Stephen Yeargin

Creative energy is a limited but renewable resource. I have certainly found its limits, often long before I really needed it to run out. Even when tackling a project of a very technical nature (things that make Excel spreadsheets look exciting), I at the very least need a sort of momentum to keep thinking my way through the process.

In the past I’ve been hesitant to jump at an opportunity for a “side project” but, during my staycation, I have had a bit of time to re-think that strategy.

Here are a few of my non-negotiable rules for freelance work:

1. Only Company Work is Done on Company Time — This seems obvious, but I have witnessed what happens when this rule is ignored. The common pitfall is to think that taking or placing a phone call or e-mail to a personal client while on the clock is acceptable. It never is acceptable.
2. Client Must Respect Rule Number One — This one is tough, because the client is trying to run a business too. It is probably best to have this conversation on the front end, explaining that the hours are “after-hours and weekends” and to prepare for any kind of catastrophe that may come up.
3. Work Done For the Company Belongs to the Company — This one might vary depending on the workplace, but re-using code or obvious design elements for another project may save time but opens up a litany of legal and ethical questions. Non-compete clauses in employment contracts often spell this out in excruciating detail.

So why even bother with freelance work? I have a couple of examples where it can prove beneficial to all involved.

• For the Freelancer — Extra income; Exposure to a new industry; Sandbox for new technology
• For the Client — Professional work; Flexibility in scheduling; No payroll taxes or benefits
• For the Company — Employee stays current on new technology; Benefit from “outside the box” thinking

I am taking a bit of time to take inventory of what all my wife and I can put out there as creative services, much in the same manner a politician forms an “exploratory committee.” Trying our hand at freelance has always been one of those back burner projects for us, even when actually doing such work. We shall see how it all goes.