Freelancing Free Agency & Work At Home Careers
The Freedom of Self-Employment and Working For Yourself
Difficult financial times and the prospect of losing a job make self-sufficiency more and more appealing to workers who have become dependent upon employers who may not have the resources to provide long-term job security.
Freelance is a State of Mind
In his book Free Agent Nation (Business Plus, 2002) Daniel Pink makes the case for personal free agency. Pink’s thesis hinges not on basketball players making millions of dollars but on an alternative employment model that offers greater flexibility in terms of work environment and projects, and greater personal autonomy for nearly anyone with a traditional office job.
Pink argues that with advances in technology there has been a groundswell of support for alternative work models, and those who participate in this movement can and do rewrite the rules of work for themselves. These “free agents” work from home or wherever they deem appropriate, and at the time that best suits their needs. Free agents often work on a contract basis, moving from project to project as their particular skill set is needed.
The loss of traditional benefit packages is often cited one reason for avoiding self-employment. Yet free agents have found a host of ways to secure their own benefits. IRAs and professional peer group insurance plans are two ways that free agents have learned to provide for themselves, often more cost effectively than under traditional employment models.
All that is required to for anyone to become a free agent is the will to take control of their destiny, a solid grasp of their professional skills and the value of those skills in the marketplace. Beyond that, workers must be willing to sacrifice (at least initially) a measure of financial security as they begin the process of marketing their skills to businesses, developing a slate of clients and a set of business practices that ensure a steady stream of income.
Technology and Free Agency
Given the monumental shift toward handheld, personal technology (cell phones, laptops, netbooks, digital cameras, etc.) and cable modems, DSL, and home satellite technology, the potential for workers to operate from home, or anywhere outside an office has only increased since Pink’s book came out in 2002. Additionally, businesses have begun to see the advantages of using contractors, temps, and at home-based workers. Reduced overhead, greater individual project flexibility and reduced benefits costs are all reasons business cite for moving toward outsourcing and an outsourced workforce. The fact that technology has made this a reasonable alternative for more and more workers has simply fanned the flames of an already smoldering fire.
Multiple Revenue Streams
In addition to increased project and personal flexibility, freelancing and free agency offer workers the opportunity to increase their income by developing a variety of income streams. For the graphic designer who use to work for a utility company where he/she focused primarily on direct mail work, freelancing offers the chance to do direct mail for that same utility company on Monday, menu design for a steakhouse on Tuesday, greeting cards on Wednesday, and stock graphics work on Thursday.
Potential Freelance Careers:
Some skills sets and career choices that lend themselves to freelancing and free agency include:
- Writing
- Photography
- Graphic Design
- Web Design
- Videography
- Ebay Sales
- Home Product Sales (Avon, Amway, Mary K)
- Arts/Crafts & Small Business Manufacturing
- Landscape Design
- General Contractor-Handyman
- Interior Design
As both a philosophy and a way of life, freelancing and free agency offer workers greater autonomy and flexibility. At the same time, drastic shifts in the economy have made work from home employees and contractors more and more appealing to businesses.
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