Today around 30 % of people in America are freelancing in some way. Numbers grow every year as freelance has quite a lot of advantages. A big number of people say no to eight-hour job and start being the bosses for themselves. But what make them leave their stable jobs with regular salaries and social benefits? Here are some popular reasons people choose freelance.
Work from home
This is one of the most appealing reasons for those people who have never tried this way of working. Actually, working from home has both pros and cons. Since this post is dedicated to the positive side of freelancing, let's think of the pros:
# You save a lot of time. This point is dedicated to everyone who is in the traffic or in a stuffed subway right now.
# You save money. This includes spending on transportation, lunches, going to cafes with colleagues, etc.
# You feel comfortable. You can wear your pajamas, work in bed, open the window, turn on the music - you can do whatever you want and feel truly comfortable.
# You don't strain your nerves. You don't need to worry about being late, your boss won't scream at you, you don't need to get involved into office intrigues, etc.
# You have flexible hours. Well, this is self-explanatory.
Not depending on anyone
Some people are not born to have bosses. They want to make plans and decisions on their own and be responsible for their actions. Freelance allows you to be your own boss 100%. You define how much work you do and when you do it.
Real motivation to work
If you are a freelancer, you cannot but work. You don't have time for procrastinating
and doing nothing. If you don't finish this task, you won't get paid and you'll have bad reviews. That is a very strong motivation, as for me.
Paradise for loners
There are actually quite a lot of people who don't like team work. I'm not going to judge and say whether it is a good or a bad thing but the fact is that some people prefer working alone. Such people have no desire to attend meetings, discuss the latest gossip in the kitchen, eat free sandwiches at the corporate parties, etc. If you don't want to conform to the wishes of others, freelance is your thing.
Taking care of your family
Another popular reason why people switch to freelance is when they have to stay home to take care of kids or elderly parents. It is very convenient for young moms, who want to be with their children but don't wish to get out of the work life completely. Actually, there are many examples of moms who started freelancing to earn some extra cash but ended up having a successful business.
You choose your projects
When you have a full-time office job, you are usually told what tasks to do and what projects to work with. Even if you find a project incredibly boring, you have to deal with it. When you are a freelancer, you choose the projects and tasks that are actually interesting to you. It is a great opportunity to work on something really exciting.
Freedom to choose when to go on a vacation
All the corporate workers know how much effort it takes to go on a vacation when you want it. There are always some deadlines, emergencies and troubles. It is twice as hard to go on a vacation with your partner at the same time. When you are a freelance, there are no such problems. Moreover, your whole life can become a vacation as you can work from everywhere with the Internet connection.
More work
Freelancers rarely sit without work. Today there are so many boards for freelancers, so you can always find a job if you have some skills. Some freelance boards arrange their work in such a convenient way that freelancers work there for years and have no need to find an office job or other sources of income.
When your creativity is too big for your office
Often people switch to freelance when they are too bored with their day jobs. They wish to search for exciting challenges, create new project and simply develop their creative potential. Not every office job can offer that.
You control your own income
You do more tasks - you get paid more; you do nothing - no money for you, my friend. If you are determined to work hard and to earn a lot, freelance is definitely for you. Skilled freelancers earn much more than office workers. They don't waste time and get paid for every additional thing they do.
As you see, there are quite a lot of reasons to leave an office and become your own boss. And lots of people actually do so. Surely, freelance has some negative sides, but let's face it, everything in the world has both good and bad points. If you feel like you are ready to be disciplined and determined, you can give it a try.