Navigating Life As A Freelance Creative

Were they banking on the thought that I had no self-respect?

It’s just past twelve, I was late for my doctor’s appointment this morning. I got to the hospital and I was told that after waiting for me for about an hour, he left. I don’t blame him. I’d do the same too and the next time you come to my hospital, I’d give you a very big knock in the middle of your head because clearly, your sickness is not serious enough.

After chopping my ela at the hospital, I decided to go to KingLace to work instead of going back home. I sat down and got to work.

In the middle of my writing, my phone vibrated, twice. Whatsapp.

Usually, when I’m writing, I turn off my data because I’m like a dog with ADHD, easily distracted, and one of the worst things to happen to me is a distraction because just as quickly as all the ideas come to me is how they vanish. However, today I didn’t because as a Monday, I knew I would get some work messages. Messages I could only ignore if I were related to Otedola but we all know that’s not my case. *sighs in poor*

So when the phone vibrated, I clicked on it and ‘shocked’ is not quite the right word to describe my reaction. I sent the message to my friend and she burst out laughing and said this.

Without giving away too much, a representative of a well-known organisation reached out. This organisation had previously reached out last year asking me to create free publicity for them, at the time. I considered it but the delivery time stated was too short so I let it go.

This time, they were asking me to come in as a creative, do the job of a staff, for free and be grateful.

I stared at this message, confounded. It also showed me that I have come a long way when it comes to knowing my worth because Hauwa of 2022 would have jumped at this offer. Now, I can’t help but wonder;

1. Was it my lack of self-worth that would have pushed me to take that deal?

2. Were they banking on the thought that I had no self-respect?

3. Did they really think I was going to take the deal? Come to your office and clock in, leaving every other thing on my calendar?

4. What kind of audacity was that?

5. Is it my doctor’s head that caught me this morning?

6. Again, did they really think I was going to jump at the offer to do creative and mental gymnastics?

7. Were they even going to give me food?

8. Is it jazz?

Now, here’s where self-worth comes in. There’s nothing wrong with a mutually-beneficial collaboration. Because this is how connections are built.

However, there are some offers that you’ll get and you just have to stone the person. With a large rock. In the sun. Because imagine working on yourself for years, studying, paying for courses, brainstorming on how you can become better, failing, geting up each time and then, on one hot Monday morning, someone tells you to bring your knowledge to them for free. What’s more, they offer it to you like they’re doing you a favour.

And this always happens to me in January. I think January is just my unlucky month. In January 2022, I found out a big name in the industry had run away with my creative work and I had to sue. The connection? He also tried to tell me I should be grateful for the fact that he stole my work. Him and his receding hairline.

As if my day could not get any worse. In a restaurant of empty chairs, a man came to sit right next to me.

Immediately he sat and I smelled his perfume, I almost wanted to ask what it was but then he opened his mouth and started making loud calls and the mouth odour.

Ya Allah!

I don’t know how to explain it but you know when someone smells nice and you just want to sniff but the mouth odour is waiting for you to open your nose so it can attack.

Subuhannallah! What in the Chemical Warfare?

What’s worse, he wouldn’t stop arguing that I was Hausa after I told this man I wasn’t northern. Again, Audacity. Because why are you arguing my ethnicity with me? Did you born me?

Look babes. I know we are already 22 days into the new year but let this be the year you remind yourself of WHO THE FOK YOU ARE. Let nobody try to make you feel like you’re not worth what you know you are. Because if you weren’t all that, THEY WOULD NOT BE HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

At this point, I need a hug, chocolate and a two-hour cuddle.

See you in my next newsletter.

Till then, you are that ZAH! 🫵🏾