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. 

40/Hour a Week not What You Want?

So you have found your 40 hours a week job.  You're happy, you got a job and a safety net.  6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 5, 10 years.  Some time later, you realize that 40 hours might not be for you.  Now this is likely due to one of two reasons (if not a bit of both).  You should trust my judgment because I've been working for over 3 years since I graduated.  That practically makes me an expert on anything related to jobs and I've seen enough movies/TV shows that is the equivalent of a PhD in Psychology.  Now that we've established my credentials, lets get to the two reasons.

One of the reasons is that you don't want to do a 40 hour job.  You want to work on your own time, you work better at night.  You might enjoy working for 14 hours one day, and then spend the next day with your kids.  You work 25 hours in two days and are able to leave for a 4 day weekend somewhere special.  Having a more flexible schedule and working when you're really in tune works out for you.  The other reason is that it's not what you really want to do.  You chose it as it was a good option when you initially started working or/and due to the safety of the 40 hour a week.  However, after some time you realize this job is not really for you.

Unfortunately, I am starting to feel that way with my current 40 hour a week job due to the latter option.  I originally signed up to work on a relatively split 50-50 design and front-end development.  As time moves on however, there is less and less design.  I love writing, designing and digital illustration, and I enjoy doing front-end development.  However for me to love my job, it has to have a sizeable portion on one of those three areas.  I know to many people a job is a job, but I do believe that you should love your job and a Monday shouldn't be something you bemoan when it eventually comes every week.  That's why I chose to go on a creative route, to do what I love.  One recommendation to people struggling for either of these options is that you do what you want on your spare time, something creatively that you yourself enjoy.  It unleashes pent up creativity, and it will help when you're doing your 40 hour a week as well. 

Professionalism

Ohh boy.  So the life of a designer, web designer, illustrator and anyone in the creative field, it's very likely you have done some freelance work.  You work for the client, you do the work and in exchange they give you money.  Simple concept.  I've done this since I was studying in school and have continued to do it after graduating for three years until now.  I generally do most of this work in Canada and very little has been international.  It's worked out well, and I make some extra cash when needed.  The last year and a half in particular, I have done almost no freelance work for anyone, since I've been working on a massively experimental project.  I've been writing this for some time, and I had no time to work outside of the generic 8-5 timeline that I do to pay the bills.  However, for the first time, I was the client and paid someone else for the work.

Ohh boy.  So I contacted a company about a job I needed for this project I've been working on.  Initially, things went well and the first steps of the project went mostly to plan.  Afterwards, it was like an inevitable crashing train that had no wheels nor a break.  Nothing would be on time, and it took weeks for work that should have taken one or two days.  I remember at some point, I got roughs for part of the job that I know did not take a full day's worth after a month and their response was a casual "ok so what do you think?"  Not sorry for being incredibly late, and this looking like something I would do as quick as possible once someone asked for an update.  I had to call the whole thing off after a constant barrage of failures from this company, and it's definitely been my worst experience in any type of deal whether I am a client or vice-versa.  At least, I got my money back which is about the only positive.  The downsize is that I lost the most important thing, time.  About half a year's worth.

I ended this relationship on a cold but professional note.  The mediator of the company did not want for this news to get out there in regards to his company's incompetence, and I am not doing it either.  What's happened has happened and I do believe they just weren't professional enough to take care of it.  For me to be vindictive when they weren't malicious would be a shitty thing to be.  So, we left it off to a "shit happens, let's move our separate ways" road.  Anyways to any youngins' out there (that would be 3-5 years younger than me...), be professional.  Have your work on time.  if you can't, fucking let the client know ahead of time so they aren't wondering what is happening.  Your client should always be in the loop with what is happening to their project.  A major mistake is also to take too many jobs at once and not have the time to properly do them, which is what I believe was happening to the previous company.  Now, I have found another company and they seem a lot better for now, so hoping this continues until this project is done and I can see if anything happens with it.  Once again, be fucking professional.