Plunge into freelance work, it refreshes your soul…
Time to read: 2 minutes
From the newest member of the team, digital marketing diva and freelance work specialist – Simona Cotta Ramusino
Reality has finally hit. I have updated my LinkedIn profile with my new job title, so it must be true: I am a PR and Digital Marketing Freelancer.
After 20 years of working for top-class agencies and in-house marketing departments of international brands, I have decided to take the plunge into freelancing. Making the decision to go freelance was a scary moment. I am just beginning to get to grips with my new status. In just a short period of time, I have already come to appreciate and enjoy and won’t change my mind any time soon. Why? Well, you need to know how I got into freelancing.
It’s thanks to Sam
Sam and I worked together a few years ago. One of her talents is reading people’s strengths and personalities and making them work well within a team. When I asked Sam for advice on whether I should join her band of freelancers, she knew my type well: I am not a risk taker. I always have to think things through and always need a Plan B (or C or D). Sam not only laid out the naked truth about the freelance world, but she also made sure I didn’t have too much time to think over the cons the new path would entail. She got me straight to work as part of the Comms Crowd gang.
The “plunge” came with an important life lesson
As I started reconnecting and talking to previous colleagues, they all agreed it was a great career move for me, some even wondered why I hadn’t done this sooner. It surprised me. They knew more about me, about my skills and talent than I did. At the end it was their support and comments that gave me that final push and made me realise it was indeed a career change, it wasn’t something temporary, something I could do in my spare time or just as I was looking for something else. It was my new job title.
To answer my initial question on why I wouldn’t change being a freelancer this is because it lets me use all the communications skills I have learned through the years and apply them for a variety of clients that an agency wouldn’t even have on their books. I also feel it has elevated me professionally and it is giving me so much satisfaction, both professionally and personally. Because the relationships I establish with my clients seem to be more on a par, the recognition I receive for my work feels more personal and genuine.
So while some people may decide to go down the freelance route because they want a better work/life balance or be their own boss, for me these are just by-products. Freelancing means doing what you do best and enjoying it!
