Taking the decision to leave the relative safety of the corporate world and striking out into the world of freelance training can be very very scary. I should know – I was thinking about the idea for quite a few years before I actually did it. It seemed such a big step to take and I always found myself coming up with more reasons why I shouldn’t than why I should. The catalyst for me was a relocation from Sussex to the Midlands with my husband’s job. Having left my old job behind, suddenly I had the the perfect opportunity to set up on my own – no more excuses!
I’ve met lots of other freelance trainers over the last few years who also took the plunge as a result of being made redundant. Time away from the daily treadmill allowed them to focus on what it was they really wanted to do – go freelance. I can honestly say that I’ve never met anyone who has said that they regret their decision. Most people say they wished they had done it a lot sooner!
However, fear of the unknown can often hold us back. It’s difficult to imagine what life as a freelance trainer is going to be like until you do it. I came across this great article recently on the Personnel Today website – Going It Alone: The Diary of a Freelance HR Consultant by Lucy Turner.
Lucy gives an honest insight into the highs and lows of her first six weeks as a freelance HR and training consultant. She gives us some great hints and tips about getting clients, deciding what to charge and the admin associated with setting up your own business. Like many of us who have gone down the path she feels completely on her own at first – out of her comfort zone. However, what also comes through is the fact that the success of her new business is completely down to her and this makes it all worthwhile.
So, are you ready to take the plunge and start your new life as a freelance trainer?
What are you waiting for?
