3 Lessons Freelancers Learn from... Bears

3 Lessons Freelancers Learn from... BearsThings that are great about being a bear You get a diet rich in fish, youre big enough that most predators dont bother you, you dont have to have a LinkedIn Profile, and when you want to go sleep in cave for weeks at a time, nobody thinks its weird. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Fortunately were notlage just doomed to a life as sad hairless bear-wannabes. There are things freelancers can learn from bears when it comes to managing our work-life, as assembled by Chris over at Rags to Reasonable.Lesson 1 Hibernation ModeUnless youve landed a really plum long-term contract or three, odds are your workstream ebbs and flows (or sometimes even dries up entirely). This means you have to know how to match your variable expenses to your variable incomemake koranvers you know how to get your operating costs low and manageable enough to allow even your hibernation wages to last you until your next big paych eck.Lesson 2 Go Where the Food IsThis lesson is both obvious and frustrating when youre starting out and taking every single job that comes your way. Some of them may not be as lucrative as you wanted or as relevant to your overall goals as you hoped. Still,you take them and accept what the market has to offer since you dont know if there will be food (i.e. work) if you hold out for something closer to your experience.Lesson 3 Filling Your Fat StoresA positive and negative of freelancing is that when it rains it pours, if youre paid by the project and not hourly. This means you may work for a while in obscurity and then (sometimes months later) arerewarded with a significant check for a large portion of your work.The most valuable tip I took away from Chris bear-advice was to remember that check isnot disposable income its not leftover, its not actually a reliable, regular paycheck. Make it last as long as possible by being savvy with your spending and strategic with your saving.If Youre Freelancing, Have a Plan For Your Hibernation SeasonIf Youre Freelancing, Have a Plan For Your Hibernation SeasonRead More at Rags to Reasonable