Comments on: Having a Long-Term Purpose as a Freelance Designer http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/ Web Design and Development Blog Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:42:54 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: freelance net programmer http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/#comment-30707 freelance net programmer Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:05:54 +0000 http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/?p=343#comment-30707 Freelance design is better job for long term purpose,though it's too stressful. Freelance design is better job for long term purpose,though it’s too stressful.

]]> By: Metropolis http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/#comment-16958 Metropolis Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:15:47 +0000 http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/?p=343#comment-16958 [...] - Massive list of killer Freelancing tips - 7 Reasons why you should pursue your own projects - Having a long-term purpose as a Freelance Designer - 5 ways you can use Twitter to build your online profile - Why struggling with a design is a good [...] [...] – Massive list of killer Freelancing tips – 7 Reasons why you should pursue your own projects – Having a long-term purpose as a Freelance Designer – 5 ways you can use Twitter to build your online profile – Why struggling with a design is a good [...]

]]> By: Bob http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/#comment-16651 Bob Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:04:40 +0000 http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/?p=343#comment-16651 So few people make a good living (for me that means a combination of a decent income and not working 18-hour days) doing freelance work that I have to agree that one should dip a toe in the water (i.e., keep your day job) before jumping in full-time. It's too stressful. I wanted to add that I stumbled onto an almost perfect situation for me: teaching and freelance consulting. I love the classroom interchanges, and I love the fact that my schedule allows both the joys of helping students learn and of doing my own creative work. Plus, you can use talented students in your work, and everyone benefits. It's a dual path that might work for you. So few people make a good living (for me that means a combination of a decent income and not working 18-hour days) doing freelance work that I have to agree that one should dip a toe in the water (i.e., keep your day job) before jumping in full-time. It’s too stressful.

I wanted to add that I stumbled onto an almost perfect situation for me: teaching and freelance consulting. I love the classroom interchanges, and I love the fact that my schedule allows both the joys of helping students learn and of doing my own creative work. Plus, you can use talented students in your work, and everyone benefits. It’s a dual path that might work for you.

]]> By: SEO Freelancer http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/#comment-16643 SEO Freelancer Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:50:34 +0000 http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/?p=343#comment-16643 The Long-Term Purpose of Freelance Designer or SEO Freelancer is to work anywhere anyhow without any pressure of any Boss. But, if we say Strategy, Tactics, Client, Vision, Competition, Market - we are serious. The Long-Term Purpose of Freelance Designer or SEO Freelancer is to work anywhere anyhow without any pressure of any Boss. But, if we say Strategy, Tactics, Client, Vision, Competition, Market – we are serious.

]]> By: Corey Freeman http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/#comment-16640 Corey Freeman Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:16:38 +0000 http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/?p=343#comment-16640 I find adhering to plans is a personal challenge for me, haha. I always have a somewhat cloudy goal in mind. After reading this post, I definitely think that I need to take some time to really define some things I want to get done. I like the one about setting deadlines. Setting goals without incentive or initiative to get them done don't really help you. I just recently had the same mindset as James - I'm thinking too hard about the 'right now.' I find adhering to plans is a personal challenge for me, haha. I always have a somewhat cloudy goal in mind. After reading this post, I definitely think that I need to take some time to really define some things I want to get done.

I like the one about setting deadlines. Setting goals without incentive or initiative to get them done don’t really help you. I just recently had the same mindset as James – I’m thinking too hard about the ‘right now.’

]]> By: Gus http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/#comment-16576 Gus Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:28:56 +0000 http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/?p=343#comment-16576 Thats why when I start to make my project I looke d so long for a professional designer and finnaly find him. He made my colors dreams became in one idea and then made this idea live in real life. Thats why when I start to make my project I looke d so long for a professional designer and finnaly find him. He made my colors dreams became in one idea and then made this idea live in real life.

]]> By: Tom Ross http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/#comment-16552 Tom Ross Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:37:53 +0000 http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/?p=343#comment-16552 Thanks for the inspiring post. I personally agree with a lot of your points, and I love combining freelance work with my own projects. Mixing up what you do instead of having the same kind of projects over and over stops you from getting bored. A diversified income and diversified interests/projects help to keep you motivated and more financially secure. Thanks for the inspiring post. I personally agree with a lot of your points, and I love combining freelance work with my own projects. Mixing up what you do instead of having the same kind of projects over and over stops you from getting bored. A diversified income and diversified interests/projects help to keep you motivated and more financially secure.

]]> By: Vandelay Design http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/#comment-16532 Vandelay Design Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:50:16 +0000 http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/?p=343#comment-16532 James, I think your approach sounds pretty similar to mine. I'm still working to earn a living in the present (that's kind of a requirement), but not at the expense of a future. I'm not afraid of some hard work now if it will make things easier or more profitable down the road. Thanks for sharing your experience. (Any you guessed right on the spelling). Matthew, Thanks. I appreciate it. Jin, The stress is definitely true. There's always pressure and no one else to count on but yourself. Networking is a great benefit, thanks for mentioning that. James,
I think your approach sounds pretty similar to mine. I’m still working to earn a living in the present (that’s kind of a requirement), but not at the expense of a future. I’m not afraid of some hard work now if it will make things easier or more profitable down the road. Thanks for sharing your experience. (Any you guessed right on the spelling).

Matthew,
Thanks. I appreciate it.

Jin,
The stress is definitely true. There’s always pressure and no one else to count on but yourself. Networking is a great benefit, thanks for mentioning that.

]]> By: Matthew http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/#comment-16528 Matthew Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:52:42 +0000 http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/?p=343#comment-16528 Steven - Great article, and so true. Keep up the great work and congrats on DesignM.ag. I've seen numerous plugs for the site on established design sites. Not bad considering you launched about a month ago! Steven –

Great article, and so true. Keep up the great work and congrats on DesignM.ag. I’ve seen numerous plugs for the site on established design sites. Not bad considering you launched about a month ago!

]]> By: James Chartrand - Men with Pens http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/long-term-purpose/#comment-16516 James Chartrand - Men with Pens Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:22:26 +0000 http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/?p=343#comment-16516 Bingo. At Men with Pens, we recently decided that we were focusing so much on the short-term that we were shooting ourselves in the foot by neglecting the long term. How could we work on building the business more and other projects if we always had our heads down bulling through work? We made some internal changes to adapt to our own needs. Cutting back on posting was one (and our readers appreciated it). Taking on less work and investing more time in furthering projects was another. Of course, it means we lose a little income now - but on the other hand, who the hell wants to work 60 hour weeks anyways? By focusing on earning less dollars immediately, we can focus on building projects that help us learn long-term dollars forever. And that's pretty damned important. Great post, Steven. (I can never remember if it's Steven or Stephen, so forgive me if I get it wrong.) Bingo. At Men with Pens, we recently decided that we were focusing so much on the short-term that we were shooting ourselves in the foot by neglecting the long term. How could we work on building the business more and other projects if we always had our heads down bulling through work?

We made some internal changes to adapt to our own needs. Cutting back on posting was one (and our readers appreciated it). Taking on less work and investing more time in furthering projects was another.

Of course, it means we lose a little income now – but on the other hand, who the hell wants to work 60 hour weeks anyways?

By focusing on earning less dollars immediately, we can focus on building projects that help us learn long-term dollars forever. And that’s pretty damned important.

Great post, Steven. (I can never remember if it’s Steven or Stephen, so forgive me if I get it wrong.)

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