Creative Circle works with the most talented creatives in the business! One is our beloved freelance writer, Karina Margit. Here’s what Karina had to say when we asked her about her freelance journey:

What advice would you give to other freelancers?

Luck favors the prepared—keep keeping at it. Sometimes it will feel like an immense outpouring of energy with little return. Keep keeping at it. Success is about consistency, courage, and effort when things feel hard, stuck, and stagnant. Keep keeping at it. Unspectacular preparation always precedes spectacular forward motion. Roman philosopher Seneca famously shared: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Doing the work and going after what you want will open doors—you just need to be ready to walk through them.

When did you realize you were good at writing?

I wrote an article about Bufo alvarius. Bufo is a powerful and potent psychedelic, which comes from the Colorado River (or Sonoran Desert) Toad. Using Bufo helps you put ego aside to enable connecting with a divine source—and today, science seems to be catching up with these mystical accounts. A growing number of researchers are studying Bufo and other hallucinogenic substances as legit treatments for many mental health conditions. The article went viral. Many people began reaching out to me—Vietnam veterans, survivors of mass gun violence, traumatized people—sharing how inspired they were by my piece and asking if I could help connect them with the practitioner. I felt such joy that my words could move people and give hope to so many.

When was a moment you knew you messed up, how did you cope?

Failure is a fabulous teacher. There’s a Silicon Valley maxim: Fail often. Fail fast. If you are not occasionally failing, you are not trying hard enough. Yes, it might be counterintuitive that striving for perfection may hinder the creative process—but that doesn’t make it any less true. Quality comes from quantity—if you want quality, try and try and try again until you get it right (or make it better). If it is worth doing, do it poorly and get better. Nobody became an expert by doing something once. Keep going. Keep failing. Keep learning. Keep keeping at it.

 

About the creative.

An award-winning creator and digital health, wellness, and lifestyle content strategist—Karina writes, produces, and edits compelling content across multiple platforms—including articles, videos, interactive tools, and documentary films. Her work has been featured on MSN Lifestyle, Apartment Therapy, Goop, Psycom, Yahoo News, Pregnancy & Newborn, Eat This Not That, thirdAGE, and Remedy Health Media digital properties and has spanned insight pieces on psychedelic toad medicine to forecasting the future of work to why sustainability needs to become more sustainable.

 

Creative Circle works with the most talented creatives in the business! One is our beloved freelance writer, David Porter. Here’s what David Porter had to say when we asked him about his freelance journey:

What advice would you give to other freelancers?
You have to stay as organized as possible: use your Google calendar, keep a “paper” calendar handy so you can glance at your week if your computer is off, etc. With freelancing, you often have multiple projects going at once, sometimes from the same number of clients, and you have to make sure you get everything done and meet every deadline. Also, say no to nothing and tell EVERYONE you’re freelancing. You never know if/when you’re going to bump into someone who might hire you. You have to promote yourself, network…don’t forget, if you’re freelancing your income tends to ebb and flow. You need to constantly expand your network and seek new business. And keep your portfolio up to date.

When did you realize you were good at writing?
I was working at a large tech company, offices here and in SF, just copywriting mostly, but then I was asked to come up with some ideas, and I put together a proposal for a women-in-tech content campaign. It wasn’t used, unfortunately, but it was a great project (there was a management shift at the company and my entire department ultimately disappeared). I realized at that point that I could come up with interesting content ideas AND execute them.

When was a moment you knew you messed up, how did you cope?
Too many to recount! I have one client for whom I send out press releases via Constant Contact, and I loathe Constant Contact. The big problem I usually have is I forget to change the email subject line; when I make this mistake, I send out a correction right away. It is the most elegant solution? No, but getting it right is what’s important, of course. Finally, I used to write brochures for a cruise line, and I must have been tired because I was describing a famous spot in Athens, Greece, probably the Acropolis, and I described it as “infamous,” which it isn’t! By the time I realized my painful mistake, the brochure was already printed. Thankfully no one noticed, at least no one by whom I was employed, and I decided it was best to say nothing and just shuffle off to Buffalo. Sometimes this is the best you can do (and you are forgiven).

 

About the creative. 

David A. Porter is a writer and editor with extensive social media, public relations, journalism and publishing experience. Over the past two decades he has honed his B2B and B2C communications expertise in a variety of industries, including technology, travel and hospitality, investor relations, political campaigns, music and the arts, and fashion and jewelry. A content creation and distribution specialist, his portfolio includes ad copy, blog posts, brochures, by-lined articles, case studies, long-form content, op-eds, pitch letters, PPT presentations, press releases, proposals and RFPs and speeches; he also edits full-length works by novelists and academics.

Freelancers are (unfortunately) used to hearing questions from family and friends who don’t quite understand what they do or how it all works.

Yes, we get that working as an independent contractor can be challenging to wrap your head around. If someone has been a corporate desk jockey their whole career, they may need help to fully grasp the freelance thing. Questions naturally abound—How do you make money? How do you handle multiple clients? Do you ever get out of your PJs?

Younger folks’ career paths may seem relatively “unconventional” to older generations—but freelancing is fast becoming more the norm than the exception. According to research published by Fast Company, 48% of Gen Z workers are freelancers, with about half of working millennials also working as independent consultants in some capacity. By 2027, 86.5 million Americans will be freelancing—about half of the U.S. workforce.

While we understand some generational confusion, that doesn’t mean that the questions don’t get (sometimes very) annoying. While it may fall on us to educate about the freelance world, we can still have fun doing it.

Here are some top questions pesky family and friends will likely ask about your freelance career this holiday season—and how to respond.

1. “Do you actually make money as a freelancer?”

Cue the *eye-roll* — this one gets us every time. I mean, it’s not often you ask full-time professionals detailed questions about their salary. But believe it (or not), this is often one of the first questions lobbed when family discovers you’ve gone to the freelance side. At the risk of delving into a doctoral discourse on your financial history, you can nip this one by being concise and to the point.

How you might respond:  Yes, I’m making money—in fact, freelancers typically make more (often far more) as independent consultants than in traditional full-time jobs. Boom.

 

2. “When are you going to get a real job?”

Oof—this one rankles. Doing work consistently for several clients and getting paid for it is essentially the definition of j-o-b. While being a freelancer is not the prototypical norm, we are often better paid for our skills and experience.

How you might respond:  When this one is lobbed my way, I explain that while I don’t report to an office or work a classic 9-to-5 schedule, I am working all the time, often longer than those in more traditional careers.

 

3. “Aren’t you worried about your future?”

Ah, the future, the lovely “certain” future. Freelancers and standard FTEs alike are all susceptible to job insecurities. Layoffs are a thing—ask the high-paid folks from Twitter, Meta, and other tech behemoths who recently got pink-slipped. Most freelancers are acutely aware of the pitfalls of not having enough work to cover a slow month (or, gulp, year), which is why we cover our bases and plan for rainy days.

How you might respond:  Yes, I’m worried about my future, but guess what—you should be too, which is why you need a solid financial plan.

 

4. “So, what’s it like to not have a boss?”

Questions about freelancing can swing wildly from irritating to starry-eyed. For those frustrated by their own work leadership, imagining freelancers frolicking happily, with no upper management to contend with, is the stuff of fascination station. But it’s important to (maybe after having a weensy bit of fun with it) remind family and friends that being your own “boss” is not quite as glam as it sounds.

I share that I’m responsible for things I’d rather toss up the ladder, like accounting, insurance, payroll, and more. And the truth is everyone answers to someone. Yes, there’s no direct supervisor—but freelancers function at the mercy of their different clients. They are accountable to the people who write them checks, so it often feels like there are multiple bosses at once. Ouch. It’s not the pretty rose-colored Vaseline on the lens view that most people picture.

How you might respond:  Share that while you love being in charge of your workday and career trajectory, going it solo also comes with challenges.

 

5. “I bet you take vacations all the time, right?”

People often assume that freelancing is synonymous with jet-set trips to exotic locales. And while the ability to work anywhere is great, an actual “vacation” is one where you can actually unplug and disconnect from the digital grid—and typically requires quite a bit of advance planning.

I remind folks that there’s no PTO in the land of the freelancer. Shutting things down for a week or more involves planning ahead and oodles of communication with clients. It’s more complex than picking a cool destination, packing, and setting an out-of-office response.

How you might respond: ”While I do have the option to work from wherever, it can (somewhat ironically) be more complex to get away. True vacations require a lot of prep and planning, which means they don’t happen as often as they do in my fantasies.”

 

6. “What’s your five-year plan?”

Five years? Freelancers often don’t have the next five minutes planned. Sometimes there’s an idea of what one would like to accomplish in the next five years, while other times, it’s more about planning for next month. If you don’t have a five-year plan mapped out and color-coded, that’s perfectly fine. And even if you do but prefer not to go into detail about it, this genius response keeps the mystique.

 

How you might respond: ”While I could tell you, it would ruin the surprise.”

 

__________________________________________

 

Bottom Line

The best overarching advice for annoying questions about your freelance career? Get curious about their curiosity. Why are they asking—are they just curious? Concerned? Jealous? Both? It will help guide how much fun or seriousness you inject into your responses. So, when Uncle Larry asks when you’re going to get serious and go to law school, you can let him know that you’d love to chat about this but must check on the roast and then lament how you’ll be sitting on opposite sides of the table. Or, get a little cheeky and tell him you’ll get right on that as soon as you get his tuition check.

 

About the author.

An award-winning creator and digital health, wellness, and lifestyle content strategist—Karina writes, produces, and edits compelling content across multiple platforms—including articles, video, interactive tools, and documentary film. Her work has been featured on MSN Lifestyle, Apartment Therapy, Goop, Psycom, Yahoo News, Pregnancy & Newborn, Eat This Not That, thirdAGE, and Remedy Health Media digital properties and has spanned insight pieces on psychedelic toad medicine to forecasting the future of work to why sustainability needs to become more sustainable.

I get asked a lot about how I’ve landed in the various roles I’ve explored throughout my working life. I’ve had a lot of different jobs, and sometimes feel like I stumbled into a career just by taking leaps and trying things out. The secret to my success? A mix of luck and gumption, probably.

I’ve never really considered any of my shifts a full-on career change, preferring to think of them as shifts or evolutions into something adjacent. Perception is reality, baby, and that’s how we frame the story. Looking back over the past 15 years, here’s an outline of the various phases I’ve moved through, how the shifts played out, and the lessons learned along the way.

Before we dig in, I want to be absolutely clear that this journey came with a lot of help, a lot of privilege, and a lot of luck. None of us are islands. Every successful pivot comes with help and other people who can open doors or at least crack open a window.

 

 

PHASE 1: BROKEN OPTIMISM

Inspired by Rachel Weisz’s character in The Constant Gardener, I decided I wanted to study journalism in college. I thought I could make a difference by exposing hard truths and launching a career in investigative journalism. Throughout my college years and my internships, I realized that the industry had been shifting, and not in a way that seemed to value what I wanted to offer. Also, SPOILER ALERT, Weisz’s character dies on the job, which I maybe should have considered.

I also started noticing very legitimate anxiety issues and found myself too identified with my writing to ever feel good about submitting it on time. I suffered from crippling perfectionism, which made it hard to work on a deadline. Eventually, I decided to put that dream away, and just figure out a way to get a job in New York where I would eventually figure things out.

 

LESSONS:

  • You may not major in your eventual career, but you can lay the groundwork for solid recommendations and a portfolio.
  • Self-esteem and mental health issues, when unaddressed, can lead you to slowly sabotage yourself.

 

 

PHASE 2: CHAOS 

I moved to New York under the backdrop of Occupy Wall Street and the wake of the Great Recession. Unemployment rates were still high, so snagging a role fresh out of college was a challenge. I felt directionless and desperate but managed to plow forward and apply to every gig I was remotely qualified for. I tapped into Craigslist, alumni networks, every contact I had made in my various internships, parents of friends who were based in the city, and on and on we went. This is what we call planting seeds, and it can be so frustrating not to see results from the sheer volume of it all.

Within one week, I had a part-time job that paid $10/hour working as an assistant to a photographer’s agent, which I landed through a connection I made at a former internship. A few months later, I had lined up a few more gigs, including web production, copywriting, hostessing, and bartending. The hustle was very real that first year in the city. I did a lot of unpaid work and interviewed for a lot of weird gigs — thank you, Craigslist — but managed to stay afloat.

Eventually, one of the seeds I had planted sprouted, and I landed an interview at Sony as a quality assurance coordinator. Not the role of my dreams, but it was in tech and music, full-time, and at a big company. I was thrilled. I got the job, would be paid hourly, but did not get benefits which was okay because I was still on my parents’ insurance.

While I wanted to do something “more creative” long-term, I really enjoyed my team and the work I was doing. Unfortunately, lack of monetary advancement and sexism lead me to seek greener pastures. My roommate suggested a staffing agency he had worked with to help me find my way, but instead of being placed by them, I became a recruiter.

 

LESSONS:

  • You can harness various skills to reach unexpected places.
  • Sometimes the seeds you plant take a while to sprout, but you’ll be grateful to your past self when they do.
  • Lean into every network connection you can; reach out respectfully and without expectations.
  • Be gracious, listen, say thank you, and mean it.
  • Sometimes a toxic environment can drive you out of a potential career path.

 

PHASE 3: STABILITY

That’s right! I finally found a salaried full-time role with benefits and all at Creative Circle. I joined the New York office as a recruiter, using my creative/tech experience as a base, and built off that with training and experience. Did my heart still long for creativity? Yes. And you know what? I got to explore my creativity after hours since I was making more money and finding stability. I took improv and storytelling classes. I took piano and voice lessons. I started therapy and worked through the self-esteem issues that sabotaged my college writing dreams.

Having those three years of stability was life-changing for me. I got on top of my health, learned about myself, and built a savings account. But something was still missing for me. I explored a range of passions that led to signing up for trainings, mentorships, and certifications so that I could do the part of recruiting I liked best, helping people. I decided I would try my hand at freelancing. I expressed my wishes to my manager, and we parted ways on excellent terms (this will be important later).

 

LESSONS:

  • Financial stability and independence can be game-changers.
  • Maintaining your mental health and integrity is more important.
  • There are ways to part ways amicably. Maintaining professional connections can only help you. (Obviously, if your employer is manipulative and unethical, this does not apply. Burn that bridge and never look back, but make sure you have evidence of their misconduct just in case.)

 

 

PHASE 4: CALCULATED CHAOS

I took a stab at entrepreneurship, teaching yoga, reading tarot cards, and offering one-on-one mentorship and coaching. This was an ever-evolving process that launched me back into that hustle zone, albeit with a little more cushion and a little more freedom. I worked all kinds of gigs, in all kinds of environments, with all kinds of people. I designed workshops and classes, packaged offerings at events, worked with long- and short-term clients, and had the space to study and explore various areas of interest.

A lot happened during this time, but eventually, I made my way back to my home city and tried to continue what I had started. However, it became clear I couldn’t do things in the same way anymore. I started shifting, focusing more on mentorship, and allowing myself to imagine something different. I had never intended to live like this forever, and was realizing perhaps all my interests and hobbies shouldn’t become my job. It was time to pivot once more, I just didn’t know what that would look like yet.

 

LESSONS:

  • Your passion could lead to a career, or it could lead to a valuable learning experience.
  • You can monetize the things you love, but you can also walk away when it’s not working anymore.

 

PHASE 5: EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES

After one year back in Miami, I suffered a concussion four months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This had the unfortunate effect of making the already challenging logistics of my work untenable. Teaching yoga in Miami was way harder than teaching in New York. Needing to drive, often during rush hour to teach classes made it so my dollars per hour earnings were often way below minimum wage if you include prep and travel time. Once I sustained the injury, the effort doubled as driving at night would trigger headaches and nausea, I also couldn’t look at screens for more than a few hours a day. It was a rough time.

I had to spend a lot more time resting, which was hard and made me feel helpless, but with the support of my family and then boyfriend/now husband, I made it through and realized it was time to pivot once more. In my explorations, I reached out to my old manager (the one I left on great terms with), and picked up some copywriting and admin work. I was really lucky to ride out the pandemic with a few of my mentorship clients and some supplemental income. I also moved in with and married the boyfriend. It was a hard time, but a good time.

You’ll notice this was not a full pivot, but rather a rolling with the punches kind of situation, where I picked up work when I was able and switched to meet my abilities and needs. Sometimes we don’t get to pick our pivots. We just work with what we have.

 

LESSONS:

  • Control is an illusion.
  • Notice your limitations, and ask for help.
  • Sometimes you can’t do things the way you used to. Sometimes it’s unexpected.

 

PHASE 6: FOCUS

Staring at a new phase of life, I had some choices to make. While post-concussion symptoms lingered, they were infinitely more manageable, and I had developed methods of soothing and coping whenever they cropped up. After over a year of preparing, my husband and I were ready to embark on a four-month journey across the country. The plan was to put everything in storage and then find a home and start a family upon our return.

So what did this next pivot look like? It was a complex series of proposals, applications, freelance work, and endings that spanned almost the entirety of 2021. I knew I wanted to fully step away from the more “woo” aspects of wellness after seeing its predatory nature unravel over the course of the pandemic. (If you’re interested in learning more about that, I would start with the Conspirituality podcast). I also knew I needed to keep things simple until after our cross-country trip and make sure any big commitments and changes didn’t start until 2022. I knew I wanted to home in on working towards practical solutions that are more rooted in community than individualism. That led to the following:

I had picked up more freelance work doing some internal sourcing in addition to writing.

I applied for graduate-level social work programs and enrolled for a January 2022 start. (I chose the most flexible/affordable program available so I wouldn’t have to take out loans and could continue working.)

I stopped taking new coaching clients, eventually saying goodbye to my last mentee by the end of January 2022.

I pitched a version of my current role, and a new department was eventually born.

In many ways, the various twists and turns have led me here and I had to use that to my advantage. The number one question I had to answer was why am I the best person for this job. What are the skills and experience only I can bring to the table? Boom, pivot.

 

LESSONS:

  • Timing might not be everything, but it’s a lot.
  • Having colleagues in your corner makes a big difference.
  • So does knowing your worth.

 

About the author. 

Alessandra is your friendly neighborhood writer, coach, and facilitator with a varied history of experience from digital agencies and corporations to yoga studios and gyms. Her expertise and interests range from fitness and wellness to self-care and personal development to intersectionality and justice to science and creative cultivation. She has worked on and off with Creative Circle since 2014, originally as an NYC recruiter, later as an internal sourcer, and currently as a community wellness and culture specialist as well as a contributing writer for this here blog. You can find up-to-date offerings or sign up for her newsletter at alessandracalderin.com.

 

I’ve lived in Bed-Stuy for over eight years and I am still discovering its many offerings. The neighborhood, which birthed artistic legends such as Lena Horne, Harry Nilsson, and Jay-Z, boasts a rich cultural legacy, and is still chock-full of artistic inspiration today. It’s also the perfect neighborhood to explore on foot, as the route from Bed-Stuy to Fort Green can be traveled along quiet, tree-lined residential streets, as opposed to busy, traffic-filled avenues.

Do The Right Thing Way

Along Stuyvesant Avenue between Quincy and Lexington is Do The Right Thing Way, the filming location of Spike Lee’s 1989 masterpiece. While Sal’s Pizzeria is no longer standing, the film’s “Bed-Stuy Do Or Die” mural has been recreated at the corner of Stuyvesant and Lexington, along with another mural, on the opposite corner, commemorating the film and its beloved characters. A great photo op for any fan of the film.

Stuyvesant Heights Historic District

This residential district is a refreshing addition to any walk. It boasts a number of quiet, tree-lined streets, on which sit gorgeous, historic red brick and brownstone row houses. The icing on the cake is the southern section of Stuyvesant Avenue, which contains the final group of rowhouses to be built in the early twentieth century. These breathtaking, neoclassical structures are particularly beautiful in the fall and spring, when their architecture can be glimpsed among the trees shedding their leaves or bursting into bloom. There are also a number of freestanding mansions in this area, including the Otto Seidenberger House, which was used as a set in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.

Tompkins Avenue

After leaving Stuyvesant Avenue, walk west along the pleasant, residential streets to Tompkins Avenue, which is one of Bed-Stuy’s main thoroughfares, filled with restaurants, locally-owned shops and bars, and plenty of spots to sit with a coffee and people watch. On weekends during the summer months, Tompkins is closed to traffic, and pedestrians walk, shop, and mingle with local artisans who set up booths along the route.

Dear Friend Books

Dear Friend Books is a beautifully designed, meticulously curated shop on Tompkins Avenue that specializes in vintage books, magazines, and ephemera. They serve coffee and other non-alcoholic beverages (I am told they soon hope to have a liquor license) that can be enjoyed while browsing the shelves or sitting under an umbrella in their backyard patio space. I’ve picked up several art and design books here, and will definitely be going back for more.

The Word is Change

If you’re looking for a broader, more affordable selection of reading material, head on down the street to The Word is Change, which sells both used and new books, with a special focus on social justice and history. They also buy books, which can be exchanged for cash or store credit.

Herbert Von King Park

Named for community leader Herbert Von King, this beautiful green space serves as a kind of centerpiece to the surrounding neighborhood, à la Washington Square or Tompkins Square in Manhattan. On weekends you can walk along its meandering paths and see friends picnicking, families hosting cookouts, and dogs chasing frisbees. It also has a decent lawn area, which is perfect for spreading a blanket and reading a book. Near the center of the park is an amphitheater and cultural center, which hosts classes and programs for the community.

Harold and Maude

Harold and Maude is one of the most special vintage stores I’ve been to in Brooklyn. It carries a nice variety of styles at affordable prices, as well as a selection of antique records, jewelry, and tchotchkes. The only downside is its miniscule size, which can only comfortably accommodate around three people at a time. I recommend going on a weekday to avoid the influx of fashion-hungry hipsters.

Mr. Friendly

Walk two blocks west from Von King Park and dip into Mr. Friendly Pet Supply. Even if you don’t have a furry friend, this holistic pet store is a treat for anyone with a taste for design. Their branding is clean, playful, and yes, friendly. They make all of their products onsite in their studio, and the result is a collection of unique and affordable treats, toys, and branded merch.

Bedford Avenue

Now it’s time to head to a more bustling area: Bedford Avenue, near Bed-Stuy’s western edge. Full of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants, this is a prime location if you are looking for a night out in the neighborhood.

First stop is Do Or Dive which, as its name suggests, is a no-frills bar with cheap beer, frozen cocktails, and a cash-operated jukebox. Owned by the same people as two other favorite Brooklyn dives (Luckydog and Skinny Dennis in Williamsburg), this is a great spot to come to with friends for a day drink or six, particularly in the warmer months, when the giant outdoor space is packed with energetic Brooklynites.

When the weather gets colder, head next door to the polar-opposite Dynaco, which, with its dark, cabin-like atmosphere and open fire pit, feels like a cozy wooden lodge, perfect for a glass of wine or a hot toddy.

If you’re not in the drinking mood, go one more down to Playground Coffee, adjacent to which is The Annex, a small bookshop which specializes in works by POC and Queer writers and artists. Then take your coffee and purchases across the street and look at the famous, two-story Biggie Smalls Mural, at the corner of Bedford and Quincy.

On the other hand, if you’re really looking for a party, head one block west to Franklin Avenue and see what’s going on at C’mon Everybody, a popular LGBT nightspot known for its dance parties, art shows, and live music. (Chances are you will see some of the same people from the previous spots.)

Whether you’re a weekend visitor or eight-year resident, Bed-Stuy is a treat for anyone needing creative inspiration. Whether it’s architecture, music, film, antiques, or nightlife, the neighborhood is filled with an array of places to explore and gather artistic fuel. Or, if what you need is to clear your head, the neighborhood’s streets and parks are the perfect location for a picturesque walk or a peaceful rest with a book.

Additional recommendations:

Marian’s
Neighborhood jazz bar with nightly music, comedy and more.

Chez Oskar
Tasty French bistro with a cozy interior and craft cocktails.

LunÀtico
Fancy cocktails, delicious small plates, and nightly music make this a must for any jazz lover.

The Billie Holiday Theater
One of the nation’s premier Black playhouses, this theater’s alumni includes performers such as Debbie Allen and Samuel L. Jackson.

Burly Coffee / Better Read Than Dead Books
Cozy, quiet coffee shop combined with an impressive selection of used books.

Lovers Rock
Fun, unique bar offering tropical drinks, reggae music, and dancing.

Sistas’ Place
Cozy, relaxed spot for jazz, poetry, and art.

About the author. 

Daniel Nolen is a writer, designer, and performer in New York City. He has written about design, music, film, and theater, and can be found regularly and happily taking in concerts, shows, and exhibitions around the city. He also co-hosts the weekly comedy/variety show Cast Offs, every Monday at 8pm at Club Cumming in the East Village.

 

 

 

Welcome to the land of economic “hurry up and wait.” 

The labor market is robust, yet gross domestic product growth appears to have slowed substantially and has perhaps nudged backward since last year’s boom. Things are up and down simultaneously, making forecasting what’s coming our way hard for experts and soothsayers alike.  

At the very end of July, the Federal Reserve announced (again) that it is raising interest rates to combat inflation, which stood at 9.1% from last June — the fastest rate of price increases in more than 40 years. The government also reported last month that GDP fell for the second straight quarter, a possible sign that the economy may be in a recession. 

Lloyd Blankfein, former CEO of Goldman Sachs and now its senior chairman, summed things up nicely: “Everybody is saying, ‘Where is the economy going?'” he said. “And I think a good point to make is it’s hard to predict the future, but right now it’s hard to predict the present.” 

“There’s a not insubstantial chance that we have a recession,” shared Blankfein. “I don’t think it’s baked in the cake. Some people say we’re already in a recession. A lot of people say a soft landing is very, very unlikely.”

And a soft landing is precisely what the Federal Reserve is trying to mastermind. They want raise interest rates enough to cool the economy without creating a job-killing recession. In other words, walking a tightrope at night while gargling with salt — considerably hard to do. 

Recession and the labor market

Most recessions do not have a pillowy landing. The Fed raises rates, and jobs are lost. Companies don’t just reduce their hiring plans; they contract. But here, we are starting from a different place — our financial system is actually in good shape. In the United States, there are more jobs than there are people to fill them. We are living in the era of the good, the bad, the ugly, and the glowing.  

The June jobs report was positive, and that was, to many, a surprise — 372,000 jobs were added, much better than expected. How was it possible to generate 372,000 jobs while we are potentially on the cliff of a recession?  

The first six months of 2022 were an extraordinary period for the United States labor market, as unemployment hovered at 50-year lows and job creation boomed. But what will the next six months bring? Will the job market remain robust? Will wages surge higher as demand tightens or will they be beaten back by inflation? When we posted a LinkedIn poll asking jobseekers about their job market sentiments, it was a nearly even divide between optimism and pessimism, with 21% unsure if things were up or down.   

Interest rates and inflation 

One thing is for sure — the headwinds have become more intense. The Fed is poised to keep raising interest rates, which makes businesses’ debt more expensive and may well prompt companies to slow their hiring plans. If inflation continues to rise, it will overtake whatever wage surge workers have gained. The good news? Inflation seems to be slowing down, and worker demand remains high — still far higher than before the pandemic. 

 While Covid created a big economic downturn, demand for goods like housing, cars, TVs, and more actually went up, which is unusual. One of the challenges facing the Fed is that their decades of data do not allow straightforward extrapolation for this pandemic outlier time. And the Fed has only one tool — interest rates — that can slow or speed the demand of interest-rate-sensitive parts of the economy.  

One of the big lessons from past inflation episodes is that raising the interest rate to reduce demand will not make inflation go away if your inflation comes from supply-side shocks. If wages go up more slowly than prices increase, people’s effective income decreases. If the Fed creates a recession to conquer inflation, in the short run, things are going to get worse because income will stagnate, people will lose their jobs, and unemployment will rise. The strongest part of today’s economy? A massively robust job market. A wrong move by the Fed may very well kill the part of the economy that is working well. 

The big picture

So, how did we land here? The pandemic played a role. We shut down the economy as if we shut off a valve. It was not the natural order of things, and now we are feeling some of the repercussions of that most unusual time. The unemployment rate currently stands at 3.6%, about what it was before the pandemic — almost a 50-year low. And yet, 58% of Americans are thought to be living paycheck to paycheck. In economics, there’s the BIG picture but also the smaller one for each household.   

In our age of 24-hour news cycles, fear may be the very thing we need to fear most. Our glut of nonstop punditry is built to send jolts of jitter into people; there is deep concern that the public might slip into a ‘doom loop’ that could scare the country into a downward economic spiral. The irony is, if we collectively pull back and stop going out to restaurants, for example, the very thing we are hoping to avoid — a deep recession — will likely happen.  

Job openings are still almost double the number of unemployed job seekers, though that could change as companies grow more wary of a possible recession. While companies may rein in their hiring plans as interest rates cool capital financing, things are likely to ebb and flow a bit as the markets strive for equilibrium.

About the author. 

An award-winning creator and digital health, wellness, and lifestyle content strategist—Karina writes, produces, and edits compelling content across multiple platforms—including articles, video, interactive tools, and documentary film. Her work has been featured on MSN Lifestyle, Apartment Therapy, Goop, Psycom, Yahoo News, Pregnancy & Newborn, Eat This Not That, thirdAGE, and Remedy Health Media digital properties and has spanned insight pieces on psychedelic toad medicine to forecasting the future of work to why sustainability needs to become more sustainable.

The workers have spoken (or, rather, Slacked): A widespread return to the office is not happening anytime soon. Even as workplaces have upped the ante with in-person perks far beyond breakroom snacks, most employees still say you can’t beat the comforts of home. 

But while long commutes, overpriced lunches and an off-kilter work-life balance are things employees obviously don’t want to revisit, there is still one benefit to office life that can be hard to replicate remotely: connection.    

According to Harvard Business Review, the pandemic accelerated a decrease in connections across wider networks. While employees made an effort to keep in contact with their closer relationships, the review said, broader informal interactions — once a common side effect of casual deskside chats or running into a coworker in the hallway — had plummeted. According to the survey, this has impacts on everything from productivity (people who feel more connected to their work also feel more productive) to innovation, such as sparking new ideas and collaborating with others. 

Especially hard hit? Employees on the lowest levels: Recent graduates have found their experience of the workplace to be extremely isolating and have not had the opportunity to engage with potential mentors or feel they are contributing on a meaningful level. 

For working creatives and artists, going it solo has often been a major plus. But that doesn’t mean that working collaboratively is gone for good, or that it can’t be lonely from time to time when your cat is your coworker (and never refills the coffee pot). Especially when you want to reach a new level in your career, seek new clients, or explore new possibilities, having a professional network you can turn to for referrals and recommendations is crucial.  

From online daters to online commenters, many of us have been building relationships in the digital space for a long time. But how can that translate into finding your next freelance or full-time work opportunity? 

Whether you’ve adopted a remote-first work schedule, transitioned to freelance, launched a digital nomad lifestyle or have always worked as an independent creator, here are some ideas to grow your professional connections.  

Make the first move 

The art of networking has obviously come a long way since the days of passing out business cards, awkward icebreakers and Sharpie nametags. As Sam Mani writes in Art Business Journal:  

“If you think networking is simply about advancing your own career, it’s time to change that mindset. Rather, focus your networking efforts on connecting through your passions and creating a community, and that requires being open to others and their needs. As the Young Entrepreneurs Council puts it, successful networkers ‘…go beyond thinking, ‘What’s in it for me?’ to ask ‘How can I help?’’” 

An offer to volunteer with a professional organization, like participating in portfolio reviews, hosting a virtual meetup, giving an online lecture, or judging Open Call art competitions in your field of expertise, will often receive a resounding welcome.  

If you’re looking to find out more about a particular field, consider asking for informational interviews with professionals you admire. Virtual meetings mean the world is your oyster when it comes to finding people who do your dream job and asking them how they got there. Follow up with a thank-you note or a gift card to a coffee shop. 

Join online professional networking groups 

Where are the best places online to find career contacts? More than just the top tool for interoffice communication (and gossip), Slack features groups where you can meet people according to your professional or personal interests. You can also search Discord for niche communities and make connections. Remote work and digital nomad groups abound on Facebook, where anywhere from dozens to thousands of members share opportunities and resources. 

For working artists, creatives, or those looking to turn a side hustle into a full-time gig, online artist communities like Artrepreneur, a global digital marketplace and membership platform, give you access to a wide array of working artists. Complete your profile. Like and follow other artists you admire. Engage with the community over chat. You just might find your next client or collaborator. On each of these platforms, introduce yourself in a post, ask an open-ended question, or engage with others in the replies of a thread to kick off the conversation.  

And of course, there’s the big name in professional networking: LinkedIn. To make sure you’re in tip-top shape for potential recruiters, refresh your profile, write a mission statement, and start posting — and engaging — with content in your field of interest. Not sure where to start with connections? Tapping your alumni network is always a good first step if you’re looking for referrals, since you automatically have something in common. When it comes time to send that message inquiring about a particular company or client, your fellow alums will be that much more likely to hook you up. 

Give coworking a try  

As a writer, I experienced a major breakthrough when I discovered the London Writers’ Salon. During one of four daily sessions by time zone, writers from all over the world log on, chat about what they’re working on, listen to an inspiring quote, then write in tandem for 50 minutes. I never would have thought being in a giant Zoom with strangers on silent would help me get stuff done, but there’s something comforting about getting together with like-minded people and cheering each other on. Now, when possible, I try to replicate that feeling with coworking sessions in person around kitchen tables or in coffee shops with fellow freelancers. Just because I WFH doesn’t mean I always have to do it alone.  

Coworking spaces in your town or city could fill that same need, and often host mixers so remote creatives from a variety of industries can meet each other IRL. Or, if you’re a leader, you can start your own critique session or creative salon. Invite a friend or two, ask them to share with their contacts, or post about the opportunity online to gauge interest. My bet is that you’ll find there are plenty of people who are just as interested and invested in making connections and building community as you are.   

 

About the author.
Allison Stice is the editorial director at Artrepreneur. She has been published in the Bitter Southerner, Garden & Gun and Savannah Magazine, among other publications.