I have been freelancing (at varying degrees) as a web and graphic designer for 12 years now, and in early 2008 I stared putting together a plan to officially open my doors full-time. Although I loved my day job, also as a designer, I had acquired enough side-work that I found myself working day and night, every day of the week. Growing tired of the politics and routine at my last job, I began mapping out how I could make it on my own doing what I love, and eventually resigned.
Simply hanging my shingle was not enough
To really mix it up, I also decided to take the show on the road, and relocate to a completely different part of the country I had not yet experienced – New England. As per usual for my nomadic nature, I knew absolutely no one, had zero connections, and would have to rely strictly on a wing and prayer.
Enter Craigslist: lake house in upstate Vermont on Lake Champlain for the fall and winter. Perfect. RV reserved for I-90 road trip: check. Traveling partner Mary (who one month before our journey starts, she will have wrapped up a cross-country move with her husband, from Alaska to Boston): check. Save up enough money to survive for 6 months, even with no income: check. Everything was in place, I was physically and mentally ready to go.
My friends thought I was nuts
In the weeks prior to my departure from my favorite city of 8 years, Seattle, it became evident to me how many friendships I would be leaving behind. Of course several of them will always be in my top ten, wherever we end up. Some folks were worried that I might be off my rocker, too wayward for someone my age (40), or not prepared for the “stiff” New England lifestyle. Did I really know what I was getting into? Why would I give up my current lifestyle I’d worked hard to achieve? Turns out its not easy to convince people that the best things in my own life happened because I took a risk and jumped into the deep end. That its the thrills and chills of the unknown that intrigue and encourage me to experience “what’s next”. After all, that’s how I was able to cross paths with them in the first place.
Full Time Job if there ever was one
So it would seem appropriate that I conduct my business with the same sense of adventure. Its all a crap shoot anyway, from my point of view. Anyone who just assumes they’ll have the same income and job (and health insurance, 401k, security) a year from now is either living in a vacuum or is a trust-fund baby. Now that I am solely responsible for my income, insurance, and retirement, it sheds a whole new light on “living paycheck to paycheck.” Being self-employed is the epitome of the term full-time job. Marketing, self-promotion, overhead and office supplies, even keeping the coffee coming is completely dependent on ME. No, I don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on office-appropriate clothes, but I’m not sitting around in my pajamas all day either. In fact, thanks to Skype and iChat – I’ve got to be at least half-way coifed at all times. I also get to set-up my office wherever I want: at home or at the coffee shop, park, or bookstore – wherever there’s wifi, I can work. Its great for creativity, having that chattering white noise in the background, and the human connection.
Independence Day for me truly is a personal celebration of risk and reward, making my own rules, and pulling my own weight. In lieu of kicking myself for not breaking out of the cube earlier, I hold a humble regard for those that do and encourage anyone who has the wherewithal, motivation and guts to untether their skills and set their inner entrepreneur free. I honestly can’t imagine living my life any other way.
Happy Independence Day indeed.
Image licensed under Creative Commons
