In the world of warfare, which is closely associated with the world of business, there is a term that is often used by strategists to describe the conditions of war, and this word is “friction.” Friction is defined as the difference between what you want to achieve, and what you actually achieve. As you move forward in your freelance career, and get closer to achieving your goals, you will find that things will become a lot more difficult. Just as a ball rolled along the floor will begin to slow down due to friction, regardless of how skilled you are, or how much energy you put in, you will face friction as well.
No one, regardless of how much momentum they may have initially, is able to maintain this momentum indefinitely. Friction is just as universal as the laws of gravity, and we are all subjected to it. What this means is that it is not a matter of “if” you will face friction in your freelance career, it is simply a matter of “when.” The ways in which you deal with this friction will mean the difference between success and failure when it comes to your freelance career. The concept of friction is closely related to that of Murphy's Law, another phenomenon that you will encounter during your freelance career.
Regardless of the plans you make, and the strategies you employ, there will always be unforeseen circumstances that will seek to disrupt everything you're working towards. When you encounter these obstacles, and believe me, you will, it is best to remain completely focused. As you encounter these obstacles, there are two ways in which you can handle them effectively. The first is to ignore them, and the second is to deal with them. There are times when dealing with certain problems and obstacles will take you away from your goals, and there are times when ignoring them is the wisest course of action.
When you encounter problems and challenges, stop and think about whether solving them will allow you to reach your long term goals. One thing which separates poor people from rich and powerful people is that poor people rarely know which battles to engage in, while the rich and powerful know which battles should be fought, and which battles should be avoided. As a freelancer, this concept is critical for you to understand, and the reason for this is because there will be times when you will have to deal with pesky and annoying problems that should probably be ignored.
Spending your time involved with these pesky problems will often take you further away from your goal, as opposed to bringing you closer to it. Many people are failures in life, not because they lack talent or skill, but because they allow themselves to be distracted by the trivial nuances of every day life. Those who are focused, disciplined, and success oriented allow nothing to stand in the way of them and their goals. They will ignore any problems which they feel are not worth bothering with, regardless of what those around them may think. Such individuals may also have a reputation of being cruel, since they may not be quick to deal with problems which may be connected to those who are close to them. However, this is less of an issue about cruelty than it is about the need to focus on one's long term goals and objectives.
The general rule of thumb is this: when you face problems as a freelancer, unless these problems will directly block your ability to achieve your long term objectives, whatever they might be, it is best to ignore them. Allowing yourself to get dragged into battles not of your own choosing will only weigh you down over the long term. Those who tend to gain power are often individuals who pick their battles wisely. They only engage in those battles which are critical to their long term success.
When you're dealing with friends and family members, you must be very wary. Friends and family can be notorious for dragging you into battles which will only lead to in-fighting and a loss of energy on your part. Regardless of what feelings you may have for these individuals, your long term goals must always remain your priority. While being a freelancer can be rewarding, it will also be tough, and you cannot afford to waste your time and energy on battles that are unnecessary.
As you progress in your freelance career, set backs will be inevitable. Being able to bypass these setbacks to continue towards your ultimate goal will require you to become a good problem solver. The professional problems which you encounter should be seen as challenges, obstacles that must be overcome at all costs. With each problem you successfully solve, the stronger and more self reliant you will become. In the world of freelancing, self reliance is a trait that you can't afford to be without. While you will rely on your clients to pay you for the projects you've completed, it will be up to you to be responsible for everything else.
While freelancers have a great deal more freedom than their employee counterparts, this freedom comes with a lot of responsibility. To develop the mind of a freelancer, you must become a responsible person, not just for your freelance projects, but for all aspects of your life as well. It is not possible to succeed as a freelancer is you're not a responsible person in general.
In general, by preparing for the inevitable setbacks that you will face as you progress in your freelance career, you will be much better equipped to deal with these frustrating problems. Another tip which can allow you to handle these problems in the most efficient manner possible is to be flexible. Flexibility is also a trait which is highly desirable in all aspects of our lives. History shows that those who are rigid and inflexible tend to be eradicated by those who are flexible. As you encounter problems, you will often find that you will need to use flexibility in order to solve them in the most desirable manner. As long as this flexibility doesn't pull you away from your core goals, then it should be cherished and utilized.