Going Back to Full Time: The Trade Off
June 10, 2008 by Deb Ng
Filed under Freelance Writing
To borrow a phrase from my friend Liz Strauss, I’ve been thinking….
I’m thinking about what I’m giving up by accepting my full time gig as Community Manager with Blog Talk Radio:
I’m giving up:
- Spending a lot of time here
- Having the freedom to schedule my day any way I want
- The ability to pick and choose the jobs I want
- Just packing up and going to the lake or park because it’s a beautiful day
- Blowing off work and taking a nap or a walk
The trade off:
- Knowing how much money is coming in each month
- Working 8 hours a day and having weekends free
- Being an important part of a wonderful, growing website and community
- Security
I’m going to miss the freedom and flexibility of freelancing, but I’m not going to miss trolling for work or wondering how long a dream client will last. I’m not going to miss feast or famine nature of the business or working until 2:00 AM on the weekends at the end of the month because everything is due.
I’m going to miss you a lot…
I’m happy with my decision though I’m going to miss my previous life. You know what I think is funny? I spent three years talking about the joys of freelancing, and here I am going back to full time work!~
At least you are making a decision based on experience and facts instead of assumptions and fear.
@jennydecki, Right!
@Deb, You’re still getting to work at home and you get to do something you know you’ll absolutely love. You’re making choices about what you want to do and you know that you’ve built enough of a brand for yourself that you have plenty of options in the future as well so this doesn’t have to be forever unless you want it to be.
Cyber Hugs,
Dana
When your dream job comes along, you have to give it a shot. Otherwise, you will drive yourself nuts wondering “what might have been.” It will be wonderful, you’ll see!
Don’t knock security.
Even though I had a business that had gone past six figures in 2005 and 2006, changes in the business and with some specific clients caused a sharp downturn through the first half of last year. A couple of large new clients will have me back to near 2005 levels this year, but there was a lot of stress in the interim — by the way there was a news report the other day on debt stress and heart attacks (I should be long dead).
Of course, I’ve seen people with jobs get laid off where there was no income. I certainly had it better than them.
This being said, I would suggest that you keep a little freelance, (use proceeds for vacation or something else for you), to maintain a little extra security — assuming your job lets you do that (some don’t).
Deb,
I am someone who has reinvented her life/job to accommodate my family and their/my needs for ten years. I’m sure this new change will suit you well – not because I know you personally but because I’ve watched your introspection and love of your family and profession thru this blog. How wonderful that as your needs have changed, so have your opportunities. Best, Lara
I just love working from home, no matter what the job is. I hope it works out the way you want it to.
Deb, I can imagine how bittersweet it is to leave freelancing behind, but can’t agree more with what everyone else has said. And the fact that you still get to work from home, even if it’s during traditional hours, means that you still keep some of the perks of freelancing. Sounds like a dream job to me! If that “dream job” came along *and* allowed me to work from home (especially if I could set my own hours), I’d take it in a heartbeat.
You’ll be great! Tons of luck to you!
I agree about the benefits of freelancing. But I have never had the feast or famine problem. I have worked at home for the same company for four years, my pay has steadily increased, I work about 15-20 hours a week (and some weeks I don’t work at all.) Other benefits are that I have no deadlines and earn a fulltime living working pt. While my income varies based on how much work I feel like doing, I can have as much work as I want. And I have also managed to save a lot of money. This is the ideal job for me- except the subject matter is starting to bore me and some articles take 20 hours to complete. But since these are really my only complaints, I know I am luckier than most freelance writers.
That just goes to prove that freelancers need to keep an open mind and never say never.
I envy you the free weekends, Deb.
Hi Deb,
I feel that you have the best of both freelancing and regular day job work in your new position. Just look at the exerpiences that the past few years have given you, that helped to ensure you as the best possible candidate for your new job.
Enjoy the new adventure!
@Louise – sign me up for something like that!
It’s cool that you have a seemingly great situation there.
Louise, I’m very curious as to what type of writing you do that has no deadlines? Sign me up too!