Two articles on what it's like being a freelancer caught my eye this week.
The Wall Street Journal's Before You Go Freelance, Read This provides a set of advice from an experienced freelancer on what life is like as an independent worker. Key quote:
"Going it alone is liberating – and tough."
The author covers a number of challenges associated with being a freelancer including unpredictable income streams, how hard the work can be and periods of lonliness.
But according to this 15 year freelancing veteran, it's all worth it. Key quote:
"The irregular cash flow and diminished income is more than made up by the freedom to choose my work. I love being wholly responsible for the success or failure of my output ..."
I was a bit surprised to see an article on freelancing in Cosmopolitan, but What it's Really Like to Work from Home is both clever and funny. It does say you may get laid less as a freelancer, but despite this the author's bottom line is quite positive:
"Sure, freelancing isn't totally what I thought it would be, but I wouldn't trade my (sometimes stinky) existence for any other."
The other advantage to reading this story is the page has a link to I Went to a Sex Dungeon for a Kink Lesson, an article one doesn't normally come across while reading about freelancing.
For more on life as a freelancer, see the just released MBO Partners 2013 State of Independence report. It covers in detail the attitudes and views of freelancers, the self-employed and others with non-traditional work situations.
Comments