Freelancing: Why You Should Make that Leap

There is something so enigmatic about freelancers. For reasons unbeknownst to most, we are a cheerful and bubbly bunch of professionals. While the rest of the working populations are on their last nerves, slaving all day long, esteemed freelancers wear a perpetual grin, going about our days without a care in the world. Even In the face of an economic crisis, we are undaunted, and you won't catch us sporting an arched eyebrow anytime soon.

Most people are familiar with the term freelancing. Many yearn for the seemingly charmed life led by freelancers. Yet, they approach this grandiose thought with doubt and cynicism. How is it that one can sustain an income in the comforts of his own house? After all, to most onlookers, freelancers seem to indulge more in debauchery than work!

Here is the topic of freelancing, deciphered and debunked.

What exactly is freelancing?

While multitudes of people sign binding employment contracts every day, freelancers don't pledge their allegiance to any employer. Any signatures that we deal out are to adoring fans who covet our lives. In essence, we are only contracted on a project basis. Upon the completion of a project, we bid our goodbyes and source for the next prospect.

One exhilarating factor about freelancing is that you get to decide your own wages. With clients who bother to haggle, I give them a discounted price, on my own terms. I've been known to adjust my quotes on days when I'm in an excellent mood. It thrills me to know that I now have this power. Swinging freelancers like myself swear by this lifestyle. Quite honestly, I would rather starve than go back to the mundane routines of a desk bound job.

Why we are so happy

I would imagine passion, time, job security and money to make anyone's top wish list. Get ready for this next revelation: freelancers have it all.

Passion for the job

Freelancers are passionate about their jobs; we do what we do best, and we commit to what we love the most. Wherever our flair lies, that's where we will be. What then is the difference between a freelancer and an office worker? Simple. We aren't inundated with a plethora of to-do tasks by a merciless boss. Juggling between 7 projects is suffocating, and unfortunately, it is a norm amongst employees. Following your passion soon becomes a regrettable decision.

"Oh, why?! Why did I decide to be in this man-forsaken profession?"

Freelancers take it slow and we pace ourselves. Our fervent passion grows instead of fizzles because we don't commit a huge amount of our time to it. Passion becomes perfunctory routines when you spend 18 hours working it.

All the time in the world

We adhere to what I do call the "Embezzlement Schedule". Need a last minute plus one to an event because your office-goer friend bailed on you? Call your freelancer friends! They are the ones who are able to move around some plans to fit yours. Because we do not conform ourselves to the routines of a 9 to 5, we have so much more flexibility in our time schedules. It doesn't matter if we're (still) working at 2am in the morning. We're home.

Freelancers are not a special breed of superheroes, though we certainly act like it. Very rarely do you hear freelancers go: "I need more than 24 hours a day!" We cramp in an arduous gym session in the morning, and then we hurry back to our homes to catch up on some work. To reward ourselves, we meet up with our best friends for a sublime dinner. The choice is again ours to decide if we want to retire for the night or be even more productive.

Hence the word "free" in freelancing. Incidentally, it shouldn't be construed as pro bono because no self-respecting freelancer would ever give away work for free.

Get paid by the hour or on a project basis

One question: why should you let someone else decide just how much your work contributions are worth? As a freelancer, you will be able to make your own salary. Bill by the hour if you like, or give an estimated quote you would like to charge for a project. The more projects you undertake, the bigger your bank account expands.

It's an open secret: land a big account and you would have matched your ex supervisors' salaries. While they are slogging some twenty days a month, you would only be working half that time. Still think their income is enviable?

We don't have vacation days...

We have a vacation year. 365 days of vacation; how that's thought for you? Travel the world; you won't even have to plan your trips in advance! Best thing of all? You won't need your boss to approve your days off!

We can't get fired

While the economic crisis cues the need to scurry and fawn over bosses, freelancers have no need to swallow their pride just yet. That's because we're our own bosses. This is the steadiest job you will ever find. We aren't at anyone's beck and call. Well, that's not entirely true. We have our clients to answer to, but each project is only fleeting. When a fastidious client proves to be overly obnoxious and hard to manage, we do what most people can only dream of: We fire them.

Itching to become a freelancer now? Hold that thought. You have to test the waters first before you take that plunge. Check out my other articles for tips on becoming a successful freelancer!