What motivates someone to choose freelancing? I think the potential reasons are many and varied, but I’d like to discuss my reasons for choosing this way of working. You may find they resonate with your own motivations, or they may remind you of a benefit you had forgotten – they may even convince you that freelancing is right for you.

Reason #1 – Control my destiny

There are many benefits to freelancing, which I think ultimately come under this general heading. If you’ve ever had a great idea at work, only to see it stifled by an unwilling management team, you’ll understand how refreshing it feels to be able to follow your own plans, whether for good or ill.Freelancers can act on all their great ideas, just as they can choose their own hours, their workplace (never work anywhere that’s too hot, too cold, too crowded or too devoid of natural light ever again!), their colleagues (within reason), and their work.

Decide everything!

I think another great benefit of being a freelancer is that you can respect your own judgements, and decide everything yourself, without having to constantly run your decisions past several layers of management. You may be surprised at how easily things happen when you’re in control.Are you full of energy? Are you determined, intelligent and diligent? If you work furiously at a normal job, as an employee, you may do well and be noticed and receive praise and a pay-rise and eventually a promotion (if you’re lucky), but chances are you’ll do just as well if you trudge along with everyone else and do just enough to get by. With freelancing, your future is completely determined by your actions. If you work hard, you will succeed. If you slack off, you will have as much success as your slacking earns. Freelancing connects you to your behaviour in a way that salaried employment generally doesn’t.

Reason #2 – Escape the tyranny of middle management

I was desperately trying to keep all of my advice in this blog post positive, because there is so much that’s positive about being a freelancer, but I couldn’t resist mentioning this other super benefit.Have you ever had to suffer under an ambitious middle-manager? Perhaps you’ve had a boss that is rude, ignorant, conniving or deceitful, or perhaps you’ve tolerated the attention of a bully. Not no more.

If you’ve ever resented taking instructions from a person with half your IQ, freelancing provides instant relief by de-managerising your life. You can manage yourself. You probably don’t need a supervisor to micro-manage your every breath. If you want an appraisal, do it yourself, if you feel like it. If you want a pay-rise, don’t go cap-in-hand to your miserable manager, just work harder!

In conclusion

I think if you’re considering freelancing just because you don’t like your boss, you shouldn’t do it. That’s not a good enough reason, and that kind of motivation should lead you to look for another job. Freelancing is more demanding, and requires that you be everything to yourself. You won’t have that pesky boss peeking over your shoulder and pushing you to get things done, which is great, but if you’re the kind of person that needs prodding, then freelancing might not work for you.If you’re considering going freelance, be prepared to do everything. You’re going to have to be your own marketing, finance, sales and purchasing departments, as well as being the entire workforce.

This leads me to the subject of my next blog post: Become CEO of YouCorp.

photo credit: Cane Rosso