I started my current foray into freelance work in the spring of 2023. I had done freelance and contract work years before, but I had moved into a full-time position with a non-profit where I stayed, in various roles, for 12 years. While I worked with some wonderful people and on some interesting projects, after that many years I was looking for a change. When the organization announced that it was being purchased by a larger company, it seemed like the perfect time to move on.
I had some lofty goals for those first few months of working for myself. I knew I would need to develop a portfolio as a first step. I also had ideas for a bunch of side projects: websites I wanted to create, ideas I wanted to pursue. And, thinking I’d have some time with fewer meetings and a flexible schedule, I had a list of yard and house projects I thought I could get done as well.
Instead of a magical summer of getting so many things done, I ended up completely overwhelmed. I’m a single mom raising two teenagers largely on my own and with no financial support. All too many nights I found myself wide awake at 3am worrying about being able to keep food on the table, let alone being able to pay for upcoming teenager car insurance and college expenses. Being overtired and stressed didn’t exactly lead to productive work days.
So, I slowed way down. My portfolio came first. The vast majority of the work I had done over the years is behind a firewall, so I needed to recreate versions of some projects and create some brand new work. I started by creating an online course about raising backyard chickens. At my daughter’s persistent request, we had adopted three baby chicks in 2020, and the chicken coop I built for them ranks as one of my favorite personal accomplishments. I figured I could use what I had learned to knock out a course relatively quickly.
With some focused attention, I completed that course and several others, making up the first draft of my portfolio. I started reaching out to people I had worked with previously and applying for roles, and I got my first freelance contract.
I’ve been incredibly grateful to work on some amazing projects since then, and I’ve gotten to work – quite literally – with people all over the world.
All those lofty goals I initially had still scratched at the back of my brain. I made little bits of progress as time allowed but knew I could be structuring my time more effectively in the busy-ness of work hours and kid stuff. (My oldest graduates from high school later this month!)
Last month I read the book Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff. Then I read it again. It is such a refreshing take on goal setting. Le Cunff points out many problems with the way we tend to set goals, which described my frustrations well. I’d set big goals for a month or a quarter, but without knowing at the time how long things would take, it was difficult to set goals that were truly reasonable. At the end of the quarter, I’d realize I’d either completely forgotten about them and/or had only been able to complete a small part and would feel like I had failed.
In Tiny Experiments, Le Cunff suggests instead choosing something really small to focus on for a short period of time. And, instead of thinking of it like a goal that results in success or failure, to think of it as a experiment. What could be learned from the effort that could be useful for next time?
My first tiny experiment was simply getting a morning walk back into my day. For one week, I would take my kids to school like usual but then would stop somewhere on the way home and go on a little walk. I had thought about this many times, but the idea of, “I’m going to start going on a walk every morning” was a lot harder to get started than, “I’m going to walk every day for just one week.” Then, if I wanted, I could keep going for another week, or adjust the plan and try something else. That felt really doable. And, it got me walking again.
The book also highlights the power of “learning in public,” being willing to share with others what I’m working with others and getting to learn from them as well. And that gave me the idea to start writing here. I’ve learned so much about freelancing over the last two years and like the idea of documenting some lessons learned in a way I could share with others.
My next tiny experiment will be focused on making time for reflection at the end of each work week, another idea emphasized in the book. I’m greatly looking forward to seeing what comes next.