So these days everyone seems to want to “make a little extra.” Or, maybe you’ve found that being your own boss is just the way you prefer to work. Whatever the rationale, the industry of freelancing designers, developers or other miscellaneous consultants seems to be growing like never before. Especially with a sour economy, it seems like people just have to find ways to make ends meet.

I’ve been freelancing for almost five years now. I got my first freelance graphic design gig right out of college when a professor from a last semester class loved the work I did and decided to put me in touch with a contact of hers in the apparel industry. Don’t laugh, but the class was an apparel illustration course – the only reason it would be funny is because I was probably the only straight guy in the glass, which was filled mostly with girls anyway – thus the draw (that and the fact I needed an extra class to keep my scholarship for the semester). Obviously it ended up being a blessing to be in, as well as a great creative outlet for a public relations major.

But my career in design didn’t explode from there. I worked only a few jobs here and there while mostly working full time or part time jobs in other fields for three years. One position, where I worked for a year, allowed me to use my PR education and get some formal graphic design experience at the same time. But it was for a non-profit where my PR and other roles fell secondary to the work the organization was mainly involved with.

Finally, in 2007 after working for over a year in admissions for a large educational corporation in Pittsburgh, I decided I had enough of doing part-time freelance. My dream would have been to land a great design job with a reputable firm or agency, but I just seemed unable to find one.

So with a lot of faith and a little (very little) business knowledge, I decided to resign from my full time position and launch out into the world of full time freelancing. Dunh Dunh Dunh! OK, so it wasn’t quite as climactic as it sounds. Turns out I really only had one client to start with, and he only needed a small amount of work. In fact, things were pretty tight in the beginning. And I’m not going to lie to you, things are still pretty tight. But alas, it seems this is the lifestyle of a freelancer (a.k.a. “self employed”). The words sound so glamorous when you proudly say them to someone you meet or know. “Yes, I am SELF EMPLOYED.”

Immediately your mind conjures up the best possible picture of yourself one day, once you’ve reached success, sitting on a yacht in the Caribbean sipping a Pina Colada and working on your latest gem of a masterpiece that some high profile client has been throwing money at you to do for them. But then reality sets in and you remember that after you get the next big check, you still need to take out money for taxes, pay your credit account and some outstanding bills elsewhere, set aside a little money for a much needed software or computer upgrade, and put aside the remaining pennies for gas so you can go cold calling a few days in the next couple weeks. It’s not all glamor after all.

But still, there is great reward in working for yourself to those that thrive on self management and self motivation. And therein lies the key. I would not be doing what I am with design if I were not driven by a desire to succeed and to serve others. Something about being my own boss makes me find great motivation to learn new things, accomplish great tasks and even endure an awful lot of discouragement. Ultimately, when the rubber meets the road, the people who are cut out for freelancing as a career are those with the attitude that says, “I can run my self better than any other manager can.”

I have a long way to go as a freelancer. Ultimately, I’m starting to look at myself as less of a freelancer and more of a small business owner because I see my business growing into more than just myself over time. But for now it’s just me myself and I. There’s lots of challenges that come with doing anything for yourself, not to mention a job where you can sit in front of a computer and not go anywhere, see anyone or talk to anyone for days at a time. Some of my clients I only communicate with via email due to distance. It can make for a very difficult road.

In my coming entries I’m going to share some resources I’ve found that have helped me with networking with other professionals in my industry, getting outside feedback on my projects, good ways to find new business, and some specific vendors I have had experience with.