The Number One Reason People Want to be Freelancers

Almost daily I hear from people who want to make the transition from full time to freelance.

What is the number one reason people tell me they want to be freelance project managers?

➡ So they can have more flexibility with their time and schedule.

This is a great reason, and actually one of my own, but I remind project managers to be careful of their expectations here.

I have been taking on project management work in a freelance capacity for almost 3 years now, and while I love this work I can confidently say it’s not for everyone.

Here’s why:

As a freelance project manager you will have clients.

And your clients will have projects, which have timelines and due dates and communication needs.

The reality is, even though you are an independent worker and have freedom of your schedule, you are still working for your client.

Not everything is done on your terms, for example:

✅ You will need to "show up" even when you don't feel like it.

✅ You will need to stick to timelines even if you don't like them.

✅ You will need to be available to communicate during normal business hours even if you would rather sleep all day and work at night.

And because you are a freelancer, these actions are critical in building your reputation and keeping a steady stream of work.

Being a freelance project manager doesn’t mean you can check out for days or weeks at a time, simply on a whim.

Sure, you can more conveniently build breaks into your schedule and overall have more flexibility with your working location, but a large part of your day will probably look the same as it does for a full time worker.

For me, the biggest positive of freelance work is that I have choice over the type of projects I take on and the teams I work with.

Have you thought about becoming a freelance project manager? What questions do you have?