Why Freelancers Stay Too Long (Even When It’s Not Working)

[lingriiddd]

One of the strongest themes to come out of the Future is Freelance Forum was fear.

Fear of starting over.
Fear of wasting what you’ve built.
Fear of walking away from something that still “works” on paper.

Many freelancers described staying in roles or niches long after joy was gone—because the business was profitable, familiar, or safe. This is the sunk cost trap: the idea that you should keep going simply because you’ve already invested so much time, energy, and money.

Some pivots are forced by the market. Others require a conscious jump. And interestingly, the voluntary jumps are often harder. Leaving a “sure thing” can feel riskier than being pushed out.

But staying put out of fear has its own cost. Recognizing that cost—and naming it honestly—is often the first real step toward change.

[cryptobro]

the takeaway for me: the first step isn’t figuring out the perfect next move, it’s admitting the current one isn’t working anymore.