What was needed to make a living as a freelancer was not 'special talent'

Hello. I'm Hironi.
I am a graphic designer with over 30 years of experience.

People sometimes say, "Freelancing is great because it's free."
But after actually doing it for 30 years, what I think is that
freelancing is built more on "encounters and connections with people"
than it is on "freedom."

My independent career started after I left my company, when a client
I had a relationship with asked me, "If you're interested, could you handle this job?"
So, my freelance life started somewhat naturally, and thankfully,
I have almost never done any real sales work; it feels like my work
has been connected almost entirely through referrals.

Before I knew it, 30 years had passed.
Why have I been able to keep going this long?

It's a mystery even to me, but when I think about it, the answer is simple:
it's not because I had special talent or exceptional sales skills.
Rather, I have just been accumulating small things that make people who hire me think, "I can rely on this person with peace of mind."

In this article, I will introduce three ways of thinking that I have
valued in order to continue as a freelancer for a long time.
I hope this will be of some help to those who are thinking of becoming independent
or those who have just started and are feeling anxious.

Three ways of thinking that allowed me to continue freelancing

1. Keep small promises

Do the obvious things, like "meeting deadlines" and "replying as quickly as possible."
Just by continuing to do this, trust will accumulate.
Freelancing is particularly harsh in that "if you betray trust even once, there is no next time,"
so I have been thorough about schedule management and keeping my promises.
That said, of course, I have had failures. I'll save those stories for another time.

2. Never stop learning

Design methods and media change with the times.
I started in the analog era when we used poster color for coloring,
but since then, I've transitioned to DTP, Web, then SNS, and now AI; the units of evolution
have gone from 10 years to 5 years, and 5 years to 2 years... new trends are always being born.
You can never stop learning for the rest of your life.
The point is not whether you can keep up or not, but
I believe it is about having interest and curiosity, and continuing to take on challenges.
(I'm still active! 💦)

3. Be conscious of words and actions that make people think, "I want to ask you again"

For a freelancer, "work that leads to the next job" is more important
than a one-time job. That is why I have always kept in mind an attitude
that makes the other party feel, "I want to ask you again" or "I want to work with this person again."

The quality of the deliverables is, of course, a given.
I have also always strived to submit plans that "go one step further than expected."
But just as important as that is the sense of security during interactions and whether it is pleasant to work together.
Actually, I think that is where the hints for the next referral or continuation lie.

Summary

The way of working as a freelancer might look free and cool at first glance.
But when you actually continue it, what is needed is not special talent,
but I think it boils down to
small accumulations and sincerity toward the other party.

After 30 years, what I think is that work is not something you "win,"
but something that "naturally spreads within trust."

If you have just started freelancing and are perhaps feeling anxious,
I hope this story will be even a small hint for you.

I will continue to share real experiences on how to live as a freelancer,
as well as thoughts on design.
If you'd like, following me would be encouraging.

Thank you for reading until the end.