Recently we’ve been talking with WordPress freelancers and taking stock of how they’re doing. We talked with half a dozen freelancers and asked about their greatest success, their greatest failure and where they need to grow.
Here’s what we learned.
“Recently, I realized that I’ve been a little lazy about staying up to date with what’s been happening in my field. Learning and being aware of these constant shifts is one of—if not the most important—part of being a freelancer.” -C.Bavota
Success & Failure
We asked freelancers about their greatest successes and their greatest failures. Sometimes they talked about specific projects, but often they shared broader lessons. Even more common, their successes and failures were often the same. One freelancer would find major success by raising their prices, while another would cite their refusal to raise prices as a major failure.
Some of our freelancers succeeded with specific strategies, such as generating referrals (Patrick Neve) or creating products (Jason Resnick).
Others found success in broader approaches to business, including charging more (Kirsten Cassidy, Sarah Pressler) and having the confidence to step out and trust themselves (Jenny Beaumont, Sarah Pressler).
But the most common lesson was the value of saying “no.”
“During the first couple of years of my freelancing journey, I had a big problem with saying ‘no.’” says Patrick Neve. “I would often take on too much work, which would cause me to miss deadlines, lose sleep and hurt the quality of my work.”
Saying “no” gives freelancers the ability to focus on what they’re best at and avoid distractions. It’s tempting to say “yes” to every project, but not every project is a good fit.
“It’s important to ask yourself regularly why you do what you do, and to make sure that your business and your practices are in line with the answer.” -Jenny Beaumont
Where Do You Need to Grow?
While our group of freelancers has learned a lot from their successes and failures, they all still have room to grow. Here are some of the ways they want to improve:
Helping others and staying connected is important for both Jason Resnick and Patrick Neve. Jenny Beaumont is focused on embracing simplicity and value (she took this year off completely, so she’s winning on simplicity!). Kirsten Cassidy is trying to narrow her focus and C.Bavota is trying to stay current with the latest changes in technology.
“I no longer feel the need to be good at everything, so I can concentrate better on what I am good at and what I do enjoy.” -Kirsten Cassidy
Taking Stock With WordPress Freelancers
For more insights, be sure to check out the full interview with each of our WordPress freelancers:
