Episode Details

53 million Americans--one out of three workers--can be classified as freelance entrepreneurs.

A career as a freelancer offers lots of advantages. You work when and where you want. You set your own prices and keep the profits. You choose your clients and your coworkers. (And yes, you can work at home in your pajamas!)

A career as a freelancer has its challenges, too. You have sole responsibility for finding clients, project management, business operations, contracts, taxes, marketing, scheduling, and everything else in what is, essentially, your own small business.

This week on Find Your Dream Job Mac chats with Rebecca Shapiro, an artist, illustrator, and career freelancer. Rebecca has worked with the Portland Freelancers Union and is the author of Work Independently & Live Connectedly: 52 Steps to Freelancing Freedom. She shares her experience in the gig economy and offers advice for starting and maintaining a successful career as a freelancer.

In this 32-minute episode you will learn:

• The importance of community, relationships, and collaboration in freelancing
• The mindset and technical skills you need to thrive as a freelancer
• How to shift out of the “worker” mentality, into the “freelancer” mentality
• Why you need to set healthy boundaries with clients
• How to find customers for your freelance services
• Income expectations when you become a career freelancer

This Week's Guest:

Rebecca Shapiro (@rebeccashapiro)Principal, Rebecca Shapiro Art and Rebecca Shapiro IllustrationAuthor, Work Independently & Live Connectedly: 52 Steps to Freelancing FreedomPortland, Ore.You can also connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Listener question of the week: 

• Do I need both an e-portfolio and an actual (physical) portfolio?

Do you have a question you’d like us to answer on a future episode? Please send your questions to Cecilia Bianco, Mac’s List Community Manager at cecilia@macslist.org.

Resources referenced on this week’s show:

• DoubleYourFreelancing.com
• The Business of Freelancing Podcast
• Wordpress
• SquareSpace
• Rebecca Shapiro Illustration
• Rebecca Shapiro Art
• Portland Freelancers Union
• CreativeLive
• SkillShare
• Work Independently & Live Connectedly: 52 Steps to Freelancing Freedom
• Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond): The Complete Mac’s List Guide

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource resource you’d like to s