New Data Reveals Why Freelance Writers are Smart from the Make a Living Writing blog provides an excellent summary of the information contained in the 2013 MBO Partners State of Independence report.
It also has a very active comments section with lots of great quotes from freelance writers discussing their lives as independent workers.
What I really like about the comments is they capture what we've come to think of as the yin and yang of independent work.
Most independents like the freedom, control and autonomy and prefer independence over having a traditional job. In exchange, they have to deal with the stress, hard work and uncertainty.
But the bottom line for most is being independent is well worth it.
Here are the quotes:
...wild horses couldn’t drag me away from freelancing.
I’ve never been happier in my life and have consistently said that it would take a LOT for me to return to a more traditional work life.
Being your boss means you can pick and choose who you work with.
...at this point I can’t imagine what kind of offer I’d have to get to think about becoming an employee again.
...freelance writing makes a perfect second-career choice for a retiree or even as a part-time job ... It can make the golden years…quite a bit more golden.
I love the freelance life and would never go back to a cubicle ... However, freelancing isn’t easy ... Still, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
...there’s certainly no better feeling than being your own boss and knowing that your career growth is in your own hands.
I too have found freelancing to be more secure than working a 9-to-5...
Being a freelancer also allows me the freedom to pursue other passions...
I decide when and how much I’ll work (as long as deadlines are met) and I decide what kind of work I want to do.
Freelancing is often stressful, and sometimes downright scary. But I love it wholeheartedly...
Freelancing is infinitely more satisfying to me than having a job ever was...
Another article on this topic is The "New Professionalism" from the oDesk blog. It covers habits the author feel lead to a successful independent life. Key quote on being self-employed:
Four and a half years of self-employment have taught me that there's more financial security in creating my own livelihood than in relying on someone else to pay my salary.
Over the last few years we've talked to, interviewed, focus grouped and surveyed more than 10,000 independent workers (freelancers, self-employed, etc.). The quotes above are very representative of what we've heard.
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