Freelance culture (especially in the arts) = take every opportunity that comes our way.
Regardless of whether the work is exploitative, if it aligns with our values or even if we have the capacity to take on such a project we’re expected to jump at the chance to work.
We feel guilty about even considering to the offer of work down.
We internalise our decision. We worry that other people will judge us or that we will never be offered another opportunity again. This scarcity mentality, driven by fear and ego, is hardly helpful.
It’s easier to turn work down when it’s clearly exploitative or it’s not in the realm of what we actually do.
It’s harder to turn work down when it’s something that aligns with our values, something we know we are capable of doing, and/or if the money is good.
Yet saying no to a work opportunity can be an empowering decision.
(of course, I’m not talking about circumstances where the consequences of not taking a paid job are detrimental to your survival. Only you can decide what the trade offs are for taking / not taking a job)
I recently turned down an opportunity.
On paper the opportunity was great. It was a gig I wanted, with a team I’ve enjoyed working with before. I said no to it because to say yes would have meant taking on a commitment that I didn’t really have the mental capacity or time to commit to.
The opportunity had landed in my inbox alongside a bunch of other emails telling me that the dates of several different projects, instead of being once beautifully spaced out, had been rearranged alarmingly close to each other.
I was already feeling overwhelmed with the sudden change of dates. The idea of adding something else to my plate made me feel queasy.
I won’t lie, my inner chatterbox spouted its ugly head to say unhelpful, unnecessary things like ‘what if they don’t ask me again? What if they think I’m making excuses? Am I actually just being lazy and could easily take this on? I can’t complain I don’t have any work coming in if I’m turning down the work that does come in, can I?’
Like I said, this was not helpful thinking. So I went through the checklist of questions I ask myself when I face these types of decisions.
I’ve grouped them into the following categories: Time, Values, Finances and Development.
Time
Do I have the time for this?
Do I want to make the timefor this?
What are the payoffs / trade offs for making time for this? (In this case, taking the offer would mean sacrificing the downtime I had scheduled iton my already tight diary)
Values
What are my work values? Does this opportunity align with my values?
Would I be sacrificing or upholding certain values if I choose to take this job?
Fun fact: I was once approached to write a piece that wold speak for and on the behalf of an underrepresented community that I do not identify with or belong to. To write this piece would have meant taking away an opportunity that should have gone to someone who belongs to the community. This opportunity didn’t align with my values. I explained my position to the people who had offered me the gig and I shared the names of organisations and individuals connected to this community, whom they could research and see if they would be better suited for the role.
Finances
Does the fee align with the work that is expected of me?
Can I afford to take this on?
Can I afford to say no?
For instance, if you are already working on some big money projects, can you afford to take on work from a grassroots community organisation, which might be lower paid but it aligns with your values? Or would this put you under pressure to find other income streams?
Professional Development
Does this opportunity enable me to upskill?
Is this something I can add to my portfolio?
Will I be working as part of a team, expanding my network and learning from others?
Another fun fact: it’s important to trust your lived experience. For instance, years ago, when I was trying to build my portfolio, I was freelancing for an organisation who not only paid incredibly low rates but who were terrible at paying on time. I once spent weeks chasing them for an overdue payment of £20.00. £20.00! So, when a few months later they asked me to start writing for them again, you bet I turned them down straight away.
Professional development doesn’t necessarily mean accelerating your career or upskilling, it can also mean retaining your self worth.
These questions aren’t an exhaustive list. They just help me to stay on track when I’m deciding whether to take an opportunity or not.
After I turned down the opportunity, I didn’t feel guilty or worried or regretful.
I felt empowered.
Takeaways
📘 Did extroverts ruin remote work for the rest of us?
Following on from my previous post I’m Not Shy, I’m Quiet, I came across this article on remote working and the different ways people work. I found the differences between a manager’s schedule and a maker’s schedule really interesting. (The ‘units of time’ reference definitely made me think of About A Boy!)
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Perfect timing for you to send this! I just got back from a week off work and am feeling overwhelmed by the freelance deadlines piling up. I want to start saying "no" to work, but have been guilt tripping over the idea. But your post has helped me to see that "no" is more than possible.