For Hire: Freelance Fashion Assistant! Will work for.. Just about anything!

You know what I think the biggest barrier to freelancing is? Other than a fear of the unknown, anxiety over meeting new people and the inability to predict when your next pay check will land in your account. These things are surmountable, you can learn to embrace the unknown and see it is as a gift rather than a curse when you're avoiding rush hour and not using up a day's holiday to wait at home for the Gas man [my day today]. No, it's the gargantuan effort it takes to be motivated. Actually, scrap that- to self motivate. Most people with an office base will have somewhere they need to be every day at a certain time, a particular routine that they will stick to most days and at least a handful of colleagues to complain about work to.

Not so if you're a freelancer. We have to seem happy, motivated, enthusiastic and indefatigable at all times- just in case a potential employer is in the vicinity, spots a peppier version of you and you lose out on the most lucrative contract of your life. Ok, that last part is highly unlikely but it's true that it's such a pressure to be bright, happy and willing to do just about anything that comes your way, and all with a smile on your face. I used to cheerfully say, "beggars can't be choosers!" when asked to do something where my first reaction was to run away. Now, I feel more philosophical about things [or maybe I'm growing some balls, as my dad helpfully put it]. I don't think you do have to do anything and everything or bend over backwards for other people- or just be grateful for the work you're given. No, all you have to do is put yourself out there and try.

So, with that in mind I [metaphorically] got off my behind and tried. I sent out emails to as many stylists as I could- some replied and a lot didn't, but that's ok because at least I'm making progress. I'm part of the way to discovering who, and what, I want to be in 5 years time and that's exciting, and scary!

Next time, something more uplifting- depending on how my interviews go. Fingers crossed!