Perspectives on the Future of Work: March 28

Upwork’s weekly column brings you the latest news on hiring and working with freelancers, freelancing, and the future of work.

Forbes | What Digital Nomads Know That You Don’t (Yet)

Taking the concept of remote work to the next level, a growing number of adventure-seeking freelancers are eschewing permanent residence for a life of constant travel, reports Forbes contributor and podcast Jules Schroeder.

These digital nomads are finding financial success alongside the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. As more self-employed creatives take their business on the road, they’re also changing what the future of work can look like for freelancers who love to explore.

“What differentiates me from many round the world and gap-year travelers is that I worked the entire time,” said digital nomad and freelance entrepreneur Shannon O’Donnell. “In the past seven years, I have only truly taken two long breaks from my SEO consulting work, my freelance online work, and the weekly upkeep on my blog.”

O’Donnell has traveled across 55 countries while living and working remotely with clients over the past seven years. She shares a few important takeaways for anyone who plans to embark on a similar nomadic journey.

1) There’s never a “right” time, so just go for it. If you’ve put off doing something exciting with your life, traveling the world and working remotely can be a rewarding way to earn back the money you spend while you enjoy a memorable new adventure, she says.

2) You have the power to shape your own path. O’Donnell suggests focusing on your own goals and following the path that makes sense to you. There’s no single approach to take when considering the life of a digital nomad.

3) Experiences can be just as valuable as “things.” Traveling and living on-the-go naturally means keeping worldly possessions to a minimum. She recommends investing in your happiness through other enriching ways beyond fancy material things.

Freelancers Union | Diversify Your Skill Set or Focus on Your Niche? How to Find a Balance that Suits You

Should you diversify and expand the scope of your work or niche down and specialize in a specific area of expertise? It’s a big question that many freelancers face at different points as they grow their freelance businesses.

The answer isn’t always a straightforward one, says long-time freelancer Michelle Nickolaisen, who believes it’s important to weigh your options and determine which approach will deliver the most value to your business.

On one hand, it’s important to be able to easily describe your services in a way that your ideal clients will understand and find appealing. “You need to have something very concrete and pitchable,” she said. “You need to be able to explain it to a prospective client in one (ideally, short) sentence.”

This is where specialization and narrower fields of skill focus can be put to good use for freelancers. Being direct and streamlined in your approach, however, doesn’t have to limit you if you have complementary skills that overlap.

“When I first started pitching myself as a freelancer while at my agency job, my portfolio site was geared for not just freelance writing, but social media marketing and content marketing strategy as well,” said Nickolaisen. “These are all complementary services, and potential clients weren’t confused by the combination of them.”

What changes in the workplace have caught your attention recently? Tell us about them in the comments below!

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