or hobbies.
  2. Professional Goals: Now, write down three long-term professional goals (5-10 years). These could involve your career, skills, financial success, or job satisfaction.
  3. Connection: For each personal goal, identify at least one professional goal that can support or complement it. Explain how achieving your professional goals will help fulfill your personal goals.
  4. Reflection: Write a short paragraph (4-5 sentences) reflecting on how aligning your personal and professional goals might help you stay motivated in both areas.

This exercise will help you create a clear path by linking your personal desires to your professional ambitions.
 

Defining SMART Goals

  • SMART goals are a structured way to define clear and actionable objectives in both personal and professional contexts.
  • The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, which helps in crafting goals that are clear and reachable.
  • For example, instead of saying 'I want to be successful,' a SMART goal would be 'I want to increase my income by 20% in the next six months.' This goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

An exercise

  • Use the SMART goal framework to set clear, actionable steps for becoming a successful freelancer.
     
  • Start by defining a clear and specific goal related to freelancing. Ask yourself: What exactly do I want to achieve as a freelancer? Which skills or services will I offer (e.g., writing, graphic design, web development)? How can I measure my success in the journey of becoming a freelancer? What could be a realistic target to achieve and in which timeframe could it be achieved?
  • An example: "I want to earn extra income by becoming a freelance graphic designer and secure my first paying client within three months.
Strategies for Goal Achievement

Large goals can feel overwhelming when viewed as a whole, which is why breaking them into smaller, short-term milestones is a crucial step in goal setting.

  Benefits of Setting Milestones   Challenges of Setting Milestones
Milestones provide clear checkpoints to monitor progress towards larger goals. Setting unrealistic milestones can lead to frustration and disappointment.
They help maintain motivation by creating a sense of achievement at each stage. Too many milestones may create confusion and dilute focus on the larger goal
Short-term milestones can make large goals feel less overwhelming and more manageable. Failure to meet a milestone can negatively impact confidence and motivation.

An exercise
Brake your SMART goal into smaller, actionable, and time-bound milestones. Write them next to your SMART goals.

 

Breaking Milestones into Steps

Identify Your Larger Goal Set Short-term Milestones Create Actionable Steps Review and Adjust as Needed
Define your larger goal clearly. For example, aim to become a freelance graphic designer and secure your first client in three months.

A well-defined larger goal is specific and time-bound.		 Break your larger goal into smaller milestones. For instance, have your website ready by month one, contact clients by month two, and get feedback by month three.

Milestones support achieving your larger goal.		 Outline specific tasks for each milestone. For example, for setting up a website, tasks could include choosing a builder, creating content, and designing the layout.

Outline a detailed action plan with specific tasks for each milestone.		 Regularly review your progress and adjust tasks as necessary. If obstacles arise, reassess your timeline to stay on track toward your goal.

A flexible plan allowing adjustments whill help you keeping the larger goal in sight.

 

An exercise

  • Create actionable, time-bound, and realistic action steps linked to each of your smaller milestones. Write them next to your milestones. 
  • Tip: You can redefine milestones and your goal in the process, as when you start identifying tasks it may become clear that you need more time to be able to fulfill the steps and reach specific milestones.

 

Monitoring progress

Importance of Monitoring Progress
Monitoring progress helps you visualize your journey, ensuring you stay on track towards achieving your goals.		 Using Project Management Tools
Tools like Trello, Asana, and Notion allow you to organize tasks, set deadlines, and track milestones effectively.
Tracking Tasks and Milestones
By breaking goals into smaller tasks you will be able to check off completed items, boosting motivation.		 Celebrating Small Wins
Celebrate achievements along the way will foster a a sense of accomplishment and keeping you motivated.


Tip – project management tools

Trello: A simple, visual project management tool using boards and cards to help freelancers organize tasks and track progress. Visit Trello

Asana: A task and project management tool that allows freelancers to manage to-do lists, assign deadlines, and collaborate with clients. Visit Asana

ClickUp: An all-in-one productivity tool offering task management, time tracking, and collaboration features, perfect for freelancers juggling multiple projects. Visit ClickUp

Notion: A versatile tool that combines note-taking, task management, and project organization in one platform, allowing freelancers to create custom workflows. Visit Notion

Todoist: A task management tool that helps freelancers organize tasks and projects with priority levels, deadlines, and recurring task options. Visit Todoist
 

Adapting to Changing Circumstances
 

The Importance of Flexibility in Goal Setting Strategies for Staying Committed
  • Flexibility allows you to adjust your approach as needed.
  • Adaptability helps in navigating unforeseen challenges and obstacles.
  • Staying committed to your vision while being open to change is crucial.
  • Regularly review and adjust your goals based on current circumstances.
  • Embrace setbacks as learning opportunities rather than failures.
  • Create a contingency plan to address potential changes in your path.
Click to test yourself

Resources:

"The Psychology of Self-Motivation" by Scott Geller: Scott Geller, a psychology professor, explains in this TED Talk how to cultivate self-motivation through autonomy, competence, and relatedness—skills crucial for freelancers setting and achieving their own goals.

"The Goal-Setting Theory of Motivation" by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham: This article introduces the foundational theory of goal-setting and explains how specific, challenging goals lead to higher performance, offering practical insights for freelancers aiming to maximize their productivity.

"Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth. The book by Angela Duckworth’s highlights the importance of persistence and passion in achieving long-term goals, essential for freelancers building sustainable careers.
Read the Book

"The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers" by Adam Grant. In this TED Talk, organizational psychologist Adam Grant shares insights on creativity, initiative, and risk-taking, valuable for freelancers looking to stand out in their industry.

"How to Stay Calm When You Know You'll Be Stressed" by Daniel Levitin: in this TED Talk Cognitive neuroscientist Daniel Levitin discusses strategies to handle stress and prepare for potential challenges, key for freelancers managing unpredictable workloads.

15 Goal-Setting Frameworks You Should Know: in this article the reader finds 15 different strategies for goal setting for oneself and one`s business.

Bibliography:

Robbins, Mel. The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage. Savio Republic, 2017.

  • This book introduces the 5 Second Rule, a self-management technique to help overcome procrastination and turn thoughts into action.

Allen, David. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. Penguin Books, 2001.

  • This book presents the 2 Minute Rule, which encourages completing tasks that take less than two minutes immediately, contrasting with the 5 Second Rule by focusing on task duration.

Ferriss, Tim. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. Crown Publishing, 2007.

  • Ferriss discusses risk mitigation, time management, and goal-setting strategies, essential for freelancers seeking to balance autonomy with productivity.

SMART Goals Framework. First introduced by George T. Doran in his article There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives (1981), the SMART framework helps freelancers set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals for success.

Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam Books, 1995.

Goleman explores self-management and emotional regulation, both critical for freelancers managing their time, tasks, and emotional well-being in independent work settings.

Module PPT Presentation Foundations of Independent Work Goal Setting for Growth Test Yourself Resources Bibliography
Keywords

Intrapreneurship, self-management, taking initiative, goal setting, milestones, actionable steps, project and progress management tools, and managing

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