To all who
suddenly felt I have gone missing/mad (no pun intended)
Let me begin on a very honest note: With an aim to play
with uncertainties and test the height of misfortunes, I discontinued my 9 to 5
regular office job and began full time freelancing career, right from my home! The problem is freelancing is not a career, it’s a plain job filled
with insecurities for tomorrow, misunderstanding with prospective customers,
hours of wait for a valued assignment and everything that is odd, and
uninteresting for a full time salaried person. But then what pushed me forward
to take up on this challenging role and that why I discontinued my full time
career which was earning me money, comfort, fame and security – of course after
paying the taxes?
Well, the valid question is almost visible on the face of
everyone I meet every day at my city but they hesitate to ask, may be because
they think this would hurt me. I may be overly imaginative but they must have
an idea like this – I am actually not doing anything and playing the role of a
returned resource who must have failed to survive the wrath of metropolitan
lifestyle and now enjoy the comfort pre established by my parents.
But sometimes it really hurts when I face people who don’t
know anything about freelancing and upon knowing my job looks at me as if I am
talking about aliens! I still remember the early days when I just returned from
Delhi – those were the days of convincing people about my new found job,
telling them thoroughly about how it works and how the payments are made
through NEFT and all. Barred a few, most found it tough to digest and I think
that was quite natural. I can write an interesting article on the reactions
people made and I will write it one day for sure since those were not just
reactions but fodders to my success.
Well, coming back to the core of this article I tell you
why I choose freelancing over regular office job. Very reasonable point is I am here for my parents, besides
myself! Both of my parents are aged, but both were strugglers. They worked hard
throughout their life, built a sweet home where they always want me more than
anything else. Going to Delhi and living a life among strangers was not what
they wanted. And I respect and understand their viewpoint. It is my duty to
take care of them now without affecting my job. Being a freelancer serves both the task!
Point number two is my obsession with my dream! When I was
a child, I wanted to become an engineer, but when I grew up I understood I’m
poor at Mathematics. Dream Thrashed. When I was in college, I wanted to build
three pack abs. Let alone the abs; I was so thin I developed a peculiar habit
of wearing two to three baniyans inside my shirt to look bulkier. Dream
Thrashed, again! No questions please, I discontinued the habit completely after
two failed attempts. :-) After that it was only a few years ago, I began to dream of my own company. Don’t know what destiny has in store now, but I am resolved to not
fail, now! Wish me success. If I fail yet again, I will blame you didn’t. :-)
Point number three is opportunities of being a freelancer.
9 to 5 sitting job secures your financial future against almost every type of
threats, but then you have to bear an irritating boss crazy over making you
over productive turned under productive, make a regularized routine where punctuality
becomes punishment and always worry over being shown a pink slip, anytime.
Private jobs are never a secured career option. I heard govt jobs are also not
that fun anymore. Anyways, what I wanted is a job where I lead me.
Freelancing gave me the opportunity!
Point no four is financial security. If you are also a
crazy fellow like what I am and thinking to begin an independent career,
consider it very seriously. You must have noted that I began the article
criticizing freelancing and blamed everything that freelancing is, but there is
more to it than just what you read. I first tell you what I do, in case you
don’t know. I am a content writer. Our duty is to make the Web an interesting
place and convince people score it over other mass media. The task is very easy
as much as it is tough.
Coming to financial security in freelancing; you can either
make it big or stay at square nowhere. Take our profession as an example; there
are low paying gigs quickly available all around the Web (e.g., Rs. 50 for 500
words content) and then there are luck changing work (e.g., $ 000000 for
promoting a known brand on the web). If you are intelligent enough to network
with the influential guys and know how to beat the competition, the world is
yours. Imagine a highly paying contract that you can finish through a few
months hardship and then enjoy the rest of the year earning extra. However,
freelancing can multiply your regular income after years of experience and
learning of mistakes. I am making the mistakes and I am enjoying too!
So, freelancing has its ups and downs. Before taking up on
this role, I have studied the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats.
Because I found I can walk over the worries quite well, I thought to give it a
heed. Things are going well quite well until now, and I hope to not break the
momentum of success. The cunning smiles of my city guys, blessings of my
parents, the power of newly renovated dream and the rewards of being a
freelancer are driving my car. Destination unknown!
