When you’ re single, even thinking about moving into full-time freelance work can be rather daunting, especially if you are currently enjoying a weekly paycheck and benefits from your current employer.

Making the leap takes guts, pure and simple. But there are ways to prepare for a soft landing: build your knowledge base, network and reputation; put away some savings and talk with other freelancers to find out what makes them successful. Here are a few things I have learned over the last 18 months since launching my fulltime freelance business, Gardener Sue’ s News.

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK

A freelancer’ s network of friends, colleagues and potential clients is worth its weight in gold, and is absolutely worth your investment of time. Over the past 18 years working in various aspects of the business of horticulture, I have made a concerted effort to build my network through memberships in organizations, such as GWA and Perennial Plant Association, attendance at trade shows and symposiums, speaking engagements and through my past position as marketing director for a large grower. My network helps me find paths for my written and spoken messages to be delivered to trade and consumer audiences.

Once you have worked in the green industry for a while, you realize that people move around a lot in this business. You may see the same people every year at Cultivate, but they may be wearing a different company’ s logo on their shirts this year. Bring business cards everywhere you go and be gracious to everyone you meet. You never know where your next client will come from. If a job offer isn’ t a good fit for you, you’ ll have plenty of colleagues to recommend.

BE OPEN TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES

I have found that one of the most exciting, albeit nerve wracking, things about being a freelancer is that new days bring new opportu-

nities to collaborate with new people on a wide range of assignments. Opening that first email from a potential new client is exhilarating.

If you are going to be a freelancer, you must be flexible and willing to accept work that might be a little out of your comfort zone— as long as you are confident that you can accomplish it well. Know your limits, but be willing to take reasonable risks. Follow up on every opportunity that comes your way, even if the answer is no.

MANAGE YOUR FINANCES If you are moving away from a job where you were paid regularly, adjusting to the pay of freelance work can be a big challenge, literally and mentally. I have found that I am personally more comfortable working with one or two large clients who pay regularly while making myself available to other clients for smaller or less frequent jobs. I charge the same rates for all clients( with rare exceptions for friends and charities), which makes quoting and billing simple to manage. Understand that not everyone will be able to afford you, and that is OK.

If managing your finances isn’ t your forte, hire an accountant. I consider mine to be a valuable partner in my business. She helped me set financial goals based on what I need to make annually to afford my lifestyle, and consequentially, I understand how much I need to make per day to meet those goals. Don’ t risk financial hardship by not having insurance. You could be one illness, home or car repair away from debt. Managing your finances and insurance is critical to your success as a full-time freelancer.

FINDING BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND HOME

Someone once joked that the nice thing about being a full-time freelancer is that you get to choose which 18 hours a day you work. Finding the work-home balance can be a huge adjustment when you begin your full-time freelance career. Every book you read about freelancing will tell you that you must set strict business hours. You should close your office door at the end of the day and not check your email outside of those hours. Personally, I’ m not sure if I will ever be able to master those rules.

What has worked for me is that I have let my body find its natural rhythm and I work when I am most efficient. I’ ve come to understand that in this business, I will work like crazy from January through August, but get a break come fall. That is when I recharge my batteries by taking a trip or just unplugging for a week to unwind and find balance again. And in between, I garden. I find deadheading incredibly relaxing, don’ t you?

Susan Martin is a freelance horticultural marketer, writer and speaker, and Region III Director of GWA. Drawing on her 18 years of experience in the business of horticulture, including garden design, wholesale and retail sales, new plant development and marketing, she launched her freelance business in late 2014. She can be reached by email at gardenersuesnews @ gmail. com or find her on Facebook at Gardener Sue’ s News.

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