How has the novel coronavirus affected freelancers? My message to fellow creatives
How has the novel coronavirus COVID-19 affected freelancers?
My note to fellow creatives
A very scary time to be running a successful freelance business or trying to launch a freelance business. But just remember one thing, you’re not alone… there are many other creatives, photographers, videographers, graphic designers that are all being affected by the big virus of 2020. To keep my own head up and out of the news and media all the time, I am trying to challenge myself to learn new things and develop new skills during this incredibly challenging time. However you are handling this situation as a creative it’s an important time to focus on things like polishing your website, learning new skill sets, preparing your marketing plan for when everything does turn back on and also staying in a positive creative routine. I watched a Peter McKinnon video the other day about the ‘Importance of doing’ and his overall message was pointing at the fact that it’s very important to just get out and create and do what you love especially during challenging times happening close to home and around the world. (check out that video, right here)
It is my goal over the next 14 days to try and learn the following skills or work on:
Both my photography website
Basic Photoshop tools and skills
Basic Final Cut Pro X tools and skills
Basic Google ad words and google advertising skills
A consistent yoga practice (from home, of course)
Consistent creative routine
Consistent creative output
(a blog per week, a podcast per week and 3-4 other visual posts per week)
One of the hardest things for me to grasp has been the limitations to travel and how this has affected so many freelancers and so many business owners. I have seen some very interesting articles on how pollution is far less in China during their lockdown so perhaps the planet is doing what it needs to do to breathe. So that is another reminder for you may be a fellow creative reading this blog post that you must do everything in your power to do what you can to control what you can. Maybe it’s organizing your closet and donating things you don’t need, maybe it’s watching 10 tutorials a day so you can perfect a new editing technique or a new video skill... But take this time to reflect and also improve or work on some skills that you’ve always wanted to learn or a complete those lists and those things that you feel like you could never accomplish because you may be too busy creating all the time, too busy in a creative routine or feel like you have no free time. The world has now granted us all maybe a couple of weeks of free time (gut-wrenching to think) so do everything you can to control that free time, make the most of it, improve your self, help others, help your elderly neighbor, spend a little more time looking out for each other and maybe get out and catch a sunrise or sunset because I can’t possibly think of a better way to socially distance yourself.
SOME OF THE WAYS MY FREELANCE BUSINESS WAS AFFECTED BY THE VIRUS:
Products held up at the border or in China (post ponded product photoshoot)
Brands unable to ship products
Trips canceled (postponed brand trip to Utah)
Conversations halted or no responses at all
Upcoming events (event photography, postponed or canceled altogether)
Trail cleanups canceled and hiking meetups (postponed)
Stay positive out there to all my fellow creatives, I feel for you - leave me a comment below on how this world pandemic has affected your freelance business. Stay stoked for things will get better, I had to cancel trips and projects just like you... we will get them back, we will win all this lost work back.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE INSTAGRAM POSTS OVER THE LAST WEEK, FOR INSPIRATION, FOR A LAUGH OR TO LIFE UP YOUR SPIRITS:
@dudewithsign
1.7m Likes, 6,771 Comments - Seth (@dudewithsign) on Instagram: "There is a lot of confusion out there about COVID-19 (coronavirus) so I've teamed up with..."
47.9k Likes, 2,079 Comments - Outside Magazine (@outsidemagazine) on Instagram: "📸: @tonnyvalenzuelaa | Self-quarantining is going well."
2,377 Likes, 64 Comments - FERAL (@feralmountainco) on Instagram: "#liveferal Now more than ever. #getoutside"
106.5k Likes, 1,610 Comments - Cats of Instagram (@cats_of_instagram) on Instagram: "From @hosico_cat: "Here are some tips and techniques to help you learn how to paint cats. 👨🏻🎨👩🏻🎨🐱..."
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." -T.S. Eliot
Until next time, follow along my adventures on Instagram: @Fr33Water !!!