Honestly, I get very frustrated when people ask me this. My answer is, “No, I haven’t found a job, and I’m not looking out for one at the moment, thank you very much.” Wait a sec.. Who on mother earth told you I’m not working?
I’m not pinpointing anyone in particular here. Just that I got that question a significant number of times, so I thought I shall write in defense of myself (and other freelance designers / self-employed).
1. Freelancers ≠ bummers.
Whenever I tell people I’m freelancing, they will think I lead a damn shiok life. After all, I seem like I do have time to hang out with friends, eat good food, update this space, blah blah. Yes, I admit that I do. Well, that’s because I have a life and I can manage my time (ahem, pretty efficiently). What people don’t see is when I sit in front of computer till my eyes wither dry to rush for deadlines and running from places to places to meet clients and stuffs like that. It’s not THAT easy.
2. No weekends & public holidays.
There isn’t a single day that has gone past without working (except for my Bangkok trip). I don’t get Monday blues nor do I countdown to TGIFs, ‘cos everyday feels the same to me – yet another working day.
3. Bao Kah Liao.
I’m my own designer, sales manager, account manager, project manager, traffic manager, admin, marketer, HR, finance, debt collector, cleaner, pantry auntie. Yeah, you get the idea.
4. Not stable lei..
Oh, don’t worry. Stability is traded off for flexibility. I am not bound to fixed working hours at a fixed working compound, therefore I’m not bound to a fixed paycheck too. This, I only have myself to fall back on. I slack and take my own sweet time I earn less lah. I chiong I earn more lah. Simple logic. Most importantly, as long as I’m still able to continuously give my parents money I happy already.
I work hard, I play hard. Because I deserve it 🙂
P.S. If you have friends boyfriends girlfriends mother father aunties uncles grandmothers grandfathers clients business partners flings god-knows-who looking for design services, remember to refer me ok! I can do web print identity graphics blah blah. Here’s a link to my professional portfolio which needs some serious updating soon!
Have a nice day.
Sock says:
AHEM! I heard project going on well wor.
September 13, 2011 — 10:55 pm
Kaiyi says:
Haha so far so good. Haven’t started much also, but soon!
September 20, 2011 — 7:47 pm
Kaiyi says:
And I’ll ask you and Krissy out after the project! 😀
September 20, 2011 — 7:47 pm