Many people can come up with ideas which have the potential to launch them into working as a full-time freelancer, but very few put their plans into action.
This is according to Laura Spencer of Freelancer Folder. She believes that too many potential freelancers fall at the first hurdle because they fail to follow their ideas up.
She has put together a list of the five things which anyone looking to become a freelancer or sole trader has to overcome before they can embark on a successful career in flexible working.
The first thing on the list is fear. Put simply too many people are scared to take the risk of going it alone because the fact that they may no longer have a steady wage is an extremely daunting prospect.
Successful freelancers are the ones which push all their doubts to one side, grab the proverbial bull by the horns and follow their dreams.
Another key issue to overcome is the urge to procrastinate. When working for someone else your boss will monitor how you work and this often pushes people forwards. However, as a freelancer the boss is yourself so it is easy to slack off or think you can leave things until tomorrow. But, as the saying goes, tomorrow never comes.
"In general, freelancing requires people who go out there and get things done in a timely fashion. When it comes to freelancing, the chronic procrastinator is finished before they start," Ms Spencer said.
A freelancer's career can also be killed off by a lack of confidence. You need to be confident in your skills and its value so that you can negotiate with potential clients. If you're not you can either lose a contract because the client didn't think you had the ability needed for it or you could end up selling yourself short because you didn't drive a hard enough bargain.
Being poorly organised and not being able to put your freelancing career ahead of other things in your life are the two other things which could hold you back.
