Organization is the Key

If you're thinking about quitting your job to become a freelancer, organization is the key. Usually, an organized person has a clean desk, stays on task, completes projects on or before scheduled deadlines, schedules their work well, and actually enjoys being organized.

Here are a few things to consider:

Accounting: Unless you hire a bookkeeper, you will need to be detail-oriented and organized with your accounting records. You will need to know the laws on write-offs, taxes, and records. You will need to have an efficient filing system. Excel works well, but you might need an online accounting program to organize your records. With your accounting system, you will need to input your payables/receivables, invoices, time-keeping, etc. This can take time out of your day, but an organized person doesn't put off inputting these records. They take care of them on a daily basis. Your tax preparer will appreciate your efforts!

If accounting is a nightmare for you, then hiring a bookkeeper is your best plan of action.

Introvert/Extrovert: When you work at home, you are alone. If you enjoy being around people, then this will be a huge transition. I enjoy being by myself and am energized by quiet time. I don't even turn on the TV for company because I like the quiet so much. Introverts succeed in this environment.

If you find yourself more social, then you'll have to be creative in finding ways to interact with people. Maybe the type of freelance work you do is more customer-service oriented. Maybe you'll need to turn on the TV or talk to your pet. Scheduling lunch dates with friends or family can also help with this.

Type of Work: Depending on your personality and skills, you will excel if you are matched up with the type of work you choose. If you are more introverted and detail-oriented, then working by yourself on quiet projects will be perfect. If you are more social, then customer service, talking on the phone, chat, sales, or recruiting will be the perfect jobs for you. Pursue your choice of work wisely.

Productivity: You won't need to work a full eight-hour day in order to accomplish the same amount of production at an office. Think about how much time you spend chatting with co-workers, going to meetings, joining conference calls, etc. All of these activities take away from your workload. When you're at home, you may have a conference call or have to attend a meeting, but mostly, you are dedicated to finishing your work. I usually stop working after six hours because I've accomplished what I wanted to accomplish and it was constant, productive work with no interruptions.

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