Taking The Long View | Monday Morning Freelance

Ever since Roz joined our family a little under a month ago, I’ve been spending a lot more time holding a baby and looking at past pictures of my older kids on my phone.

I’ve been reflecting a lot more - remembering how life was 2…3… even 6 years ago.

A lot has happened. Political turmoil, a global pandemic, our family moved across the country and back within a year… and I moved careers and started freelancing full time.

These days are stressful and full of activity, and it’s easy to find myself reminiscing about how easy life used to be before I started my own business.

Have you ever been there? Thinking that - despite the financial growth and career wins you’ve experienced - that you might be in a worse place now than you were before?

Why am I always tired and feeling behind?

Will I ever catch up on my work?

Will I keep up the client portfolio I need to keep us living the life we want to live?

It's easy to get wrapped up in a bubble of negativity, especially when we're constantly inundated with information. This skewed perspective can sometimes trick us into thinking our current situation is worse than it was before.

And if we aren’t careful, we can delude ourselves into giving up on something that’s actually going… pretty well!

We stink at recognizing reality

Need proof that humans are really bad at perspective? 

Let's take the S&P 500 as an example. If you quickly glance at today's headlines, it might seem like the financial world is shaky.

There's always news of stock prices falling or economies struggling. Flip on CNBC or any 24-hour news program, and you’re blindsided with Armageddon-like panic - complete with bright red breaking news bars and breathless TV personalities.

Sure, things go up and down. Sometimes, it’s human action — other times, it’s just plain bad luck.

Look back a bit further, and it may seem a bit better, but still sorta gloomy.

Like, sure - it’s not as bad as it once was, but what happened to the growth we were experiencing? What’s going wrong that’s tanking us again?

But if you were to look at the larger picture, examining historical data over the years, you'd realize that the general trend is upward. And I mean, really upward.

As a whole, we’ve never been in a better place. Sure, there’s insecurity and instability, but overall we can see just how far we’ve come in a relatively short time - generationally speaking.

The same principle applies to freelancing. Sure, this month might not be as prosperous as the last, but how does it compare to last year? Or five years ago?

It's crucial for us to remember that progress isn't always a straight upward trajectory. We'll have our highs and lows, but the overall trend, with consistent effort, is towards growth.

Here are four tips to help freelancers embrace a long-term perspective:

1. Take advantage of monthly reflections

Set aside some time at the end of each month to reflect on your achievements, setbacks, and lessons learned.

Documenting these reflections will allow you to observe patterns, growth, and areas that need adjustment over time. Plus, on particularly tough days, reading back on how far you've come can offer some much-needed motivation.

2. Celebrate those small wins

Don't wait for those big project completions or major milestones. Celebrate the little victories along the way - from gaining a new skill to receiving positive feedback from a client. These small wins accumulate and contribute significantly to your long-term success.

3. Set long-term goals that are actually possible

Instead of only focusing on the immediate tasks at hand, set some long-term goals. Where do you see yourself in 1, 3, or 5 years? This will give you a broader perspective and help align your daily actions with your larger vision.

4. Seek external feedback from trusted friends

Sometimes, we're our own harshest critics. Regularly ask for feedback from clients, peers, or mentors. Their outside perspective can often provide insight into your growth and potential areas of improvement. Plus, the encouragement from someone who's noticed your growth can be a major boost!

Look back to give yourself hope for the future

So, as we tackle another week, let's focus on the bigger picture. Let's remember how far we've come and trust that, with persistence and hard work, we're on the right track.

Freelancing isn't just about making a living; it's about building a life, one step at a time.

May your coffee be strong, and your deadlines be few!