After I walked out of my day job in a fit of rage last Christmas, right before the eyes of my HR manager and two supervisors, after working miracles for that lousy company and never getting any serious praise, and after constantly getting called at all times of the day, night, weekends, and vacations, and working 60 hour weeks, I really didn't know what to expect as a freelancer where you literally have to sing for your supper.
But who would have thought I'd be getting people to pay me for $40/hr, 40 hours of the week, almost indefinitely on a laid-back project, permitting me to have another client if I still maintained my 40 hours of week for them, and getting praise for my work?
But that's exactly what has happened. I've even been paid on retainer for awhile as a freelancer, although that didn't work out, but I learned a lot in the process and I know that I don't prefer retainer as much as just getting paid by the hour. Retainer pay is usually like working for peanuts, but then they give you work in bursts and during dry periods of no work you still maintain a paycheck. The retainer pay happened simply by posting my case about quitting my job in a forum, saying that I do PHP, and the CEO of a wealthy company read it, felt sorry for me at the time, and gave me retainer pay on a project. In the end, I got along well with him and his partner, but his third partner and I disagreed too much and that was the kicker that ended that project. But oh well.
And who would have thought that so many PHP freelancers (and ex-PHP guys who now do Affiliate Marketing) are so nice, sharing advice, simply by asking? You'd think we'd be competitors, but in reality it's just like that old Christmas movie -- Miracle on 34th Street -- where the Santa tells people if they can't get a product at this department store, he would recommend where they could get it down the street. And that same sort of philosophy and sharing exists among us PHP freelancers -- we remember the talents and approximate rates of our associates, and when something is not in our price range for our services, or not in our skillset, or if we're simply too busy, we would rather deflect to another PHP freelancer in order to present ourselves to our client in the best light.
And who would have thought what a symbiotic relationship that PHP freelancers would have with web designers and with affiliate marketers? It's those great relationships that help give me cash, and then I produce things that give them cash, and then they reinvest in me. Or, I produce things for their clients, and they keep sending me gigs, or I send them work when it falls in their speciality.
Anyway, in the past couple days, one client told me, "Phew! We're so glad we found you." Another one said "I have heard some amazing things about you. I've seen some of your works as well, and you carry a fairly sophisticated portfolio with a very diverse arsenal of skill sets. I am thoroughly impressed." He also mentioned, "I fully trust the knowledge and expertise you have in your field."
Wow! If my last day job heard the good luck I've been having, they'd probably be kicking themselves that they didn't keep me.
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