It means financial stability, waking up and knowing I can provide for myself and my family.

這意味著財務穩定，一覺醒來就知道我可以養活自己和家人。

A freelance career can 100% provide that if you build it wisely.

如果你能明智地建立起自己的職業生涯，自由職業者就能百分之百地實現這一目標。

As counterintuitive as it may seem, freelancing may be the best way to build long-term stability.

自由職業者可能是建立長期穩定性的最佳方式，儘管這看起來有違直覺。

Five out of 10 American workers watching this will have a freelance career by 2025.

到 2025 年，每 10 名關注此事的美國工人中就有 5 人將從事自由職業。

That's just two, three years out.

這只是兩三年後的事了。

Some of us will perform tasks like making deliveries or doing remote data entry.

我們中的一些人會從事送貨或遠程數據錄入等工作。

And some of us will be writers, graphic designers, product specialists, marketeers, software engineers, data analysts, or business consultants who are paid per project and not tied to any one company.

我們中的一些人將成為作家、平面設計師、產品專家、營銷人員、軟件工程師、數據分析師或業務顧問，他們按項目計酬，不與任何一家公司掛鉤。

Having a freelance career gives you the power to get your true market value and the flexibility to build life the way you want it.

自由職業讓你有能力獲得自己真正的市場價值，並能靈活地按照自己的意願打造生活。

But most importantly, it gives you control over your future, making you less reliant on a single employer.

但最重要的是，它能讓你掌控自己的未來，減少對單一僱主的依賴。

Hiring freelancers is good for organizations too.

僱用自由職業者對組織也有好處。

When freelancers come on board, they come with knowledge from multiple employers.

當自由職業者加入時，他們會從多個僱主那裡獲得知識。

Freelancers also tend to be more up-to-date on their skills.

自由職業者的技能也更先進。

They constantly read, listen, and learn new approaches to remain employable.

他們不斷閱讀、聆聽和學習新方法，以保持就業能力。

And freelancers offer a jolt of energy.

而自由職業者則為我們注入了活力。

They arrive ready to hit the ground running.

他們到達時已準備就緒。

So how can you be part of this freelance future?

那麼，如何才能成為未來自由職業者的一員呢？

Here are some steps.

下面是一些步驟。

Step one, identify your core value.

第一步，確定你的核心價值。

Talk to people in your network of current and former employers and ask them, what qualities make you someone who's worth hiring?

與你的現任和前任僱主網絡中的人交談，問問他們，你有哪些特質值得聘用？

Are you thorough or fast?

你是徹底還是快速？

Are you strategic?

你有戰略眼光嗎？

What types of projects do you really excel at?

您最擅長哪類項目？

Figure out exactly what value you bring as a freelancer.

弄清楚你作為自由職業者到底能帶來什麼價值。

Step two, communicate it to employers.

第二步，與僱主溝通。

Once you know your value, you're in great place to approach potential employers, whether it's places you've worked with in the past or other businesses in the same industry, and say, this is what I will do for you and this is the impact it could have on your business.

一旦你知道了自己的價值，你就能很好地與潛在僱主接洽，無論是你過去合作過的地方，還是同行業的其他企業，你都可以說，這是我能為你做的，這是它能對你的業務產生的影響。

Make your value clear on your LinkedIn profile and on your personal website and ask to be paid what you're worth, which means you should do some research on pricing and your value should translate into your fees.

在 LinkedIn 個人資料和個人網站上明確自己的價值，並要求獲得與自己價值相當的報酬，這意味著你應該對定價進行一些研究，你的價值應該轉化為你的費用。

Step three, nurture early relationships.

第三步，培養早期關係。

In the beginning, it's often in your best interest to take whatever jobs you're offered.

在開始階段，接受任何提供給你的工作往往對你最有利。

It's not all gonna be great or easy, but you will learn so much.

這並不全是好事，也不容易，但你會學到很多東西。

You'll start to see that you're better working with mission-driven companies or with managers who don't beat around the bush, or whether you're happier working remotely or going into an office working with peers.

你會發現自己更適合與有使命感的公司合作，還是與不拐彎抹角的經理合作，或者你更喜歡遠程工作，還是在辦公室裡與同事一起工作。

Every time you finish working with a new client, ask them for feedback.

每次與新客戶合作結束後，都要徵求他們的反饋意見。

Find out what worked well.

找出行之有效的方法。

What can I do better?

我能做得更好嗎？

As a freelancer, you need to be proactive and find ways to improve.

作為一名自由職業者，你需要積極主動，想方設法提高自己。

It will not only make you better, but help raise your value in the marketplace.

這不僅會讓你變得更好，而且有助於提高你在市場上的價值。

Step four, grow your client base over time.

第四步，逐步擴大客戶群。

As a freelancer, your existing customers are your best references.

作為一名自由職業者，您的現有客戶就是您最好的推薦人。

When a project is about to end, ask whether they know others who might benefit from your services or ask if they can promote you and your work in their internal channels, social media platforms, or email groups.

當項目即將結束時，詢問他們是否認識其他可能從您的服務中受益的人，或者詢問他們是否可以在內部管道、社交媒體平臺或電子郵件群組中宣傳您和您的工作。

Don't be discouraged.

不要氣餒。

It takes time and consistency to build a stable of clients.

建立穩定的客戶群需要時間和堅持不懈的努力。

Put your focus on building a reputation for good work, and you'll eventually have to turn down more jobs than you can accept.

把重點放在建立良好的工作聲譽上，你最終將不得不拒絕比你能接受的更多的工作。

Step five, join a freelance community.

第五步，加入自由職業者社區。

Whatever type of freelancer you are, find ways to connect with others in your field.

無論你是哪種類型的自由職業者，都要想方設法與你所在領域的其他人建立聯繫。

What are the LinkedIn or Facebook groups to join?

有哪些 LinkedIn 或 Facebook 小組值得加入？

Which events to go to and which podcasts to listen to?

參加哪些活動，收聽哪些播客？

This community will not only help you learn and give you leads on work, but it will also contain peers that you can vent to when you need it.

這個社區不僅可以幫助你學習，為你提供工作線索，還可以在需要的時候向同行傾訴。

If you're interested in freelancing, don't wait until you get fired or laid off to make that leap.

如果你對自由職業感興趣，不要等到被炒魷魚或失業後才躍躍欲試。

Remember, when you rely on one employer, they own your future.

請記住，當你依賴一個僱主時，你的未來就掌握在他們手中。

But by building your freelance capabilities, you'll have the power to decide not only who you want to work with, but when and in what capacity.

但是，通過培養自己的自由職業能力，你不僅可以決定與誰合作，還可以決定何時合作、以何種身份合作。

And when downturns come, you'll be better able to withstand them with a network of people who are excited to work with you.

當經濟不景氣時，有了一個樂於與您合作的人際網絡，您就能更好地抵禦經濟不景氣。