10 mistakes to avoid if you are a freelance in Spain

Dear reader, let me be clear on two things before we get started. First of all, everything I share here is based on my own experience. So it doesn’t matter if you just started as a freelancer, or you have been in this path for years, it doesn’t matter if you are a graphic designer, a photographer, a teacher, a translator or whatever you want to be, this is going to help you either ways. Secondly, being a freelancer in Spain is not easy, but it’s definitely not as difficult as people may think. I have the feeling that there’s a trend now to bring freelancers down in here, or to blame society, the government or your skills for not reaching your goals. I have no doubt that you are probably doing the best you can to achieve your goal of making a monthly income that is barely enough to pay your bills. And that’s the first big mistake.

1. Setting your goals too low.

Doing “as much as you can”, or “enough to live” it’s not a reason. That’s not your goal. Think about it: you don’t want to spend 50% on your rent, 30% on your “autonomous” taxes, and 10% reinvesting into your business. That would make you profit only 10%. Seriously, is that what you want? I’d rather see myself travelling around the world, going to the most gorgeous beaches or attending to events that can help me grow. What’s your goal? Getting enough? Think about it in other areas of your life. No one wants to be loved “enough”. We all want to be loved 100%. So take your time to think about your attitude towards your business.

«If you do the same thing you get the same results».

2. Not asking for money.

One of the first things that you learn when applying for a job is that you shouldn’t ask what the salary is straight away. Big mistake. Your salary is exactly what made you go to that job interview, so don’t pretend it’s not important. Plus, it’s your time, your knowledge, your effort, and your results. I’d strongly recommend to just show your rates from the very beginning. It’s not about what they can pay you, but about how worthy you are. And that, my dear friend, only you can say.

«There are people who accept the way things are, and people who shape the way things are».

3. It’s a business, not a hobby.

The things that you learn about your business are always welcome. Don’t forget that you are a freelancer now. You can play video games all day long or you can play to get paid for that. But the difference between one or the other depends directly on you. If your aim is not to make money then treat your business like a hobby.

«Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow».

4. Freelancing is not for everyone.

It’s the hard truth. Let me show you a little exercise. Bring paper and a pen and make a list of all the people you know that run a business similar to yours. Now, highlight those that didn’t work. What’s the difference between theirs and yours? You are the one that makes the difference. A business cannot be built all of a sudden. It requires discipline and, most of all, productivity. It’s not about how many hours you can spend a day working, but how many of those are effective for your business. Those hours include also reading, learning, watching videos of people who inspire you, or just hanging out with people you can learn from.

«Don’t pick a job with great vacation time. Pick one that doesn’t need escaping from».

5. Justifying yourself for everything.

Let’s picture this situation. You go to a great restaurant. Dinner was great and you ask the waiter for the check. Then there comes the waiter with the bill and starts explaining to you how much he pays for his rent, for his bills, his kids education… What’s the reason for that? None. Apply this to yourself. One thing is explaining to your client what you are going to do for their business and another explaining why you set up that rate. It has nothing to do with the service you are providing, and won’t help you build a status.

«A good reputation is more valuable than money»

6. The “my time of learning is over” mistake.

I’ve heard so many people saying this that there wouldn’t exist enough pages if I search for them in Google. That’s a huge mistake for someone who is trying to run a business. Not only are we a generation that had to learn how to use computers, tablets, and smartphones, but also had to teach our parents how to used them, too. How many times did you learn about something unexpected? Give yourself time to learn –you decide whether it’s daily or weekly. It’s not only about knowledge itself but also about inspiration. Do it now and you’ll thank me later.

«Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge».

7. Prospecting the wrong people.

Freelancers tend to overestimate their clients, including me. Choosing wisely is more than a decision. It’s a strategy that will lead you to a healthier way of managing your business and life. There are many job offers that we all can do more than just fine, but they are time consuming, irrelevant to our aim and won’t move the needle on our business. Again, make a list with what you need to work comfortably and explain that to your client. If that’s your kind of client they will accept, respect and value your work even more. If it’s not, move on.

«The doors will be opened to those who are bold enough to knock».

8. Accepting jobs just for the sake of it.

Let’s be realistic, your time and resources are limited, so be aware when you prospect or accept jobs. Your income must not depend on the number of clients you have, but on the quality of them. This is one of the most difficult things to take into account, but you will understand it better as soon as you get results. Even if you are working for a few clients and they take more than the time you originally planned, you need to reconsider. Be respectful with your business and your business will be respectful with you.

«When work is something you are passionate about it’s not about work or life; it’s just life».

9. Blaming everything else but you.

We all think that complaining is the easy way to avoid doing something, so look at yourself in the mirror and analyse what decisions had led you to the point in which you are now. How many of those depended on someone that’s not you? Even if you couldn’t help some things in the past, your attitude towards them is what brought you to the point you are now. Freelancers can’t constantly blame the government for their lack of success, mainly because that is not going to get them anywhere. Your point is to work to have the kind of life you always dreamt about, and losing your energy in blaming others won’t help. Instead, use that energy to learn from your mistakes and use that knowledge to out-stand your competitors.

«The good or ill of a man lies within his own will».

10. Teaching the wrong person.

There’s a place in hell for people who try to lecture you with a touch of superiority. Don’t let this happen. EVER. It’s good to hear the experience from people who have been in your situation, don’t get me wrong, but there’s a special type of person who likes to lecture others about what success is like when they don’t have any success or, what is worse, they don’t even try anymore.

«I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be». 

Got any question about? Want to know more? Ask me! 

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