Getting laid off was one of the best days of my life

• The truth is, the writing was on the wall.
• For years, I had been underpaid and underappreciated.
• My boss denied by request for a raise, even though I had recently won a grant that covered my entire salary.
• So, I took action.
• I underwent a period of intense self-reflection about my goals and what I wanted out of life.
• I identified my unique skill set and the types of clients who would pay me to apply these skills.
• And then I used my network to help me find those clients.
• So, when the the dreaded ‘pink slip’ came, I rejoiced.
• Now, I had more time to grow my freelance business. The business I started before getting laid off.

The “laid off” and “open to work” stories are all over social media

• Time after time, people are caught off guard. The job that they had considered a stable answer to their financial needs was now gone. And they are left scrambling, often reduced to publicly begging for help to find a new position.
• And finding a new position is harder than ever! The endless applications, only to never even hear a response. The countless, time-consuming rounds of interviews, only to lose out in the final steps.

There is a better way to manage your next career transition

• There is a skill that eliminates your dependence on a particular company or person.
• There is a skill that lets you take control of your income and your time.
• There is a skill that eases that transition period between jobs, or helps you (re)enter the work force
• There is a skill than may even remove the need for a “real job” all together.

That skill is FREELANCING

• Freelancing is a type of self-employment. You work for clients without committing to full-time employment.
• Freelancing is also called contract work or fractional work. Hence, we are often called “contractors,” despite the lack of power tools!

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• Freelancers control their work schedules. They often take on several projects with different clients.
• Clients pay per project, per task, or per hour, depending on the agreement.
• Freelance contracts usually start with short assignments. But satisfied clients often request more work. Freelancers can work for the same client for months or even years!

Wait a minute, is this really a viable way to earn money?

• You may think it’s hard to get started. And the truth is, at the beginning, IT IS! You will spend a lot of time at the beginning figuring things out. But with the right plan, getting started freelancing is not complicated.
• You may think freelancing is unreliable or insecure. And the truth is, at the beginning, IT IS! It takes most people 3-6 months to achieve a desirable income level. But most freelancers are able to meet their financial needs after this.
• You may think you don’t have the time for freelancing. Adding more work to establish yourself as a freelancer can feel overwhelming. But think how worth it it will be when you have an established freelance business up and running. You no longer be afraid of “restructuring” and can even walk away on your own terms.

The truth is, with a good plan, anyone can find quality freelancing work and start making money

So, WHY freelance?

• The advantages of a “real job” are so ingrained in our culture, I don’t need to explain them. A stable income, benefits, etc.
• So, why would you freelance instead of focusing on finding (or keeping) a “real job?”
• Here are 10 benefits of freelancing, although there are many more:

1. Built-in remote work. Work from your home office, a coffee shop, or the beach! This includes the blissful lack of a stressful commute! [placeholder for me at the lake]
2. Control over which projects to work on. There is no boss to hand down a project that you don’t find interesting or worthwhile. You seek out the work you want to do!
3. Uncapped income. A salary or full-time hourly pay limits your total income. With freelancing, there are many ways to increase your income. You can take on more projects, raise your rates, or hire subcontractors. [placeholder for tweet: I earn what I used to earn as a PhD-holding scientist in less than 2 hours per day]
4. Lifestyle design. By definition, freelancers work on projects when and where they want to. Those ‘other things’ that aren’t welcome in a traditional workplace? Things like travel, creative pursuits, and care-taking? They can coexist with your professional life. “Work-life balance” is now under your control!
5. Job insecurity [STRIKETHROUGH THIS] Career security. With a “real job,” you are 1 management decision away from a lay off. This is the reality of the working world today. Companies no longer feel responsible for their employees’ livelihood. A “side hustle” will put you in a position of strength. Even if you love your job.
6. Learn more about business. As a new freelancer, you are responsible for accounting, scheduling, and resource management. These are valuable business skills that will help you in any field and at any stage in your career.
7. Opportunity to specialize. Many employees are generalists who perform a wide variety of tasks. As a freelancer, you have the opportunity to drill down and focus on mastering a specialty. (Bonus: the more specialty expertise you have, the more you can chare!)
8. Multiple income streams. As a freelancer, you choose how to piece together your work and income. Into web programming and writing background music for TV shows? You can earn money from both!
9. A better path to finding a “real job.” Companies LOVE hiring freelancers that have already contracted for them. Think about from their angle. They have already vetted as a reliable producer that can get things done, on time. For the company, you are already ahead of >95% of applicants. New applicants are unknowns who need an expensive and time-consuming hiring process.
10. Keep growing and never have a “real job” again! A successful freelancer has bootstrapped and validated a small business. The dream of becoming a “solopreneur” and working for yourself is as real as it has ever been.

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1. BONUS: MY FAVORITE REASON: Helping people. The best thing about freelancing is solving an urgent need for another human. You have the ability to help an individual or business with their problems, right now. If you do this well, they will LOVE you (and be THRILLED to pay you!)

Thank you so much for reading, I truly appreciate your feedback and support!

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