Work that You can't Show

I've been thinking about this lately.  This has yet to happen to me in terms of freelance, but in my current job I am unable to show any of my work to the public.  I generally upload some of my work to my website, which you can find on the top, right side where the information goes called My Personal Website.  No, I have 0 shame for that plug.  This is a bit frustrating for me, especially since I have some pieces I'd love to show others in terms of design.  I also have been working on two websites, one that consists of over 60,000 products and another that has over 100,000 products.  It's a little hard to explain to clients that I work on this but can't show them.

Now this hasn't happened to me yet, but I take the advice of someone who is far more accomplished in this business in terms of what to do in that regard when it comes to freelance work that you can't show to the public.  If this were to happen, it's been suggested to charge anywhere between 2 to 3 times the final amount that you would originally charge them.  Some of you might have spit your drink onto your computer and are trying to quickly wipe it off thinking I'm crazy.  Think about it.  The work you do becomes your portfolio.  This shows your accomplishments, and allows you to get better work from clients, more work from clients and gives credibility to your quality of work. 

Working at an Office or at Home?

Big question.  Most of the time, it isn't your choice.  But in the creative business, there's some leeway in this regard.  I have three years of experience working since I've graduated, and I have worked at two different jobs.  One was at home for over a year, and another is currently working at an office for nearly two years.  Both had had their good and bad.. also mind you, this is my preference.  So unless you have the exact same type of personality, do not take my view on it as the word of law.  That I'm arrogant enough to think anyone would is also pretty incredible in a sad way.

I personally enjoy working from home a bit more than at an office.  I can start work at 7:00AM or 9:30AM, convenience is a huge bonus.  Certain important and human necessities, emergencies even.. such as a Champions League game where Bayern plays are events I don't have to miss unless I have a meeting.  I also have one hell of an office (for me anyways) made for freelance, so this works out well.  Get the work done and all is well.  However there are good aspects for working at an office.  Talking to people instead of being a creepy, social hermit who only speaks via skype or cellphones is supposed to be healthy for your social skills.  Also if you are a designer working with other designers and people in advertisement, you can bounce ideas off one another producing some potentially fantastic work.  I recently decided to make this blog post because a friend of mine suggested that there might be something opening for his company, but it is working from home.  Maybe another day I will get into a more extensive explanation, but for now I gotta go eat. 

Personal Projects & Freelance

So I'm officially back from Europe after two wondrous weeks.  My wallet is rather empty, due to buying a maxed out iMac a few months prior, then going to Europe for 2 weeks visiting 5 countries, and having to spend a decent amount of money on a personal project that I'm working on at this point in time.

Good news is that finally after so long, I am moving towards the end of this phase of the project.  I've been working on it for quite some time and the last few months I've been working so much, I have had 0 time for freelance.  I actually worked on it even during my vacation as sad as that may sound to some people, but I didn't mind much.  Now, the project might either go to another stage where I will be able to talk about it in the future, or stay likely as something that never materialized into anything.

The point here is as I daydream for a bit, it's time for freelance.  I need to make a bit of extra cash and the good news about the creative business, is that freelance work is always an option.  I also realized as I had a conversation with a friend of mine, as we discussed that working on a personal project, you will always give it a bit more than you would working on any other project no matter how much you're paid.  Of course there are people who are just as passionate and are completely ok with working on someone else's vision, I should generalize and pretend I know every creative human being in the world. 

But for the most part, it is the case.  I had to pay someone to work on part of my secret project, and my friend did warn me that no matter what, no one will work as hard on this project as you will, because it's your baby.  Saying that however, the illustrator I have working with me is doing a fantastic job, and I'm not just saying that because he might accidentally stumble upon this link.  If I have to say anything that isn't all about me, I'd say work on that personal project.  At worst, it's a great stress reliever even if nothing happens with it.  On the upside, you could be making money doing the job that you're most passionate about, your own, personal project! 

So get your ass to work on your personal project when you're done doing your 9-5 cubicle job.