March: Focusing on your freelance roadmap*
*And nobody else's
Looking back over the themes of the newsletter, I can’t believe it’s a year since I was writing about putting a spring in your March step. A year ago, the sun was shining, just as it is today when I write this. Then, there was talk of a virus that was spreading, talk of people having to work from home for a while, talk of postponing trips, or making different plans for a while.
Well we all know the rest of the story. And now, in March 2021, there is talk of ‘light at the end of the tunnel’. Of things going back to ‘normal’ (‘Whatever normal means’ – put on a Prince Charles in The Crown voice). I’m in the UK, and I believe many of you readers are, too but for those who aren’t, we’re looking at a phased easing of lockdown measures, which was described to us as a roadmap.
No sooner had the idea of shops, pubs, restaurants and beauticians or hairdressers re-opening hit the news agenda than my social media feeds (including What’s App chats) began filling up with talk of being ‘post lockdown ready’. From the superficial (eyebrows, manicures, fringes) to the darker (getting ‘thin’ or ‘in shape’ for when we see friends and family). I won’t lie, my thoughts turned that way momentarily, too. Then I had a word with myself and tried to remember that it doesn’t matter how we look when we see people again, it’s the fact we can see them that is wonderful.
But I had another thought after ‘Lord I hope my summer wardrobe still fits…’
I began to think about what I wanted to be able to say about my work when those ‘free’ weekends filled up with friend meet ups, in-person work meetings and dinners with family.
I began a list – of how I wanted my coaching to be at a certain level, how I wanted to be writing for some new titles, to be able to say that Freelance Feels wasn’t just thriving it was glowing, blossoming, going ‘great guns’…
And then I paused. I was doing the same thing I had done with my body image with my business - seeing the end of lockdown measures as some kind of sudden deadline for things to be at a certain level. I would never say to a friend ‘well you best make sure you’re able to say you’re doing super doper amazingly well when you see people, otherwise they might judge you!’. So why was I saying it to myself?
The thing is with a roadmap, is we can follow different ones. While the roadmap set out by a government might be set in stone, for us, the one we decided to set out for our freelance lives is the one we draw. We are the cartographers of our own future, we choose whether our map is full of A-roads or motorways, whether it’s filled with bustling cities or open fields.
While I decided it was a mistake to set myself a huge goal of being able to say certain things about Freelance Feels when I met up with people, I didn’t want to be in the same spot I am now. I do want to be able to say things are going well. So that’s my roadmap. To plan for a conversation about how things are moving forward, how I’ve worked hard and hope it’s paying off. But my roadmap isn’t yours – or anyone else’s.
So I want to take this opportunity to say a few things about you and your roadmap, if I may.
First of all, if you have survived through this pandemic as a small business, that’s the biggest thing to celebrate. Even if you’ve struggled, or things are going to need a lot of work when clients and customers can come through the doors again (real or virtual), if you are still your own boss, then that’s good enough. That’s GOOD ENOUGH. As Mark Darcy famously says to Bridget Jones: “I like you… just as you are.” Say the same to your business if you want to.
It’s ok if your roadmap is just a straight line, forwards, one mile a day.
When it came to work, I was afraid when they said lockdown was easing. I know, deep down, that I’ve been able to get more done and focus on training as well as building my brand because I’ve had more time at home, less time socialising or going on holidays and trips with friends.
So, secondly, if you’ve been in a similar position, your roadmap might feel like it’s got a bit congested suddenly. There’s the ‘threat’ of meet ups and weekends away, Sundays in pub gardens or on walks with more than one person to steal time from your work schedule. Gigs and events to replace the hours spent drafting newsletters or editing podcasts.
If you want to use the remaining lockdown time to get ahead, because that’ll make you feel better, there’s no harm in that.
Perhaps post lockdown is going to be the time when your business is going to get going again – that means this time might be putting a deadline on rest and recuperation. On planning for re-opening and even thinking of new offerings. So, for now, your roadmap is more of a motorway service station pit-stop.
Finally, your map might be a busy one. You might want to be able to say ‘YEAH! Things are good!’ when you see people. You might want to be able to say you used this time to train, or to build your business, or that (whisper it, right?) work was OK during the pandemic and the road ahead is looking clear. You’ve got fuel in the tank and you’re ready for a new stage of the journey. You’re ready to specialise after working hard during lockdown. That’s ok too. There’s no shame in wanting things to be glowing and glorious.
But the point is, there’s no shame in any of it. Because it’s about your roadmap – nobody else’s.
This Instagram post was doing the rounds when I was writing this edition, so I’d like to share it as I think it’s spot on…
I hope you’re coping OK with however your work roadmap looks right now, and how it seems to be panning out in front of you as lockdown begins to ease.
Read, listen, subscribe…
Read: Out on March 4, Alonement: How to be alone and absolutely own it is by journalist and podcaster Francesca Specter, who actually invented the word ‘Alonement’! She is coming up as a guest on the podcast, too, the first one of season 5 which will land on Friday March 5. (This Friday). Find the Alonement community at alonement.com
Listen: When Women Blossom is a new podcast from my friend Emma Collins, who I’ve met through coaching training. Two episodes and counting… so proud!
Subscribe: The Help Me newsletter from my friend Marianne Power is truly delightful. Marianne is honest, open and kind with her thoughts and words. She has begun an audio version, too. Slices of life from lockdown, feelings about things lifting and being a writer.
Thanks as always for reading the newsletter. If you’ve enjoyed it, do share. If you’re reading for the first time, please do subscribe. See you in April!
xJenny