Playing statues - why it’s ok for your freelance business to stand still

If there is one thing that I have noticed since I started freelancing it is that business growth is a regular topic of discussion. With our career destiny ultimately in our own hands, we’re solely responsible for determining the direction that our business takes - be this in terms of who we work with, how many hours we work or how much money we want to earn. But if you have goals that you want to reach, ultimately you really do need a plan to get there. Statistics say that businesses who make plans are much more likely to succeed. And coincidentally - my good friend Catherine at Clean Slate Copy is running an amazing 2-day intensive course on business planning - check it out here!

Every few weeks I have a freelance accountability/catchup with another copywriter, with the aim of supporting each other, listening to the goals that we have and giving each other ideas on how to achieve them. However, this week when we were chatting I suddenly realised one thing - that for the time being, I am perfectly content with my business not growing, but instead remaining exactly where it is for the time being.

The freelance community is amazing, and if you’ve ever come across me on social media you will know that I rave about how awesome everybody is all of the time. Nevertheless, spend a little time in the digital freelancing world and you’ll quickly see that many people are doing heaps of different and interesting things - writing books, launching newsletters, forming agencies etc. And that is fantastic for them and I’m really pleased and proud of each and every one of them for achieving what they set out to do (especially my friend Helen who has had a very challenging 18 months and has still managed to write a bloody book!). However, it can all seem a bit overwhelming, especially if you aren’t doing any of those things. And suddenly you can start doubting yourself, wondering if you are doing something wrong by NOT pushing yourself in the same way.

Life is tiring

When my friend asked me this week what I was doing towards my original business goals that I had set out earlier this year (to move away from smaller gigs onto larger projects and clients, and to create an alternative revenue stream), it suddenly dawned on me that those goals no longer appeal to me right now. I’ve been freelancing for 6 and half years and during that time, my business has grown constantly, from the odd low-paid writing gig to working 40+ hours every week with a diverse range of international clients. All I have done since I started out is to grow - and I’m exhausted.

I can sit here and list 10 different ideas I have, and that I would like to do, to grow my business and achieve some amazing goals. But I admitted to my friend, I just don’t have the time, energy or mental space to be able to focus on them right now. I’m fortunate enough to have a handful of lovely, regular clients, consistent referrals from other freelance and copywriter friends, and enough work to keep me very busy. In fact, I am already fully booked until pretty much November!

But outside of that I have life stuff to deal with and to enjoy. I have two kids, one just beginning her GCSE studies and the other just starting his secondary school life. I have a husband to spend time with, and wider family and friends. And I need to take some time just for me too. To recharge my batteries. As the saying goes, you can’t pour - or write - from an empty, exhausted and overwhelmed cup.

It’s ok not to do allll the things

One of the many beauties of freelancing is freedom to choose. To quote Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, ‘I say who, I say when…’. But this doesn’t just have to apply to clients. I can also decide to take my foot off of the gas when it comes to business growth and embrace my contentment in the consistency I have right now. I may be surrounded by other epic freelancers doing all the things, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to get left behind if I don’t do them too. Neither will you. It’s a shitty cliché, but freelancing is a journey, not a race. And while I may review my options in the future, for now I’m content to take the scenic route!

You can’t sign up for my non-existent newsletter, I don’t have a podcast or vlog, and I’m not on TikTok… however, you can find me where I’ve always been - rambling on Twitter, avoiding unsolicited sales pitches by people offering me printing, weight loss or coaching on LinkedIn, or you can email me at hello@wickedcreative.co.uk