Career Tips
To Be or Not To Be A Freelance?
Think twice before you make that choice
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When was the last time you had a promotion?
In my case, it was way back then.
Work promotion does not apply to me anymore.
When I decided to become a freelance, I knew I wouldn’t have a career anymore.
I have owned my growth and don’t rely on company training.
In short, I set my path.
It’s all up to me.
The position and title do not matter anymore.
Some call me their consultant.
Others, their Freelance Manager or a Process Manager.
Or their trainer, business analyst, technical writer, etc.
I am a jack-of-all-trades.
But fortunately, I am a master of some.
As a teacher, I know the theories.
And, I had a hands-on experience while I was in the corporate.
The two combined provided me with the skills to thrive in freelancing.
I capitalized on my experience before I started.
But I invested more in continuous learning.
Otherwise, I won’t survive.
Being freelance is not easy.
Skills are not enough to thrive.
Courage and the right attitude would surely help.
And, don’t discount self-discipline and quality consciousness.
To say it’s difficult is an understatement.
But in exchange, being freelance provides me advantages:
- The flexibility of time.
- Have time for my other interests aside from work.
- Less stress when I work from home; thus, I seldom get sick.
- Opportunity to learn new technologies.
- Able to experiment and be creative on process methodologies.
- Realized what work culture fits me.
- Apply my learning to the next team I work with.
- Learned NOT to rely on external affirmations.
- Freedom to start with a new opportunity.
- And, free to stop when I need to.
Do I have regrets?
I can honestly say, “No regrets.”
Freelancing has given me a different perspective of what work is all about.
I’m already ten years ahead when it comes to working remotely.
Well, I cannot say I am a trendsetter.
I only followed what worked for me.
Looking back, I cannot tell you how risky it was in 2010.
I embarked on a world that I do not know.
It was a difficult decision that most didn’t understand.
( Not to mention the judgmental opinions I don’t need at that time).
But 11 years after, I’m still here.
Not the person that I used to be, but I could say way better.
Freelancing helped me develop strength in my character.
See?
I already know how to affirm myself.
My self-worth is not based on how others see me.
Or, based on a Performance Evaluation.
The journey to knowing my worth has no price.
Healthy self-esteem is needed to accept my own strengths and weaknesses.
And, the courage to stand up for who I am.
Freelancing is not for all.
But I can proudly say, it works for me.
But hey, there’s nothing wrong with working in the same company for a long time.
No judgment in there.
In the same way that you don’t judge freelancers.
NOTE: This post is originally posted on Linkedin but with some minor updates.
