Time to stop being ashamed of our side hustles 💪
A good side hustle is so much more than an extra source of revenue
The Friendly Freelancer is a biweekly newsletter for creative freelancers available in English and Dutch. If you would prefer to read this newsletter in Dutch, you can subscribe to the Dutch version here. You will get the same letter as subscribers to the English version, but some of the linked resources and articles may slightly differ.
We can’t escape the fact that freelancers are suffering under the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus this week. Some of us can’t work because we’re sick. Others are seeing assignments disappear into thin air because public life has come to a grinding halt.
It’s next to impossible to be completely prepared for the consequences of a – thankfully – rare event like a pandemic. But it has made me consider the usefulness of income streams from different types of work.
The idea that you’ve “made it” once you can fully live off your creative work is certainly common among freelancers. And I get it. But what if for some temporary reason or other there’s barely any demand for the services you provide? It’s in these types of situations that a part-time salaried job, or a wide range of freelance services that allows you to temporarily shift focus, starts to make a lot of sense.
There are other reasons to want to do something completely different from your main line of work. A carefully chosen side hustle is more than just a safety net or an extra source of revenue. It’s a possibility to:
try out a new activity that you aren’t ready (yet) to turn into your main occupation
show the world a different side of yourself
work with other people or to work in a different environment
I’ve tried out several side hustles. And the absolute winner for me was to make a bit of money on the side as a cat and dogsitter. It essentially meant that I kept very cuddable animals company – and vice versa – all the while continuing to work on my writing assignments. Dogs even accomplished a feat that my alarm clock never has: to get me out of bed early every morning. They also forced me to adopt a healthy work schedule with many walk breaks. And I now know every dog owner who lives in my street.
Image: Mervyn Franssen
My side hustle also came with other, less obvious benefits. For instance, I held on to my asking rate whenever a dog owner asked for a discount. There are only a couple of media companies in Flanders, but there are more than a million dogs in this country. Next 🚮
After I’d built up experience rejecting such dogs, it also became easier to say ‘no’ to media companies with extremely low rates and unfavourable terms. Sure, these kinds of clients might not bite like dogs do, but they can still do a lot of damage if you let them play with you.
In short, this side hustle was more than just a temporary side gig for me. The things I learned from working with cats and dogs have made me a better and happier freelancer 🐶
So if you ask me, it’s time we all start valuing our side gigs and hustles more. I’m curious to hear what side hustles you currently have or have had in the past, and your tips for choosing a good side hustle. Let us know by emailing us at freelancerthefriendly@gmail.com
And dear freelancers, I hope you will get by the next few weeks. You are always welcome in The Friendly Freelancer inbox with your questions, concerns and advice, or if you simply want to message us to tell us what’s been on your mind.
Take good care of yourself and each other,
Selma
What I’m reading, watching, listening to this week:
This article that explains why freelancers are stronger when they organise and share information about rates.
The Creative Independent website, which lets you discover how other creatives, freelance and salaried, get the job done. The funky layout of this fantastic website always puts a smile on my face. 🐌 🐌 Thanks for the tip, Julien!
This English-language overview of all the Belgian support measures for freelancers during these Corona-times.
This newsletter was written by Selma Franssen. Selma is a Dutch freelance journalist living in Brussels. She is the author of Vriendschap in tijden van eenzaamheid and has written for Charlie Magazine, OneWorld, De Morgen, De Standaard, The New Statesman, Bustle, Knack, VPRO and Newsweek.
You’ll hear from Linda A. Thompson in two weeks, a Belgian freelance journalist specialised in covering corporate tax and social injustice. She’s written for Bloomberg Law, Deutsche Welle, OZY, International Politics & Society, USA Today, IJNet and Equal Times.
