With lots of people doing it these days – over 2 million businesses in the US alone – there is one question on everyone’s lips. What’s with the rise in popularity? Some of the benefits are obvious, such as being the boss and setting the hours, but other parts are downright scary.
The idea of constantly trying to find new jobs to pay the bills sends a shiver down the spine, as does getting injured. Imagine having to tell the bank you can’t pay the mortgage because you’re self-employed and bedridden. Somehow, it’s hard to see the manager being sympathetic.
Still, millions of people take the plunge so the pros must outweigh the cons. Here are four ways they do.
Plastic Fears
Not to say the cons aren’t potentially risky, but they are nowhere near as dangerous as a decade ago. Anyone suffering from an injury in the early 2000s didn’t have much recourse. Getting injured was a bit of a death sentence. Nowadays, some lawyers will fight your case for free and only take a cut if they win. So, the chances of securing compensation are high. Plus, there is a community today. With sites such as Fiverr and Freelancer as well as ProBlogger, it’s not tough to find new projects.
Work Ethic
Going to work, sitting behind a desk and carrying on from where you left off the previous day isn’t inspiring stuff. It’s still a job, yet it is a dull ache rather than an electric buzz. From an ethic standpoint, this form of routine is negative because it doesn’t teach the benefits of performing various tasks at once. Freelancers are go-getters because they have to be to keep up with the competition. And, to get ahead, they need to graft twice as hard. Being self-employed teaches you the art of seizing your opportunities and making your luck.
Coffee Beans
Another thing which makes an office job boring is the environment. Take one look around and you’ll see the same stale features that were in the office when you first joined. Even the people are the same because no one has the courage to move and carve out a new lane. Freelancing can be whatever you want it to be, but it tends to include plenty of cafes and restaurants and coffee shops with free wifi. Working remotely lets you choose which headquarters are best for the day, so the atmosphere never passes its sell-by date.
Work/Life Balance
Never underestimate the importance of a break, both mentally and physically. Aimlessly pounding away for years is soul destroying as the monotony gets too much to handle. Wake up at 7:30 am, go into the office, leave at 5:00 pm and then rinse and repeat. Freelancers get to choose their hours and their workload for the day. Whether it’s picking the kids up from school or meeting clients or friends for a lunch date, there is no one to say “where do you think you’re going?”
Why freelance? The answer is that it’s a way to take back the power. Self-employed people are in charge and it’s exhilarating.