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Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

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Re: Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

#11

Post by budowski »

keiferski wrote: post #7
budowski wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What I'm actually trying to say in this post is that you need to change your way of thinking about working hard, retiring and only then doing what you'd like (i.e. lifestyle design). If you're already familiar with this concept - this post won't provide you any new insights. I have thought about writing the practical tips right there, but these could actually be spread across several posts.

I suppose so, but you have to consider your audience here. Most/all of HN is familiar with the 4 Hour Work week, and your post was basically just its back cover description. I'm interested in what you have to say, but you're gonna have to be more detailed and less hand-wavy to keep people interested.

I guess you're right, but I'm trying to build this entire blog step-by-step, with "intro" posts like these as a prelude.

Re: Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

#12

Post by rpeden »

I see some negative responses to this, and I understand what people are saying, i.e. that people here are already familiar with 4HWW concepts so this is nothing new.

However, there are many people out there who are familiar with these concepts, and want to act on them, but keep putting it off. So seeing this kind of thing hit the HN front page once in a while, because reading it again rekindles the idea in the minds of those who are interested, but haven't yet acted.

Re: Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

#13

Post by michaelpinto »

This is such depressing reading — it's all about "me" and doesn't give a damn for anybody else. I guess on a spiritual level this is why I hated the 4 Hour Work Week cult: It was all a sort of cult of being self centered. And on the flip side I think this is why I admire Bill Gates: Because he's taken the money he has and is actually trying to improve the world. There needs to be a bit more of that in the tech industry...

Re: Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

#14

Post by chasing »

I've been freelancing since 1997. It has its perks, for sure, but it's not simply "become a freelancer, work two hours a day, fulfill all your dreams!" That's as much of a stereotype as "become a freelancer, work in your underwear, never take a shower!"

Making a good income as a freelancer requires work. And clients. And paying attention to clients' needs. And spending much more time organizing your financial and business life. And dealing with work/life boundary issues. It's something I like to refer as a "job."

And he's certainly not "retired," as he seems to claim, if he's paying the bills freelancing. It kind of sounds like he's decided to take a major income hit in order to have more lifestyle freedom (aided by living in a place with lower costs of living). Which is totally fine! Especially when you're young. But that's a major trade-off, and not one that should be taken lightly.

Re: Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

#15

Post by cgag »

michaelpinto wrote: post #13

This is such depressing reading — it's all about "me" and doesn't give a damn for anybody else. I guess on a spiritual level this is why I hated the 4 Hour Work Week cult: It was all a sort of cult of being self centered. And on the flip side I think this is why I admire Bill Gates: Because he's taken the money he has and is actually trying to improve the world. There needs to be a bit more of that in the tech indust…

He only started giving away money and doing good once he was absurdly wealthy and had financial freedom. How does working a normal full time job do more good for the world than freelancing and pursing your own interests?

Re: Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

#16

Post by budowski »

gdonelli wrote: post #9

I think he forgot to mention that you need to try the freelancing route when you have saved some $$$ buffer, for me it was about a year worth of free falling. It is going to be bumpy and you need to have the peace of mind to focus on the present. Moving to a foreign country to save money could be a good idea, but only if you would like to live abroad. If you do it only for the money your life will be miserable. Also…

I completely agree. I'll address specifically this issue in one of my future posts (on how to get started).

Re: Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

#17

Post by orangethirty »

chasing wrote: post #14

I've been freelancing since 1997. It has its perks, for sure, but it's not simply "become a freelancer, work two hours a day, fulfill all your dreams!" That's as much of a stereotype as "become a freelancer, work in your underwear, never take a shower!" Making a good income as a freelancer requires work. And clients. And paying attention to clients' needs. And spending much more time organizing your financial and bus…

Spot on. I will add that freelancing is a business. Thus it survives or thrives on the marketing. If you suck at marketing or hate to do it, you won't do as well. That's why I sell a marketing system for freelancers. Most are simply lost when it comes to it.

Re: Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

#18

Post by budowski »

chasing wrote: post #14

I've been freelancing since 1997. It has its perks, for sure, but it's not simply "become a freelancer, work two hours a day, fulfill all your dreams!" That's as much of a stereotype as "become a freelancer, work in your underwear, never take a shower!" Making a good income as a freelancer requires work. And clients. And paying attention to clients' needs. And spending much more time organizing your financial and bus…

I have actually written about the pros and cons of freelancing in a previous post, showing that it's not all rosy: bucketlistjournal.com/post/46601822485/pros-and-cons-of-freelancing

(and P.S. - I personally did not relocate, so my living expenses are still high)

Re: Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

#19

Post by k-mcgrady »

Not really much content here. It's been a while since I've read the 4HWW but I'm pretty sure freelancing wouldn't fit in with LD. For example, it's pretty hard to make any money freelancing when you're not working. I thought the point of LD was to generate recurring income that will continue to generate even if you do nothing.

Re: Freelancing and Lifestyle Design

#20

Post by rhizome »

budowski wrote: post #11
keiferski wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose so, but you have to consider your audience here. Most/all of HN is familiar with the 4 Hour Work week, and your post was basically just its back cover description. I'm interested in what you have to say, but you're gonna have to be more detailed and less hand-wavy to keep people interested.

I guess you're right, but I'm trying to build this entire blog step-by-step, with "intro" posts like these as a prelude.

You can probably skip posting teasers to HN. Also maybe consider writing a post on knowing your audience.
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