People who need people

It’s been six weeks since my last blog post; where on earth has that time gone? I’ll tell you where it’s gone. I did a little bit of writing - hallelujah! But it’s mostly been spent sitting at my laptop trawling through job boards, social media sites and recruitment agencies looking for potential clients and contracts, with little success. It’s been sending out emails, pitches, cover letters and bespoke CVs, most of which have been met with thunderous silence. (Why do people post that they’re so ‘excited’ to hear from new talent, only to completely ghost you when you get in touch?) It’s been stressing over website issues that could affect how potential clients find me. It’s been diving into LinkedIn networking only to emerge panicked and disillusioned with the number of people suggesting it’s a terrible time to be a freelancer. And yes, some of the last few weeks have been spent seriously questioning my decision to take the leap into full-time freelancing, and trying not to curl up into a ball and cry.

If that all sounds very negative, it’s because a lot of it has been. Or it has certainly felt like it. But as I said in my first post, I started this blog to record and reflect on my journey into the world of freelancing so it would seem disingenuous to anyone on the same journey to suggest that I’ve found the last few weeks easy. Was I expecting instant results? Absolutely not. Was I hoping to feel like I’d made some progress for all that effort? Definitely.

But this would be a very depressing blog if it was all doom and gloom. And the good news is, it isn’t. Because I’ve also spent time getting out and about meeting people. Potential clients, maybe, but also people who can offer advice, practical help and connections with other networks and opportunities. And what I have found, almost without exception, is how keen people are to help me move forward and how supportive people can be.

Just last week I went along to a great networking event run by ActionCOACH Wakefield (https://wakefield.actioncoach.co.uk/). I was mingling with a number of business owners from the local area and there was also a bit of a coaching session, looking at planning and strategy. As I introduced myself and got chatting to people there, I was struck by how willing everyone was to offer advice, support and wisdom to this complete stranger. People took my card, promising to keep me in mind if they heard of any opportunities. I got a couple of pep talks when I confessed that I was finding it hard to get going. I met people in a similar position to myself, who are also just starting out, and it’s fair to say some mutual counselling was undertaken! I was even introduced to someone who might end up as a client later in the year, and have already had follow-up conversations with two of the people I met there. It’s fair to say I left the event feeling more positive than I had done for quite a few weeks. 

And how did I even know that this was happening? Because one of the organisers, Ric Hopwood of Hopwood Creative, took the time to respond to a cold email from me. Which led to a meeting, which led to a new connection, which led to a networking event, which in time will lead to…who knows?

So from now on, I’m going to invest as much time as I can in getting out and about to meet different people. Yes, I'll be trying to sell what I have to offer but I'm also ready to imbibe as much advice and knowledge as I can. I will also, I hope, be able to offer the same support to others that they have shown to me. It’s more time-consuming (and far more nerve wracking!) than bashing out emails, but the positive vibes that come with it are more than worth it. And I'm feeling confident that I’m going to meet many more people who will show the same kindness and understanding as I continue my life as a freelancer.