The document discusses different types of freelancers and employment situations: freelancers, nine-to-fivers (full-time employees), and moonlighters (those with a full-time job and freelance work). It examines the pros and cons of each approach, including the responsibilities, freedoms, and challenges involved in freelancing full-time versus having other types of employment arrangements. The document provides advice for aspiring freelancers on how to price services, manage client relationships, and effectively market themselves through in-person networking and community involvement.

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t: @al_the_x
Anatomy of a Freelancer
Reflections on the last ten years of freelancing...

2. t: @al_the_x
j: http://j.mp/1bwipYV
Who is this guy?
• David Rogers (@al_the_x)
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Email: david@orlandophp.org
Website: orlandophp.org/
Github: github.com/al-the-x/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/althex/
http://j.mp/1bw5sy4
https://joind.in/10675
http://anatomy-of-a-freelancer.com

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j: http://j.mp/1bwipYV
Disclaimer
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I don't exclusively advocate freelancing over any or all
other means of employment.
Freelancing is hard and isn't for everyone; I'm not
selling you anything, just observing.
I am not an expert; I've just been freelancing successfully
for most of my career.
Caveat Emptor: I may define "success" differently than
you do, YMMV.
Feedback is appreciated, audience participation more so.

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Defining “Success”
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Details vary for each person.
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Produces a sense of satisfaction, belonging, and
purpose.
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May be contagious.
Measured by longevity, sustainability, and consistency.
Incorrectly measured by financial gain, hourly rate, or
utilization.

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Freelancer
t: @al_the_x
Nine-to-fiver
Moonlighter
Meet the Archetypes

6. The Freelancer
Laborem Solus
• Too many hats.
• Notably independent: may have
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difficulty as team player.
Obsessed with efficiency and
efficiency-boosting techniques and
gadgets.
Bad with requisition processes.
May appear inconsistent or less
committed; moves on quickly.
Understands strategic business
concerns better than other employee
types.
t: @al_the_x

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Pros and Cons
The Freelancer Lifestyle
•Freedom of choice in:
• Personal responsibility for:
• What clients / projects to • Finding work.
work on and when.
• Negotiating contract and
payment terms.
• When NOT to work on a
project or with a client.
• Delivering estimates and
invoices and verifying
• What technologies and
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tools to use and when.
What equipment is
necessary (or desirable).
What to charge for
services and deliverables.
Assigned rights.
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payments.
Scheduling project
deliverables / deadlines.
Ensuring the work is
completed and approved.
Running a business.

8. The Nine-to-fiver
Laborem Consistentem
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Highly values the stability of
consistent and predictable
work from a larger organization.
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Appears dedicated, focused; fully
invested in “the day job”.
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Good at following policies and
navigating office politics.
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Better at separating the
workplace from home life.
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Can be uninterested in discussing
work or work-related problems
outside of work.

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Pros and Cons
The Nine-to-fiver Lifestyle
• Limited responsibility
• Illusion of job security
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for anything that isn't in the
job description.
Recognizes the value of
division of labor and
aggregation of benefits.
Predictable cash flow
makes personal budgeting
easier, leaves room for
disposable income.
Draws clear lines
between work and personal
time; ensures plenty of both.
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through consistent pay and
benefits.
Can lead to potentially
misplaced or unfair
obligations (overtime).
Within the organization,
compensation is always
capped and promotion may
be restricted.
Everything is a request;
limited individual
empowerment; aka
politics and bureaucracy.

10. The Moonlighter
Laborem Continuus
• Usually distracted and overly
tired due to alter-ego double life.
• May rely on chemical
assistance or augmentation for
performance.
• Prone to repetitive burnout
cycles or recuperative
sabbaticals.
• Always chasing or frantically
completing the next sideproject.
t: @al_the_x

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Pros and Cons
The Moonlighter Lifestyle
• All the responsibility of
• The apparent stability of
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freelancing and all the
obligation of a day job.
Difficult to sustain due to
conflicting demands.
Difficult to excel in either
position due to division of
attention.
Leaves little time for
recreation, education, selfimprovement, or family.
Difficult to exit cleanly due
to burnout, reputation, and
commitments.
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a day job with some of the
freedom of freelancing.
Much more attainable
transition to full-time
freelancing than “all-in”
approach.
Supplemental income is
better than payroll.
More interesting and
attractive work than the
daily grind.
Reputation builder!

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Success and Failure
Know what you're good at.

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What am I doing wrong?
• Aspiring Freelancers often "fail" because they:
• Price themselves too low... or too high for their value.
• Don't manage relationships well.
• Waste time on unproductive activities.
• Spend all their time working.
• May be ill-suited to be Freelancers.
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Freelancing is about running a business that sells who you
are, what you can do, who you know, and what you can learn.
You must be a salesperson.
Not a bad thing.

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w: http://j.mp/1bwipYV
j: http://j.mp/1bw5sy4
Old Fashioned Marketing
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Print and carry (up-to-date) business cards.
Go places. Meet people. Learn about them.
Make friends and be friendly.
Make connections and connect others.
Help people that need help.
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Attend (and speak at) professional groups, social
gatherings, and (un)conferences.
Start communities and conversations (not controversies); don't
wait for permission.

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You can take this job...
• Nine-to-fivers often consider freelancing (or
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moonlighting) because they:
Aren't making as much money as they need or are currently
spending; freelancing won’t help.
Are frustrated with the process, conditions, expectations,
or quality of work at their job.
Want more freedom or mobility than what is currently
available at their job.
DON'T ABANDON HOPE!

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I only do this because...
• Beware the trap of moonlighting:
• Getting less than 8 hours of sleep is detrimental to
learning and productivity.
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Contextual switching and mental fatigue make for less
productive time.
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Stealing time from your day-job is still stealing... and
can get you fired.
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Without a planned escape route, it can consume your
life... indefinitely.

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Freelancer
t: @al_the_x
Nine-to-fiver
Moonlighter
So which one are you?

18. j: http://j.mp/1bwipYV
t: @al_the_x
David Rogers (@al_the_x)
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david@orlandophp.org
orlandophp.org
github.com/al-the-x
linkedin.com/in/althex
http://anatomy-of-a-freelancer.com