Posted: Jan 5, 2020
Updated: Oct 10, 2024
I am on a Turkish Airlines flight to Toronto as I am typing this. Fancy, huh? Bet you it is! The food is really nice, and in-flight Wifi really is the best thing. The clients I work with at my current company are all based in the USA and Canada (for the most part). This means, since my flight is 8 hours long and I have a considerable time difference (with Turkey), I can use all my flight time to do my work and get paid, while IN.THE.AIR.
Fam, the future of work is remote.
A little bit over 10 years ago, a large majority of people were still afraid of the internet. Of making online transactions. And purchases. But nowadays, SO MUCH has changed. We now use the same internet to land jobs online, get paid for these jobs, and land some more.
Over the past 7+ years, I have worked with more than 50 clients, offering a wide variety of services. I have gotten paid for these jobs, without ever having met any of my clients in person (In fact, the first time I met an online client in person was in 2019). I offered my services. Did the work. Got paid. Repeat. NO. QUESTIONS. ASKED.
Back then, people were still considering that working online was not “real” work. But the money in my bank accounts was real though. The trips I took to further my medical experience were real though. The people I got to network with, as a result of the trips I took (with the money I earned working online), were real though. The financial investments I made were real though, and so were the profits that keep coming. Nowadays, million of people around the world are biting the “online work” pie, and I am just full in the game, shaking my head with approbation: you know the real deal.
Despite the tremendous increase in freelance workers around the globe, despite the fact that several companies are now hiring people remotely, a lot of people out there are still on the fence about working online: is it safe? Will this work for ME? Do I have any skills to show for? Is this the right step?
I’ve been there., done that, heard it, and answered that. But I am going to do it again. In this article, I am going to share the top 10 false ideas that people have about working online. I hope this brings more clarity to you. My ultimate goal is to inspire you to make that step. Get out of your shell, launch your online career and start making that money.
Table of Contents
Work from home online myth 1: Working online is not safe
Really?
When it comes to getting paid from doing freelance work online, your money will always be transferred to your account through a secure system. Before the start of any contract, you and your employer agree on payment terms and methods (Paypal, direct bank wire, or any other method). Once that is set up, you are good to go. And if you ask me, if you are comfortable spending money online (using your credit/debit card for online shopping), why wouldn’t you be comfortable making money online too?
Work from home online myth 2: I cannot get a steady income from working online
Says who? How much you earn from your freelance work online depends on several factors. These include: 1) how much time you want to put in, 2) how much you sell your services for, and 3) the type of contracts that you go for! Keep in mind that when you do freelance work online, you can always change these factors based on each client.
There are two types of jobs online: “project based jobs, and ongoing jobs. For project-based jobs, you receive a fixed amount. This means that at the beginning of the project, you agree on the pay with your employer. Once you submit the work and get paid, you complete the project. For ongoing freelance jobs, the pay is on an hourly basis. These are the jobs that will give you a steady source of income overtime. They helped me to afford traveling to 20+ countries while working full-time. With these types of jobs, you agree on an hourly rate with your employer.
Work from home online myth 3: I get paid less than if I work in an office
Wrong! And FYA, thanks to freelance work online, I managed to get a lot more money to travel than I would have working a regular job only!
When you do freelance work online, you choose which clients you want to work with. You choose how much you want to charge for each project. Of course, if you are getting started and are only dipping your feet in the online waters, you open yourself to almost all clients. But as you gain more exposure and expertise, you can be a lot more selective about your freelance work opportunities.
Now, moving on to added costs:
Do you really know how much money you earn from your office job? Let’s have a look.
Consider your monthly salary. Then, subtract all the money you spend on transportation to get to work. If you own a vehicle, subtract the money you spend on gas. Then subtract the money you spend on lunch (if you don’t make your own lunch at home). The balance should give you an estimate of how much you really make.
Now, let’s look at the online freelance work you do from home. You spend $0 on transportation (unless you take a ride to get from your bedroom to your living room!); $0 on outside lunch (all the lunch is made at home, and it’s healthy too!). And don’t even get me started on all the clothes you need to buy to work in an office. Thanks but no thanks, I’ll stay in my pajamas!
Work from home online myth 4: Working online is not real work
Companies like Dell, VIPKID and UnitedHealth Groups hire online freelancers every day, and the list goes on. When it comes to logistics, the main difference between freelance work online and working in an office is the fact that instead of seeing your colleagues and your client (employer) face to face everyday, you get to see them via a computer interface (using Skype or any other teleconference software). Instead of popping in their office to ask a question, you send them a Skype message or an email. It is a simple as that. You get to interact with real people, and do real work!
Work from home online myth 5: I don’t have any skills that I can use for online jobs
Let me break it down for you. You probably already have 90% of the skills you need to land an online job, but you just don’t know it. Don’t fear though, because most people are in the same situation. Have you heard of transferable skills? Those are skills you can use in any field of work you get in, and most people have them. If you want to figure out what skills you have and how YOU can turn them into a power machine to make money online, sign up for my FREE, 1-hour workshop. In this workshop, I teach you how to turn your existing skills into an online money making machine.
Based on the job category you’re interested in, you might need to acquire new skills before you can start freelance work online. And that is pretty easy (something you can wrap up in a few days!)
Work from home online myth 6: Working online is too easy, so it is probably all scams
Let me clear the air: freelance work from home is NOT EASY, it is convenient and rewarding. People might think that because you are working in your pajamas while your lunch is cooking in the kitchen, you’re not doing any real work. Nada. I have worked with 50+ clients and companies throughout my freelance work journey. Trust me when I say this: you get just as tired as you do when you work in an office!
I have spent hours on the phone organizing trip itineraries and arranging visa appointments for customers. At that time, I was working with a Europe-based adventure travel agency. I have spent hours emailing physicians for patients who wanted to get an In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment and start a family. I have spent hours troubleshooting technical issues for online entrepreneurs who tripled their sales and grew their businesses. None of these things are easy, but when you see the results, it’s all worth it. Plus, doing it all from the comfort of your own home is even more rewarding. Freelance work online comes with so many perks.
Work from home online myth 7: I have to quit my full-time job if I want to work online
That is the thing though, you don’t! If you want to start to work at home online to make extra income from your main job, you can do it (just like me)! All it takes is organizing your freelance work online around your regular hours. For instance, if you work from 9-5, you can decide to put in 2 hours of freelance work every evening when you get home. You can also choose to do all your freelance work on the weekends. Bottom line is, this is completely up to you and your earning goals: set your work hours, agree on these with your clients and start rolling. With freelance online work, the ball is ALWAYS in your court. Just make sure you honor your commitments.
Work from home online myth 8: I have to be in front of a computer 24/7
This goes back to myth #7. You only have to be in front of your computer when you are doing your freelance work. It’s that simple. However, based on your clients and the projects you are working on, you might need to communicate with them frequently, especially if they have feedback or ask questions.
Freelance work from home is a rewarding and reward-earning field. It has been for the past years, for me. Because of this, I have been able to travel more every year. You can earn and grow your income in ways you never thought possible before. All you have to do is be willing to take that step.
If you’re ready to take a leap of faith and change things around for yourself this year, head over here to find out how you can start your freelance online work career as a beginner!
Leave a Reply