The Thick Skin Of Freelancing: 7 Tips

To do anything in today's business world you need to have thick skin. Dealing with scams, difficult clients and rejection tear us all down a little. Here's how you can grow through what you go through. 🌻

If working for an organization that provides you with work and goals as well as a corporate ladder to climb is for the strong, then freelancing is for superhumans.

As a freelancer, you're the entire business. You have to manage client acquisition, bookkeeping, and all technical and customer service-related elements of your business, and it's stressful.

As a freelance copywriter, I know exactly the type of rigor one must have in order to make it as a freelancer and I also know what it feels like to be lost.

Starting a business during the pandemic has been an amazingly wild ride, and through it, I've developed some hacks which remind me of how badass I am and why I do what I do in the first place.

Here are my helpful tips on how you can develop your own grit in today's hyper-polished and advanced internet age.

1. Don't sweat the small stuff, and pick your battles.

There are so many little things that go into running your own business that it's difficult to pinpoint what requires your attention at any given time and what you can chill on.

I know it can be difficult, but here are a few things you should ask yourself before worrying about something:

• Will it actually benefit my business?

• Is there something else more pressing that needs my attention?

• Am I biting off more than I can chew?

As a new freelancer try not to worry too much about things like having 1 million+ connections, a 100% perfect website, or not hearing back from every person you reach out to.

Everything you go through is a learning curve, and if you keep a level head you'll be able to absorb much more information and be able to effectively decide what to worry about and what to let go of.

Remember: By focusing on what's best for your business, instead of everything at once, you'll make way more progress. One step at a time.

2. If someone is rude, don't get rude back.

"Why would anyone ever be rude to me?"

If you're asking that question then you haven't dealt with those occasional not-so-nice clients.

But you will at some point, and here's what you should do:

• Stop and gain your composure before responding.

• Remain polite and be happy you aren't the one who is showcasing negative behavior.

• Formulate a gracious response wishing them the best but state that things aren't going to work.

I always say I've been lucky with the clients I've worked with as they all have been amazing. In reality, I've had prospects get rude with me, and rather than working with them I've cut the cord. Anyone who has had a nightmare client encounter probably ignored the red flags.

Part of maintaining proper mental health as a freelancer means not working with people who bring you down...even if you have to sacrifice money from time to time (let's be honest you probably dodged a bullet).

3. You're not bossy, you're the boss.

Being the boss comes with great responsibility because the only person you have to answer to is yourself.

When a situation isn't ideal, take a deep breath, stay calm, look at your choices and ask why it happened and how you can keep it from happening again.

My favorite part of freelance copywriting is that when I make mistakes, I'm the one who has to fix them. In fact, my business depends on my ability to solve complex problems, sometimes even outside of my realm of knowledge.

There is no one pointing fingers or loafing. You're the one who keeps the ball rolling and you have to come up with solutions to solve enigmas. That fact should help you through tough situations.

When in doubt, question how you got there. You'll have tough skin in no time.

Remember: You're the boss and any problem that arises you have the ability to solve in your own unique way and no one can take that from you. Isn't that why you went into business for yourself? Don't get mad, get smart.

4. Self-care isn't only found on exotic vacations.

It's so easy to get caught up working 24/7, especially when you're starting out as a freelancer. That will work for a while...but trust me you're going to burn out eventually.

Burning out makes taking designated time off arduous because you'll probably need more time to get back into working mental and physical shape.

I'm not saying you need a vacation once every few months, but more practically you need set times to work and set times to relax and do what you want and need to do in order to survive.

Having thick skin means knowing how to take care of yourself.

Friendly reminder: You don't need to keep up with the Joneses to find relaxation time. Whether you're a nomadic or stay-at-home freelancer, scheduling your free hours will save you time and money in the end.

Eating a healthy dinner every night from the bathtub while watching Netflix will save your nerves from needing a third expensive Euro trip this year. Who doesn't like self-care which saves money?

5. Go at your own pace, it's not a race.

When comparing ourselves to others we can sometimes feel like we're coming up short and moving waaaaaaaay too slowly. In actuality slowing down is a good thing and it helps us grow and develop as freelancers.

Hit the brakes and take inventory of what you have accomplished with your business before you get going again:

• Created your first website for your business?

• Attended your first prospect meeting?

• Made your first client an ally and friend?

• Completed a project successfully smashing all your goals?

• Simply started learning about freelance copywriting?

These are all things you should celebrate about your freelancing career, no matter how long it took you to get there.

Everyone is on their own journey and some are going faster or slower than you are. You might be going as fast as a segway now, but in the future, you could be traveling at the speed of light with your career.

In the meantime, please don't compare yourself to others. Doing so may do more harm than good.

6. Have an organic business plan.

The plan should never be "there is no plan" when talking business. If it is then you probably need to sit down and consider how you're going to form a plan.

The best business plan is organic and can change with the times, is open to outside influence, and never loses its edge.

When creating the template your business will follow keep in mind that things will change. If you create an organic model you'll be able to grow with any changes that come your way.

Your model should include everything you'll need to onboard new clients and possibly team members, how to cope with and crush deadlines and customer service, and lastly how to handle any emergencies if they arise.

Having an appropriate plan in place allows you to focus on what matters without sacrificing the integrity of your operation.

Thick skin doesn't just appear, it's something you'll grow while developing these processes.

7. Mental health is mental wealth.

Taking time for yourself is half of the mental health battle, the other half is actually working on yourself in order to become a more confident freelancer.

If you haven't done so already, I recommend finding a licensed counselor in your state that can help you improve how you function in your everyday life. Both professionally and at home.

Having someone to bounce those everyday fears and worries off allows you to let go and become the self-actualized person your business needs. Being tough is actually about letting others in to help redecorate your mind's mental state.

Because let's face it...you grow a skin by knowing what makes you who you are.

I'm not a mental health professional, but I can attest to the transformative power of simply having someone to talk to. Working with a counselor during COVID has changed my life and how I live it.

Modern Benefit: It's cheaper than ever nowadays to seek counseling because of the wondrous internet. There are websites that offer great pricing, and if you're in college most campuses have free mental health counselors you can utilize.

If all else fails, and you find yourself not able to cope with the stress that comes with the territory of freelancing, remember that you're the QUEEN or KING of your freelancing empire. No one can take that from you. When you start owning that fact, you'll begin to develop a pair of chops even the most seasoned of veterans will applaud.

Get out there, and don't take smack from anyone.

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If working with clients has you feeling uneasy, read my Complete Beginner's Guide To Copywriting: Working With Clients. The Complete Beginner's Guide series is a FREE resource designed to help those interested in learning copywriting basics.

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Read my article 11 Ways To Convert Your Copywriting Into Sales which offers tips on how you can make it in today's freelance copywriting climate while maintaining your sanity.

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