How many people wish they were their own boss? How many wish they could work from home? How many want to chose who their clients are and who they work for?
Tick, tick and tick. All those things apply to me. I've got it pretty good, right? I'm very lucky. I'm a sort of freelancer who works from home - offering a service to various different clients (no, I'm not a prostitute). I've worked for various different agencies but about two and half years ago I decided I had enough working for a total dick head and decided to go it alone. I was gonna cut out the middle man and take all the spoils for myself! I'd be working from home so there would be very few overheads and I'd be living the flexible lifestyle that so many desire. It was the perfect plan.
And it has been so good - mostly. I really like my job and I'm pretty good at it. I love the fact that my decision is final. I have total autonomy and I don't have to pander to someone senior that I don't agree with. If I'm approached to do work for a company that I don't like/understand/agree with - I don't take on the work. Simple as that.
I work when I want to work. Okay - the work has to get done but if I want to take three hours for lunch, and I've got the time - then I do it. If I want a cheeky afternoon off? Why the hell not!
I think the flexibility has to be one of the best things about working for myself. It's meant I've been able to see more of friends that are on maternity leave, see more of my family as I can meet my mum and gran for lunch if we are all free. It's also been a huge plus point for TB and I. Living two and a half hours apart for the first year of our relationship was tough at the best of times but the fact I could head to his on a Thursday night, work from his flat on a Friday and then head home on a Monday morning - was fantastic.
And being master of my own schedule has undoubtedly played significant role in my weight loss success. It's given me the time that I've needed to make it a priority. Yeah, I work out five times a week - for at least an hour at a time - but that's because I've got the time to do it. I don't have a commute, I don't have pointless internal meetings, I don't have to be at my desk 9-5. I have extra time - and I am so thankful that I did.
So what's the problem? Well, there are two big problems. Firstly, working alone. I love it but as soon as I am back in an office environment I realise how much I miss it. I love being part of a team. And I like being around people. Being on your own all day long, most days, is not good for you. You think you're okay. You convince yourself that you like it. And while it's okay some of the time, it's not good all of the time.
The second problem? Money. Of course. Most months I earn quite good money but all it takes is a couple of months hard going and it ruins me for the rest of the year. I'm just about to come to my financial year end and I earned less than last year. I'm going backwards. This is not good. I have a credit card bill that doesn't seem to be getting any smaller. I am constantly watching the pennies and hardly spending any money on myself. I am almost 32 years old, this is no way to live my life.
I think I'm going to have to get a job.
I'm on a lifelong mission to ditch the lard. Stones away from my heaviest, I'm closing in on my pre-pregnancy weight. Next up, my wedding weight! Onwards!
Speaking as someone who works with two extremely hard-going colleagues, it seems like a dream to be my own boss! But perhaps the solution is to combine the two - part-time hours combined with some freelance consulting, or does your industry frown on that, or think it could jeopardise confidentiality? If so, then at least in the short-term, working in an office takes the pressure off, and also gives you the opportunity to meet new people and socialise in a new city?? Best of luck whatever you decide...
ReplyDeleteI must say I could never work for myself - I'd be constantly anxious about money. But the plus points sound great. Although, like you, I'd miss the banter of the office.
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