Whether you’re working on getting new projects or are in the thick of completing them, projects take time to “cook”. (i.e. to do well, according to Gen Z slang.)
Because unless you have a long line of people queuing up to work with you, you have to get your name out there to get projects.
Not every person you approach will be interested in hiring you. You have to keep at it until you clinch those precious projects.
But getting a project isn’t the end of the story: it’s the beginning. This is when you have to knuckle down and deliver.
And depending on factors like:
- The project’s complexity,
- How long you take to complete the work and
- How much back-and-forth there is with the client,
projects can take a looong time to complete.
For example, my average blog post project lasts 2 to 4 weeks. I think my current record for a project duration is 4 months.
And right now, in July 2025, I’m working on something that might see the light of day only next year. :’)
So, if projects take time to cook, how do you make sure you don’t starve in the meantime? Especially if you get paid only at the end of projects?
I would:
- Prospect far and wide for work. Every single day. So that I fill my pipeline as quickly as possible. And keep it filled. (I’ve written a blog post on getting clients fast, which you might find helpful.)
- Build a buffer of funds that I can pay my expenses from even if I’m short on work or need to wait a while to get paid.
- Try to get paid for work upfront so I have money coming in even if a project isn’t done yet.
Then, with the confidence that I have projects coming in and that I can keep up with my expenses even during drier months, I can patiently let ongoing projects simmer until they’re fully cooked. (Ding!) Even if this takes longer than I would like.
I hope these words provide you with some food for thought today!
More freelancer news
Freelancing as a fractional worker
Fraction-what?
A fractional worker is a person who offers C-suite services part time (i.e. a fraction of the hours a full-time employee might work). But they aren’t employees and don’t get employee benefits.
So, you can think of them as freelance CEOs, CMOs, CTOs, etc.
Fractional work is a new-ish model of work that might suit you if you can provide not just skills, but also strategic leadership.
This article explores fractional work in more detail.
You can also check out my previous chat with a fractional Chief Marketing Officer if you’re interested in this field.
Another interesting trend: Super commuting
Super commuting means regularly travelling long distances—i.e. “taking a plane” kind of long—for work.
For example, one self-employed Singaporean interviewed in this article lives and works in Bangkok, but travels to Singapore when he needs to meet clients.
Flying back and forth may be tiring, but people super commute because they enjoy cost savings or want to explore another country, among other reasons.
If your work doesn’t need you to be constantly present in one country, then becoming a super commuter who lives in another country might be worth considering?
Just make plans to address issues that may arise, e.g. having to pay taxes to not one but two countries, before you commit.
Learn more about super commuting here.
This post was first published in my email newsletter on 3 Jul 2025. If you liked it, sign up for my newsletter here:
