Motivation through variety: balancing happiness and projects as a freelance creative

This is an article for art directors, designer, illustrators and people along theses lines. It is for freelance people and people who work in the creative industries. I hope if you have a different profession you find something in there for you too.

I always found it quite hard to constantly stay motivated during my last 7 years as a freelancer. There are days where you have a clear to-do list and you simply can’t find the drive within you to do it. At least that is one big thing for me that keeps coming back. There is just another „automatic“ paste of working when you are employed. Because you go there, you show up and eventually, with the help of your colleagues you will get to work. Sometimes with a higher outcome sometimes with a little less outcome. When you are free to do and time everything yourself, it is a little different. All of the above said this is obviously a very personal and subjective topic.

So how to keep up the drive and the motivation? For me, over that last years, I found a certain set of rules I live and work by to keep myself happy and motivated.

1. Whenever you are stuck change the subject

I am the best version of myself when I work on 3-4 projects at the same time (2 big ones +2 small ones I like a lot). Everybody knows that there are lows and highs in a project so I try to jump between projects whenever I feel stuck with another one. That way, I hope to add up more highs than lows. Also, I think different projects can be an inspiration for each other. I often find myself in one project and find the solution to another one that is waiting to be tackled. I think to juggle more projects is a skill you really have to learn the hard way, but once you are there, it is magic. 

2. Three types of projects

When I was younger I got quite frustrated by the fact that some clients just don’t want to push boundaries hard enough. That they want to keep in their comfort zone. As a brand designer and art director that often means, that people go for the more boring and safe solution and innovation and „modern style“ often gets behind. I also had the grand vision as a young designer that every project that I produce must be a portfolio piece. That said I think very different about that these days. I believe that there are 3 types of projects. And I think with practice you can identify those rather quickly.

• Projects for clients that don’t want to change too much.
  Projects where you know up front that it might not become a portfolio piece but maybe you can help somebody and make some good money. You always can and should produce valid work and learn something from it. You can either get frustrated by it or be aware of it and realize that everybody has to make a living. You just have to be smart about it.
   
• The portfolio pieces
  A lot of the times the more innovative and open companies with „lighter structures“ are the once that might not have the big money. So to come up with a structure to handle that and know exactly what’s the minimum rate you can work with is key.
  I, for example, have a start-up rate that is obviously lower that the one for established companies.
   
• The heart projects and free, self-initiated side projects, you come up with, handle and deliver yourself to have fun and show off what you can do.
  These are most of the time not coming with money. But eventually, people will book you for it because once they see something, they can understand it, identify with it and ideate around it.So to be proactive with projects like that. To establish what you WANT to be doing is key.

How I deal with those 3 boxes? 

• I try to identify the clients and people I work with on a project rather quickly. Through talking to them and pushing things in conversations. So that I know quite well what I am signing up for and don’t get frustrated during the project process. In the end, it is all about expectations and definitions. The better those are discussed and clear the easier the process.
   
• I try to always push the boundaries even though I know it might not go through. So why not present 2 versions. The more boring version, where you know your client is happy with and sees himself 100% and the more innovative version, that is underlined with good arguments and that will lead the client into a future that might come with change but also with growth. Often the second one will win. But also be okay with rejection.
   
• Choose your own battles. What is important to you? How do you split your energy? Be wise about that and come up with your own rules.
  
  For me, I like to split my time between those 3 types of projects kind of equally if possible. The ultimate goal is to be happy with every project I do the one or the other way and to constantly learn something new.

3. Surround yourself with amazing people and collaborate

I truly believe in collaboration and that more people are not just the sum of their skills but can produce grander things that each individual. Collaboration needs practice and training too. I always try to work with as many people I can to find the ones I click with. 

Within that, I find a lot of motivation for projects. Seeing and hearing different thoughts, ideas and inputs can bring a project to a level you could have never envisioned alone.

Soft skills to get teamwork right is not really a set of skills designer often talk about, but it is definitely a topic I constantly try to improve. 

4. It is okay to not do anything and to relax

I still have to learn that too. I really try hard sometimes to not only be „busy“ but produce something of value.  I often find myself in a little trap I call the „reaction-trap“ instead of relaxing when the work is done. Those moments, where you actually just react to e-mails and things people through at you rather than being proactive. Which needs way more energy.

5. Follow your instincts and make sure you know when you are most productive, inspired and motivated

I am a morning person. And I know by now, that I am most creative and most productive in the mornings. My ultimate low phase is in the afternoon. so I am fine with waking up early (around 7) and starting work at 8 latest. which is not common for the creative industry I guess. But to actually „live the freedom“ of a freelance life and all finding your own rhythm has been very motivating to me.

6. Know your excuses and tackle them

I am very aware of the fact that I can get distracted quite easily when I am not motivated - where as I can be super focused and in the zone when I am motivated. So one of my excuses, for example, is e-mails. A lot of time I can waste hours in writing mails. Responding to them mainly. For me, one of the most important rules is to try to only check my mails at specific times of the day and to time everything I do.

So I use toggle and keep track of everything. I know exactly how long I need for specific tasks and I block times for septic to-dos. That way I constantly challenge myself to work within set boundaries. Time wise and focus wise. And since I am a rather competitive person I alway try to do tasks I don’t like quicker to have more time for fun stuff.

Hope that helps or triggered something!

Read: the 4-Hour-Work-Week from Tim Ferriss or read his blog and listen to his podcast if you want to push yourself.
Enjoy spring!