Hi, I’m Grace Smith

55 Twitterers Share Their Freelancing Memories

Twitterers Share Their Freelancing Memories...

I’ve wanted to create a ‘user generated post’ for some time by compiling replies from those on twitter, and felt that this week would be the perfect opportunity.

So on Tuesday i asked:

If you could only keep one memory related to freelancing, designing or developing, which would it be and why?

I chose this question because i wanted to evoke a real range of responses and gain a unique insight into some of the very cool people who follow me.

I received a huge number of responses, outlined below so be prepared to scroll!

	For me it would be the realisation that i could take charge of my own career & create a business doing what i love….was/still is exciting.
	My memory would be the first time I managed to get a website working in all browsers using CSS was an accomplished feeling!
	The Water People project it was a Shoppingcart that i dropped and regret it now, i wish i would have launched it.
	“That I enjoy it”
	A challenging job with a big company and a lot of money (millions) depending on you!
	All those long night full of inspiration, beer, photoshop and musics
	Always get some money up front with new clients. It is really discouraging when you get screwed out of your work.
	Having to go back to the 9 to 5 for a while. It’s got me more motivated than ever to be my own boss.
	Recent reaction to my offer to do a pro-bono website for a friend’s hippotherapy organization- definite feel-good!
	The first time I brought my portfolio for an interview to be an intern. I was so full of myself and then the guy ripped me apart
	How kind the online design community is, and it’s willingness to share information and support each other.
	The opening day of the Pub of a friend of mine, whose logo I designed, and was displayed in wooden plates all over the place!
	The 1st project we got stuck with in ‘98. Helped us step our biz game on.
	My brother switched from mechanic to personal trainer w/ help from site I built & SEOed. Help sm. Business win = great feeling.
	My first photography event, pride parade, forgot to check all settings & shot all in 1600 on a bright summers day! I learned
	Frighteningly, it would be my first full web form. I had way too much fun building it and deploying it.
	Jobcentreonline.com staying up with 4M uniques per month.
	The client who said: You took what I had in my head and heart and turned it into something amazing.
	Waking up, and seeing my site listed on the same daily gallery i always visited, without me listing it…
	Getting started, losing everything, living out of a tent in campground. Dark days, but we made it and we never gave up.
	Being my own boss! that means I am in control
	My first #freelance feast: 3 new clients, more work than I could manage. Every ring of the phone a thrill. All in 1 day!
	The satisfaction from designing and building a website for somebody.
	The feeling of freedom I feel every morning when I wake up knowing the day is in my hands alone. Pretty cool if you ask me.
	I would say probably the feeling you get when a client is eventually happy with everything!
	That moment when, after hours of struggling with a design, you make a breakthrough and everything comes together. A real high.
	I’d have to say it would be when I got my first clip art program and dot matrix printer when I was in 4th grade!
	I would remember the day I figured out that you could separate content (html) from style (css) and behavior (js)!
	When I realised you could make a living from such an amazing, fun job
	My memory is a tutor at college telling me “if you’re about to give up, keep going you’re about to make the breakthrough” so true.
	My number 1 memory would be ‘my freedom’ – freedom to dream, explore, create, excite, enjoy, inspire and share – awww…
	My memory: Realizing a great idea, just before sleep takes over, quickly sketching on paper before it is lost forevzzz …
	I wanted desperately to make my skateboard photo’s look as good as they did in the magazines
	For me, it was the moment when I was like “What? you’ll give me money for me to have fun? REALLY?”
	The freedom to sleep in
	Mine would be the ‘WOW!’ from a recent client when he first saw his website up and running. Or my Delicious URL!
	When my company (born from print) told me that they wanted to start working on the web, which was actually my background
	My 1 memory from my freelancing days: Every consumer splurg was calculated in day rates vs. $. “Oh, that’s only 3 days work!”
	Having that eureka moment when I was first learning actionscript… <3 when the coin drops!
	The happy testimonial from my first client. If I lost my other memories, this one would remind me of my passion for web design.
	When my client’s biz card which I designed was (almost) featured on Good Mrning America as an innovative way to market yourself!
	Getting that first check followed by a referral, and realizing that I could actually do this as a full-time business.
	If I had to pick 1 memory of the industry..it would be my first graphics project I worked on with my now partner & co-director.
	It would be the tone & anxiety of a call I received from a (rightly) distraught client at the beginning of my freelance career.
	My most merorable moment was getting kicked out of my H.S C++ class for showing up the teacher, and forced to learn HTML by him!
	Would have to be working on a range of Marvel gifts for Debenhams. I got to go to Marvel Comics UK HQ. A Fanboys dream come true.
	In Design school, a professor put a sign in the doorway that said “Leave your shoes and egos at the door.” Best part: it worked.
	Realizing that 80% of life is spent working and that doing what I love, I’d never “work” another day in my life.
	For me it was to convince one ugly client about the beautiful design for more thn 2 hrs conversation… i cant forget it.
	I remember a time before high speed internet, saving my websites on floppies and uploading them at a local internet cafe.
	Staying up late at night glued to the computer as I read early articles on Web Monkey (we are talking 1998).
	Choosing to do it. Was stuck in a dead end job for too long and finally took the leap. I’m happier than ever now.
	Getting pinched by the IRS for estimated taxes. OUCH
	I wish I could remember to INSIST on 50% up front!
	The joy of finishing your first paying gig.

Thanks to all the amazing people who took the time to share their thoughts and memories which contributed to a really interesting post.

Do you have one memory that sticks in your mind which you wouldn’t let go of? If so please share and add your thoughts…

Grace Smith is owner of the small but perfectly formed web design studio Postscript5, in Northern Ireland. To keep up to date with the latest designalicious content, then please consider subscribing.