When I decided to take the leap into the world of freelancing, I knew I’d have a lot of hard work ahead of me to build up a client base and find new work. I mentally prepared myself for networking events, pitching via freelance job sites and contacting agencies.
What I hadn’t accounted for when I thought about finding work was how my previous actions might impact the opportunities that came my way. Although I decided that I’d like to give freelancing a go two years before I actually took the leap of faith, before then it had never occurred to me.
I hadn’t been actively laying the foundations for a career where contacts were going to be vitally important to my future ability to find work. But it turns out I’d been doing it without even realising.
In the autumn, a former colleague contacted me about doing some freelance work for the agency she now works for. She’d heard through our old boss that I was working for myself and wondered if I could help out. Of course, I jumped at the chance.
The work was similar to what I’d done in the past, and it was regular. I was really excited and happy to have the opportunity. But I didn’t think much more about why that had come my way until I told my best friend.
I said I was surprised by the opportunity but was really excited. My friend just laughed and told me it was no surprise at all that the chance had come my way, because I’d always worked hard, done a good job and left things on good terms with everyone I worked with. She thought it was obvious I’d be approached for jobs in this way.
And it made me see things from a new perspective. I’ve since found two other clients as a result of recommendations from former colleagues. Because I haven’t actively put any effort into seeking those clients in the first instance, they feel like amazing bonuses - and they are. They’re a gift, but one that’s come from hard work and good deeds years earlier.
What I specifically did to warrant being remembered I’m not sure, but I thought I’d share some of the ways I approach work and working relationships in case it helps.
Firstly, whoever I’ve worked with in whatever setting, I’ve always tried to be kind. If I’m having a bad day because of something away from work, I do my level best not to take it out on anyone who I see in the office. Even if I’m in a bad mood because of work, chances are it’s not as a result of anyone I work directly with, so while I have the odd rant, it’s always just been a way of venting frustration and isn’t directed at anyone in particular.
Secondly, I’m helpful, sometimes to my own detriment I admit. If people ask for a favour politely, I’ll almost always help - even when I’m completely snowed under. I was always brought up to treat people the way you’d like to be treated, so whenever anyone extends that courtesy to me I’ll do my best to help if I can. If I can’t, I’ll sometimes go out of my way to help them find a solution.
Thirdly, I’m conscientious. I work hard and when I tell someone I’ll meet a deadline, I do. I think that’s my training from my journalism kicking in, but deadlines are hugely important to me. I can’t even begin to list the number of times that my life has been made more stressful or difficult by other people missing deadlines that impact my workload. As a result, I endeavour to never be that person who makes someone else’s life harder than it needs to be.
I’m not trying to suggest that I’m something special for behaving this way. I’m not, and have worked with plenty of people over the years who have the same values as I do and who take the same approach to their interactions with others and their work.
But until recently I hadn’t appreciated how important that might be to my future, so I thought I’d share my realisation. Be kind, be helpful and be conscientious - you never know who you might help, whose day you might make better, whose life you might make easier and who could return the favour when you need it in the future.
