The problem with content and comfortable 🍫 🛁 🍵
Where would I be today if I had had everyday, low-key support from a boss and peers since 2012?
Here’s a question I’ve asked myself a lot lately.
In an alternate universe, in a universe in which I had never gone freelance at the tender age of 24, what kind of journalist would I be today?
The question has been on my mind since watching “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, a movie whose main premise is that parallel universes exist in which we made different choices at key moments in our lives.
Not to get too existential about it, but would I have been happier if I hadn’t gone the freelance route at the end of 2012? Would I have been a more talented, successful journalist? Is there a parallel universe where, having been mentored by a bespectacled, older and wiser colleague who “saw” my potential; having benefited from the collective wisdom of an entire newsroom; having picked up countless strategies and skills through the kind of casual learning that happens when you put a bunch of people in the same room, the salaried version of me would have been one of the journalists behind the Panama Papers revelations? Would I have won a career-defining journalism award? Would I have written a longread about some incredible, true story that was later made into a movie that became both a critical and box office success?
In this universe, the one where I’m writing this newsletter to you, I think I’m a good journalist but … – well – I’m the one grading myself.
At my current coworking space, for the first time, I’ve gotten to observe some casual learning in the wild. I now share an office with three architects – one senior, two junior. I see the two junior architects picking up a lot of things from the more senior architect, but there’s as much, if not more learning going on between the two junior architects.
There’s only so much learning you can do on your own. As a solo self-employed person, I have to “steal” my moments of casual learning when I happen to work with other freelancers on the same project. Of course, there are other ways to keep on learning, and I’ve tried them all. I attend conferences to improve my craft and keep abreast of new developments; I sign up to webinars to run my business better.
But this isn’t really addressing my issue – which is that I want an industry peer who is invested in my success to hover around me during business hours so I can learn from them and I also want that person to hold me accountable. Where would I be today if I had had that kind of everyday, low-key support and coaching since 2012? (For all our salaried readers, indulge me for a moment. I know this isn’t a given in every workplace.)
As lovely as they are, my clients hardly ever give me feedback that makes me grow or in some way challenges me to do things differently. As encouraging as they are, none of them expect me to hit particular self-development goals.
The obvious benefit of that is that I don’t have to answer to anyone; the obvious disadvantage is that it’s all too easy to get comfortable and stop doing things that scare you. And I have done just that.
Being self-employed means you’re the only one holding yourself accountable; you’re the only one evaluating and appraising yourself. And though I’ve set income and productivity goals, I haven’t forced myself to do things that take me out of my comfort zone in a long time.
I’m happy to have left those first few years as a new freelancer behind me, and all the work uncertainty, financial insecurity and general, incessant second-guessing of every small decision that went with it. Today, I’m comfortable and content, and I have tailored the services I provide so I can stay away from the things I hate with a ten-foot pole.
Thankfully, I had a conversation with a newbie freelancer the other day (hi Tamara!) who reminded me how much hustling is required when you’re new to freelancing, and made me realise how complacent I’ve become.
So when I went to a work conference a few days later, I resolved that it was time to step up. I imagined that in the alternate universe where I’m salaried I would have needed to make at least one or two contacts to justify my spending the entire afternoon there, instead of at my desk. It’s what I kept thinking the whole time as I listened to the different speakers and panel debates.
Readers, after one of the last panels, I went up to one of the speakers and asked him for his contact details.
I felt so good about that, that after grabbing a coffee, I went up to a second speaker and exchanged contact details with them as well. I – the student and examinator – am giving myself bonus points for that, as she was the most intimidating of all the speakers.
And perhaps, just perhaps, you all can hold me accountable with the thing that is daunting me the most?
I – deep breath – want to try out the digital nomad lifestyle. Next year will be the year that I spend at least a full month in a tropical, sun-filled destination where I don’t know anyone. Can you please not let me chicken out on it? 🙏🏽
What about you? Do you set goals for yourself? If so, how do you hold yourself accountable? And definitely get in touch if you’ve tried out the digital nomad lifestyle. I want need all your good advice and recommendations if I’m going to do this.
Linda
Yes, definitely agree! It can be easy to fall complacent. Thanks for sharing this, needed a reminder to step out of my comfort zone myself. I've been a digital nomad on and off for +10 years, so happy to connect and grab a virtual coffee anytime. Cheers