Can we talk about the slow season panic vs. planning debate

I used to scramble for any $20 gig during dry months, but after switching to a strict 3-month savings buffer last winter, I actually landed a $2,000 retainer-so which is better, hustling harder or sitting quiet and waiting?

3 comments

3 Comments

nathan_kim6d agoMost Upvoted

3-month savings buffer" sounds like a luxury I can't afford but also exactly what I need. Guess I'll just keep panic-hustling until I crash and burn.

finley_roberts276d ago

Ask yourself this: what makes you think panic-hustling is actually working, or is it just keeping you busy so you don't have to face the real problem? Like, are those $20 gigs actually covering your bills or just making you feel less anxious for a day? I think a lot of people confuse being busy with being productive, and the slow season is the perfect time to see which one you're really doing. The retainer didn't come from hustling harder, it came from having the space to actually think about what I wanted to charge and who I wanted to work with. So seriously, when's the last time you sat down and looked at your numbers without the panic kicking in?

oliviabutler6d ago

Went through a phase a few years back where I was doing those $15 logo gigs on Fiverr just to feel like I was doing something. Turned out I was making about $2 an hour after factoring in revisions and the time spent arguing with people who wanted their money back. Got so burned out I had to take a full month off with no income at all, which cost me way more than just saying no to bad clients in the first place. Ever actually track your hourly rate after all the unpaid work and admin stuff gets added in?