Woody, Jack Russell terrier, faithful canine companion By sheer chance today I came across a retweet on my Twitter stream with the words #FreelancerLife calling out for freelancers to get involved with their Twitter chat. So I did. And I am very glad I did too. I have been living in France for 2.5 years now and the focus has very much been understanding the red tape of living and working in France. I am a member and admin of a private FB group for ladies in business and I look out for a couple of auto entrepreneurs, as well my day to day social media activities. Until today I totally forgot that I am in my own right a 'freelancer'.
The concept of being an auto entrepreneur is alien in France [culturally it is a very much a job for life mentality]. I would have very little chance of being understood if I tried to explain that I was a freelancer working from home and doing the job that I do, working within a social media environment.
By joining the Twitter chat I was able to connect and chat with fellow freelancers in the UK and even other freelancers who have done what I did, escaped to the country... another country. I am responsible for my day in terms of how I manage my time, my client work, my home life, my admin and my free time.
These questions asked in the Twitter chat got my mental juices flowing about me as a freelancer as well as being an expat and an auto entrepreneur in another county.
We all resonated with many of the responses posted. It's a challenge being a freelancer, it is not compatible for all, but those who do stick it out you have to be:
One of the highlights of the Twitter chat for me was sharing our 'office' pets. That cute dog in the image is my Jack Russell terrier, Woody at 12 weeks old, he is now 7. It appears that having a pet companion can bring some sanity into what can be quite an insular way of working. The beauty of technology and social media platforms brings together likeminded people wherever your office happens to be. This particular Twitter chat timely reminded that I am part of something that is beyond the realms of my day to day work and that I can be part of a bigger community, even if I do work from rural France.
For fellow freelancers there will be regular #FreelancerLife twitter chats organised. Just follow @teamIPSE and look out for their next Twitter chat on March 25th.
My two jack russell terriers even managed to grace the front page of #FreelancerLife Storify.
Yours socially
The concept of being an auto entrepreneur is alien in France [culturally it is a very much a job for life mentality]. I would have very little chance of being understood if I tried to explain that I was a freelancer working from home and doing the job that I do, working within a social media environment.
By joining the Twitter chat I was able to connect and chat with fellow freelancers in the UK and even other freelancers who have done what I did, escaped to the country... another country. I am responsible for my day in terms of how I manage my time, my client work, my home life, my admin and my free time.
These questions asked in the Twitter chat got my mental juices flowing about me as a freelancer as well as being an expat and an auto entrepreneur in another county.
- What made you go freelance?
- What impact does working freelance have on your personal life?
- What are your top 3 freelance challenges?
- Has going freelance changed your attitude?
We all resonated with many of the responses posted. It's a challenge being a freelancer, it is not compatible for all, but those who do stick it out you have to be:
- disciplined
- focused
- good manage of your time
- self reliant and resilient
- prepared to put yourself out there and get work
One of the highlights of the Twitter chat for me was sharing our 'office' pets. That cute dog in the image is my Jack Russell terrier, Woody at 12 weeks old, he is now 7. It appears that having a pet companion can bring some sanity into what can be quite an insular way of working. The beauty of technology and social media platforms brings together likeminded people wherever your office happens to be. This particular Twitter chat timely reminded that I am part of something that is beyond the realms of my day to day work and that I can be part of a bigger community, even if I do work from rural France.
For fellow freelancers there will be regular #FreelancerLife twitter chats organised. Just follow @teamIPSE and look out for their next Twitter chat on March 25th.
My two jack russell terriers even managed to grace the front page of #FreelancerLife Storify.
Yours socially
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