What you write is all too true; I have experienced a number of these scenarios personally. I am sure I have also been “that guy” who was in the right place at the right time and nabbed work that was consistently somebody else’s. People skills are a large part of navigating the cycle the best you can. Being a top-quality, reliable player and colleague is another part. Because our work is so rooted in our love for the craft, and the YEARS of training and investemnt we’ve made, it is very difficult to detach your emotions from the ebb and flow of the freelance lifecycle. The only thing perhaps missing from this article is mention of the “Self-Worth Rollercoaster Ride!” which the ringing (or not ringing) phone can mean to a freelancer, especially when one is starting out. Coping with the difficulties of this reality is another part of the equation of being a successful (i.e. not insane!) freelancer.