As a mature freelancer, I love technology. If you remember when a phone call was something you took in the hallway, in full earshot of your parents and without a hint of privacy, you'll appreciate just how far things have come in the last thirty years.
Aside from the magic of Google answering any question I could care to ask, remote-working has been the real game-changer for me. With children working and living in different countries, I see them more than I ever could if I were tied to my office desk.
And I'm far from alone as a 50+ freelancer: of the 2.2 million freelancers in the UK, around 48% are within the 40-59 age bracket.
Age as an Asset in the Gig Economy
The gig economy is a term that includes all who are self-employed outside - or alongside employment. Many consider it more inclusive than traditional employment, as gig workers are chosen on the ability to get a specific job done well and on time - that's it. No need to spout long-term career aspirations; no one cares - they're not employing you . Mature freelancers can offer the benefit of their decades of experience to many companies, instead of just the one.
Finding a way into Freelancing
In the aftermath of the pandemic, lightbulbs are coming on in 'working from home' offices all around the country, as those with a transferable remote skill set realise that they have the potential to join the growing gig economy scene.
Of course, to go full-time remotely, you need to build your presence and client base to the point where your business can wash its own face - but you can build both, perhaps starting small on gig platforms like Upwork.com and Peopleperhour.com and growing at your own pace. Another thing to consider is that the pandemic has strengthened online communities, making it easier to promote services and build meaningful connections.
If you're reading this, I'm assuming you might be considering a transition of some sort - perhaps towards voluntary redundancy, retirement or simply a rethink of your work/life balance. If so, be heartened by the fact that one in five workers aged 50 -69 are mature freelancers or otherwise self-employed - more than in any other age group,.
And these numbers are rising. Why? The reasons are many, of course, but include:
- Greater freedom to work around personal commitments, health or disability issues
- Being able to work past retirement age in an area that suits your skill set and ability
- Finally pursuing a passion ahead of career advancement aspirations of younger days
- Greater redundancies in Gen Z/Boomer generations have forced a change in work life
Taking your Freelance Business on the Road
A few years after setting up as a mature freelancer, I took things a step further and decided to take Blue Moose on the road in a dinky camper that has become my part-time home. It has been life-changing to say the least, and I talk more about this in my Blue Moose - Travel Edition blog. If you're curious about working and travelling, but feel only others do that kind of thing, check it out:)
Although there's no mistaking that setting up as a mature freelancer can bring its own challenges, it's an option worth exploring. Here are some words of (relative) wisdom that may help you in your ponderings ...
1. There is never a good time!
There will be many who were considering setting up their own business but are now feeling that they should keep their heads down in the uncertainty of the current climate. That's a valid and sensible concern. However, there will always be a reason why it's not a good time; if you've done your homework, and feel that you're ready to let go of the 9-5, now is as good a time as any. It took me years to leave the comfort of a paycheck, and in truth, the timing would have made little difference in retrospect. If you have a skill you can offer, an audience who want it, and your monthly costs are manageable, it's worth sitting down and planning your next steps as a mature freelancer. It certainly can't hurt to consider it ...
2. Opportunities exist everywhere ... if you hunt them out
Following on from the point above, regardless of the economy, someone somewhere needs your skills. In fact, the emergence of the pandemic has compelled businesses to reconsider their business direction, offerings and platforms, and to focus more on staff wellbeing. This has resulted in a huge demand for coaches, trainers, accountants, web developers, writers and more. And almost 70% of businesses in the UK are proactively outsourcing. Further, with home-working now a norm, and fuel costs rocketing, businesses increasingly prefer to reach out remotely and save staffing costs. All of these things prepare the way for the mature freelancer to carve out a new path for themselves.
3. Don't sink or swim; thrive or recover
As I stood on the cliff edge between the security of a job I didn't want and the uncertainty of a future I did, I spent months doing that odd thing that people do, when trying to will themselves off a bungee platform. "I'm gonna do it ...now ...nope ...now ...nope ..." Exasperated, my daughter asked, "What's the worst that could happen?" And the answer was, very little; with no young dependents and no expensive tastes or habits (I'll slide over my vaping addiction), I could recover if things didn't work out. I made a plan B to calm my anxieties and finally jumped. In hindsight, once I stopped focusing on the fear of things not going to plan, and started planning how I would recover if they didn't, the path got a lot easier.
Taking the First Step as a Mature Freelancer
As businesses continue the upward trend of outsourcing work to freelancers, there's a growing tribe of people just like me - like you - who are considering their options - with technology as their entrepreneurial wingman. Now - right now - is as good a time as any to make a start on a life less ordinary; and a potentially far more fulfilling one. The alternative, for those seriously considering online freelance work, is to forever wonder if it could have been best thing they never did ...
...one of the few things Google can't answer.
Read more about startups for first timers in my blog, Blue Moose - Travel Edition
