Thoughts: I’m a Free Worker
Almost everyone could have wished to win the millions from a national lottery. If I were to have this one then I could buy the material things that I want in life. Perhaps travel gets to be a part of the lavish dream expense that I would opt to do.
photo credit: lusi (SXC)
When I was working in an office, I get home feeling tired at the end of the day. Then I would wake up, realizing that I get to do the same routine. I get to the office and meet people. Some people are really pleasant, but the ones with the negative attitude truly sap my daily energy away.
I left my work, and found myself free – again. I’ve had some previous jobs and I’ve often enjoyed the each moment when I left the jobs that did not fit me. In two of my previous jobs I’ve encountered pressure but there’s always a chance for career advancement. On that one job there’s no pressure, but the option for career advancement was not good.
Now I’ve been in freelance for sometime. I have time under my command. My main problem is to make sure I had adequate income to pay the bills. I have to earn through work opportunities around job sites. Luckily, there are even other opportunities seem to sprout out from nowhere.
I wake up each day, thinking that perhaps I’d be getting some notice that I have some work waiting. There are some days where I had to do a lot of work, and there are those dry days where there’s no job to do. Sometimes it is quite frustrating when there is no work for several days – I feel like there will be no more opportunities to come. Then suddenly opportunities show up. There could be so many of these which can be too much to handle.
I’ve spent off my weekends trying to get away from my computer and home. I’d get to town by myself and do the things to relax my mind. I’d call up friends and if I’m lucky enough, I get to have a great time.
I’m free, but sometimes I miss working for a company. I miss the office. I miss the chats with some office buddies. I miss having a boss to deal with. I miss the after-office hours and company outings. I miss doing the dressing up for work and going back home.
Freelance life is still enjoyable and I would still choose this life over that of the office. I just figured I’ll have to find a way to keep up with my social life.
MikeC
September 13th, 2008 at 2:54 am #
Right now I’m working two jobs. My fulltime gig. Then my side business. The goal? Freedom of being my own boss. Kudos to you! You got samples of work? Maybe I can help out if I get overloaded…
Gem
September 13th, 2008 at 8:34 am #
@MikeC
I’ve done all the loads of writing jobs yesterday. I forgot to twitter that I’ve finished. I have turned my computer off before I realized that.
kouji
September 13th, 2008 at 9:26 am #
i mentioned the idea of odesk to a cousin of mine in baguio. he seems to be interested. his full time job right now doesn’t appear to satisfy him. we’ll see how he takes to the idea of freelance work.
hell, i like the idea of freelance work as well, even if i know it has its disadvantages.
i observe that many persons try to find a way to socialize through the threads at the girltalk forum.
that’s how they try to find a way to make up for the lack of colleagues at work.
Pastilan
September 13th, 2008 at 10:43 am #
freelancing is like a roller coaster ride, it is thrilling. To the faint-hearted it is scary but to the adventurous ones, the ones who believe in what they’ve got, it is a fulfilling way of earning a living. I am not a full-fledged freelancer as of this time, I’ve dipped my toe into its water a few months ago and now I have a whole foot in. My other foot is still securely anchored on the “safe” ground of a day job. Now I have this strong urge to dive in and get my whole body wet.
Gem
September 14th, 2008 at 9:21 am #
@kouji
Even just by blogging and leaving comments out I get to connect and socialize
@Pastilan
It is always a good idea NOT to splurge into full-time freelancing first.
blanne
November 5th, 2008 at 3:00 am #
they say programmers possibly end up having no social life due to all the work plus the constant upgrading of skills.
so what happens to programmers who do freelance? hehe..
Gem
November 5th, 2008 at 9:56 am #
@blanne
No social life for programmers? You’ve just stereotyped them, because all the programmers that I had worked with are enjoying great social life while constantly upgrading their skills.
One of the struggles of freelancers (not only programmers) is to maintain a social life. That is quite difficult, right now my social life is definitely out here online; although a friend had always advised me to find offline friends too.