Freelancing.

Why do people choose to freelance? Is it because they do not want to be desk-bound? Is it because it comes with more money? Whatever the reasons, I feel as a freelancer, one ought to have excellent time management skills and be responsible to manage client-relations and expectations. This, to me, are the basic benchmark. If you take on a job and in the middle of it, cannot follow through in a timely manner, then freelancing is not for you. You will be better off in a 9-5 routine.

I am now managing my own time and business and have to work with different people from all over. Some are fantastic – they respond immediately when you text them, they reply your emails promptly... and if they can't get back to you with an immediate answer, they will tell you that they're on it and will advise asap – these partners are the keepers. 

Then there are the ones who say they can do the job... and then in the middle of it decides to take a holiday (and not tell you about it!). When you need changes to be done, they can only work on them in the night!? These, you have to ditch!

I find myself held at ransome when working with freelancers. I want to depend on them and want to trust them to do their job, but when they don't perform, I end up having to do their job. Remind me why am I paying them again? My personal policy: take in jobs only if you can do everything yourself. If I want to hire someone else to do it, I jolly well also now how to do it myself because I never know if they will back out on me.