The myth of freelance freedom
A story of a time I couldn’t enjoy vacation with my family
So, I’m writing this post from the past.
Because right now I’m on a long road trip to visit my sister and her family. (We’ve got a lot of celebrations in November, so we make a big deal out of it.)
It got me thinking a little bit about the freedom of the open road.
... well, freedom now because of my business & trading.
But just a few years ago I went on a family road trip and had to work through the whole thing!
It was some freelance client work.
I was writing for a marketing company at the time and they had just landed a very big client. The guy traveled and was trained up by one of the biggest motivational speakers in the world.
True story!
Anyway, they put me as the main copywriter for that account.
Meaning I had about a three day window to write some viral copy for The Guy.
Except my family had a planned vacation that week!
Didn’t matter to them and they were paying my bills.
(I needed the money in a big way, so I had to deal with it ... oh the “joys” of client work.)
I lugged my laptop on the trip, parked my butt in an office, and cranked out copy. It took me hours to do all the proper research, find some interesting angles, write some drafts, edit them, submit for feedback, make changes, and then, finally, send it off to the client.
“Freelance work is freeing!”
Yeah ... sure.
I can work anywhere in the world as long as I have an internet connection, so I have to work anywhere in the world.
Even on vacation.
🥴
Now, let me say something clearly:
This was my own fault.
I was the one who put myself in a position where I had to work for peanuts instead of enjoying the vacation with the rest of my family. (Thankfully, I did have some fun with them in the evenings.)
I was the one who didn’t have the margin available to request time off with the client.
Me.
I get that.
But, it still stings.
And it led my family to call me out and “strongly encourage” me to find a better way to run my business and my life.
I’m incredibly thankful I found a better way.
Now I’m making good, consistent money trading my accounts.
And I’m having fun running a business where I teach others how to trade like I’m trading.
My group is just getting started and if you’re curious about it, here’s the link:
— Ricky Ketchum