Category: Business

How NOT to Evolve from Freelancer to Agency

I recently ran across an article explaining how a freelancer can become an agency, and it sent chills up my spine. That may have been partially because I work in my poorly-heated office during the depths of the Saskatchewan winter. Nevertheless, in recent years I’ve become a big believer in the power of freelancing and here’s why.

Quality of life

I live 2 blocks away from a major street. Every morning at about 7:50, cars are lined up all the way to my house waiting to get through the traffic light. I’m usually in my bath robe at that point, thankful for that extra hour of sleep. Let’s say going to an agency and working the day averages 8 hours per day including commuting. I average about 6 hours per day in my office. That gives me over 450 extra hours in a year. I’m sure my kids will be thankful later on that I was around that much more, even if I stop making crêpes for breakfast. Furthermore, Mother Nature might even reward me with some extra oxygen to breathe instead of exhaust fumes.

I’m doing what I love

I like the hands-on work of my business. The graphic design. The creativity. The coding. I know a few people who started out in the role, and when their company grew to a considerable size they were doing more meetings, paperwork, and administration. No thanks.

We have the tools

Agencies still have their place, but technology nowadays enables freelancers to assemble, collaborate and disperse very easily.

Right now I’m part of a contracted development team with members from California, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan. We use Google’s tools for video meetings, document sharing, and calendar. We use GitHub and Lighthouse for bug tracking and code versioning. I’ve worked in a large interactive agency before and the only thing I’m missing now is the opportunity for social engagement. The work still gets done just as efficiently.

Tools like FreshBooks or Harvest, coupled with internet money transfer make it so easy to contract or be contracted. Why burden yourself with a payroll if you don’t have to do so? If you know the right people, it makes a lot of sense nowadays to use freelancers.

It’s not for everyone

One thing I appreciated about that other article was that it was realistic. Not every freelancer should become an agency, and in the same way not everyone is cut out for freelancing. It’s still more paperwork and admin than working for a salary. Interpersonal skills are essential to stay connected to other developers and your clients. There are slow times where you’re wondering when the next job will come in. I can find those factors to be tiresome at times, but in the end—working less, getting paid more, doing the stuff I love, and being close to the people I love is my priority. Freelancing just happens to provide those things.

We’re not gonna take it!

I was interested last week to learn of Dee Snider’s request to the Mitt Romney campaign to cease playing his music. I can’t say I’m a big fan of one or the other, but his statement “There is almost nothing he stands for that I agree with…” struck a chord with me. I admired the statement for two reasons:

  1. Snider is staying true to his principles, and
  2. He’s not being a jerk about it. He didn’t take the opportunity to fling insults or belittle Romney, he just told it like it is.

In the communication industry it is inevitable that your values will conflict with those of a client at some point. It’s hard to decide when to voice your objection, especially when you’re not the boss.

A few years ago now my employer took on a job building a website which taught some very unorthodox variations of Christianity. I nervously requested to be exempt from the project, and the employer graciously honoured my request. Later on I explained that my position was not based on intolerance but the fact that if I care about other people, I will care enough to protect them from what, in my humble opinion, is damaging to them spiritually.

It’s somewhat easier but still no less uncomfortable now that I am self-employed. Just last week I had a serious conversation with a client about what I thought were deeply materialistic messages on their website. I was thankful that the client was also very reasonable and receptive to my criticism, so much that I felt that an ongoing relationship was in the best interest of both of us.

Lesson learned? It’s well worth it to be brave, be courteous, be honest, and have integrity mixed with humility. No one respects a yes-man, and a yes-man doesn’t end up respecting himself. I’m grateful that neither of the above situations resulted badly, but even if they did, I believe I would still be happier in the end for speaking up.