Evenings, Weekends and “Sick Days”

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  1. Cool post, James!
    I totally see where you’re coming from, but I still learned something new – I wasn’t aware you “only” started going totally freelance something like 2 years ago. That’s encouraging in a way as I started my own business at the beginning of the year. If I could end up where you are in 1 year, I’ll be very happy. ;)

    Keep on doing your thing, even though I don’t understand half of what you’re doing, I really love the end results. :)

    (Little sidenote: You got a little mistake in this sentence “Your place is never quieter than when people think your sick.” – 2nd “your” should be “you’re”.)

  2. Right on, James. Couldn’t have said it better myself. I have had my fair share of sleepless nights, but when you’re creating stuff that you love it’s more than worth it.

  3. There’s the proverbial nail James and you hit it right on it’s head.

    I love my 9-5 design job but it’s that moment on my bus journey home where I’m thinking of ideas or new illustrations to create when I become the most excited. I realise that I’ll have an entire evening to kill in front of a computer and create something entirely of my own thinking.

    Weekends are the same as you’ve said, one massive chunk of time to get into the flow. It’s certainly cut into my social time and other hobbies but the creation of a piece of work is always a much better pay-off. I feel as though I’m getting something done, progressing my style and learning new tricks.

    I’m also incredibly lucky to have an understanding wife who doesn’t mind the amount of hours I take up staring at a screen! She understands my desire to create and it’s another motivating factor!

  4. I was thinking about your approach the other day when looking at the abduzeedo Drive giveaway. As you say, most of your work in your gallery is personal where you’ve seen something you wanted to do and have just gone and done it. I really love that attitude and it’s got me thinking completely differently to client and work acquisition.

    Before I would be waiting for clients to come to me. My view was, If my portfolio was (and still is) a little light it’s because I’ve not been given the opportunity to do anything – put the blame elsewhere!! But your approach of personal projects has given rise to being in demand – you’re showcasing your talents and building an enviable portfolio completely and utterly off of your own back.

    Power to you James, you’re a great inspiration.

  5. wow! very cool and right thoughts. you are absolutely right, I’m also always waiting for evenings and weekends to go home and make my own stuff. But tha sad part of this lifestyle is that people think you are not sociable, closed person. I think you should right more posts like this, I mean just a philosophy, reflections on life, you good at it

  6. Hi James,

    Thank you for the post. Been unemployed for a month now and have the time create yet I am uninspired and procrastinate like hell.

    After this read I felt worse for not doing shit, therefore, I am off to a coffee shop to draw and design, let’s see what happens.

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