Reflections after one full year of work independence

“There is an insightful difference between those who suggest to be who they are and those who decide to be who they are.”

After a long tenure, I left a really good full-time job to become an independent contractor and to focus more on my creative side.

Here are a few honest takeaways after one full year of work independence.

Freedom of schedule means come up with a rigid schedule

Here, it’s a good exercise of discipline and work ethic to build a strong routine from scratch. When you are independent, each day is yours to build as you see fit. Ironically, this freedom has resulted in reliable structure and consistent effort. Others would see my day-to-day as boring, but I love my routine.

The who?

It is ok - recommended, even - to mix work life with personal life, when appropriate and to a certain degree.

The best business relationships are sometimes also friendships, where we can be rely on each other to be open and honest and to work for the greater good.

If not, that’s ok too. But working with cool people is much, much better than working where there’s friction. You have more control over this when you’re independent.

Work and play

This has been the most fun part for me, personally - Building time into my routine to blend business experience with creative endeavors. It’s technically work, but it doesn’t feel like work. It feels like playing a fun video game with different levels that can be approached in a number of ways.

I’m always writing or working on sharing writing. It used to feel scary and dreadful. Now it’s just a part of my life that I’m growing, like a garden in the backyard of a lovely home.

I don’t get paid much for this creative “work” yet. But, I know from experience that, so long as I stay consistent, continue to improve the process and produce good work that offers value to its audience, I will eventually earn a living from my creative endeavors.

This is true for you as well.

Each of you have something valuable to offer that you love, that no one else can offer. Figuring out what that is and then pursuing it is the equivalent of being able to work and play at the same time.

Nothing days

Not to be had often, but to be had with full commitment when needed.

I wrote about this elsewhere, but allow for a “do nothing day” when you can. The Nothing Day then contradicts itself by gaining purpose, which is to rest, recalibrate and to better prepare for the next Something Day.

Money is not as important

Of course, income is necessary. But I don’t work for a paycheck anymore. I work to offer high value to others, and to continue to explore new and expansive ways to offer that value.

Be authentic, be consistent, work hard for the right reasons. The money comes as a byproduct of this.

For those who are also independent - what’s an important lesson you’ve learned?

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Related Poetry

Go

From Air & Water: A ThoughPose Poetry Collection | 3/19/2019

Look out far
Find a spot
Grab a map
Trace the path
Get your shoes
Take a step

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Ways and means

From Fire & Earth: A ThoughPose Poetry Collection | 6/10/2019

I’ve got a dull edge
And a broken hand
Where the handle used to be

You’ve got bad vision,
Holding a sign that sort of
Looks like a bullseye from here

We’ve got a decent shot
Shoddy means,
But an end in sight, it seems

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