Freelance Life

Today life as a freelancer took me to a small, windowless office in a government building. It was so hot that I had to spend the day dipping a paper towel into my water bottle and dabbing it on my pressure points. My brown dress pants were rolled up to my knees as I tried in vain to fan myself. At several points, I thought I might faint. The whirring of the projector was deafening.

Contrast this with me, on an average day, sitting in sweatpants on my couch, my dog by my side. "Oh, I'm so jealous," people say to me, and I remember being the jealous one, looking at self-employment like a child looks a toy in a store window. Well, I'm a believer that jealousy is a key to figuring out what you want. Some people thrive on the social aspect of office life. If you aren't one of those people - if you find it stifling - then I'd encourage you to begin seriously contemplating whether self-employment is a viable option.

For me, it's the only way to stay sane - no more chasm between the Personal and the Professional. It's all just me. I don't have to look a certain way, or talk a certain way, or worry about office politics. If I feel like working from a cafe, I can. Some days I work like a dog; other days, I take it easy. Don't get me wrong: there are a number of challenges - such as, oh, making sure I get paid - but for me, the rewards are worth it.

It isn't right for everyone - but if it's an idea you've been flirting with, I encourage you to take the plunge.