12 Things Freelancing Has Given Me That Corporate Life Never Did

As I was reviewing the lessons I’ve learned living and working as a freelancer, I realized what an incredible opportunity the last year has been.

Not only have I learned more about myself than ever before (and grown with each new challenge), but my life has expanded in ways that would have been impossible if I’d stayed in my job at [hottest growing startup ever].

The following are 12 things freelancing has given me that corporate life never did the list could go on and on, but these are some of the top things this experience has provided for me:

Takeaways
1. Greater Autonomy: Freelancing offers the freedom to set your schedule and choose projects that align with your passions and interests.
2. Work-Life Balance: Embracing freelancing allows for a better work-life balance, enabling you to prioritize personal time without compromising productivity.
3. Diverse Skill Development: Freelancers often acquire a wide range of skills due to the varied nature of projects they undertake, enhancing their overall expertise.
4. Direct Client Relationships: Working as a freelancer fosters direct connections with clients, leading to better understanding of their needs and fostering long-term partnerships.
5. Unlimited Earning Potential: Unlike corporate jobs, freelancers have the opportunity to earn more as they scale their business and take on high-paying projects.
6. Flexibility in Location: Freelancing enables you to work from anywhere, granting the flexibility to travel or relocate as per your preferences and without being tied to a physical office.
7. Enhanced Creativity: With no rigid corporate structure, freelancers can explore their creativity freely and implement innovative solutions to client challenges.
8. Independence and Ownership: As a freelancer, you become your boss, making decisions and taking ownership of your work, leading to a stronger sense of accomplishment.
9. Personal Brand Building: Freelancers can establish a unique personal brand that attracts their ideal clients and sets them apart in the competitive market.
10. Control Over Workload: Freelancers have the flexibility to control their workload, accepting projects based on availability and avoiding burnout.
11. Constant Learning: Embracing freelancing means embracing continuous learning, as staying updated on industry trends and new skills is essential for success.
12. Job Satisfaction: The fulfillment derived from freelancing stems from doing meaningful work that aligns with personal values, leading to higher job satisfaction overall.

1. Dignity

Working from home can give you the emotional space you need to feel confident in your abilities, but it also offers the tools to help you develop a strong work ethic.

When I first started freelancing, my biggest challenge was finding a balance between working hard and respecting how much time off I needed. My corporate job had always been 9-5 with weekends off it was easy enough for me to put my head down, grind through tasks at work, then go home and relax when it was time for a break.

But freelancing is different; there are no set hours or deadlines, so you have to figure out what works best for you. What works well for me? Work from 7 is until 2 pm every day (like any good NYer) then have an hour or two of downtime before dinner with my friends where we can talk about our days or play video games together (our current favorite game is Stardew Valley). 

Then I’ll get back online around 10 pm or 11 pm and do some more work until my eyes start getting heavy again by midnight.

This schedule has helped me not only find the balance between work and play but also build up my self-esteem as an independent worker who knows exactly what they’re worth (and isn’t afraid to say no if they don’t think something is fair).

Exploring the freelance world has shown me that we are different in many ways compared to the traditional corporate setup. Embracing these differences can lead to a fulfilling and unique career path.

2. A Global Network

Working from home can be isolating, but freelancing often puts you in contact with people from all over the world. I have found that this is a great benefit for my business, as well as my personal life.

Here are some ways that having a global network has helped me:

• It allows me to find new clients and customers. When your job requires you to travel often or move frequently, it’s much easier to get jobs done without having to relocate or change offices every few months.

You can just pick up wherever you left off.

• It provides me with feedback on my skills and how they might need improvement (or lack thereof).

I’m sure this happens in any field where people work independently the difference is that when we’re dealing exclusively online and remotely, there’s no one else around us who will tell us when we’re doing things wrong unless they’re working alongside us at that very moment.

3. Independence

For me, the freedom to work from anywhere is one of the biggest benefits of freelancing. You’re allowed to pick your employers and projects, so you don’t have to do something that doesn’t interest you. This means if a client asks for something outside of your skill set and/or comfort zone, it’s okay for you to say no!

But even when there are no awkward requests from clients (knock on wood), having independence over my schedule allows me to work at home or in a cafe if I want. There’s nothing better than working in pajamas on a Saturday morning with coffee in hand a luxury that rarely happened when I worked full-time at an office job.

Curious about how I transitioned into freelance work within the engineering field? I’ve shared my experiences and insights in how I became a freelancer in my engineering field. Engineering enthusiasts looking to explore freelancing might find this read valuable.

4. Self-Respect

Self-respect is the most important thing you can have in life. The feeling of self-worth and self-confidence that comes with it allows you to be confident in all aspects of your life from your relationships, to career choices, to your health and fitness goals.

Freelancing allows you to be your boss. You can set your hours, work from anywhere and work on whatever projects interest you most at any given time. You’re responsible for managing yourself, but also for managing success!

5. Time Freedom

As a freelancer, you can arrange your schedule in any way that works best for you. You can choose to work from home in the morning and then head into the office during your lunch break, or you can work only on Mondays and Fridays so that Tuesday through Thursday are spent with other people in your life. Your time is yours to spend however you like.

The hours are even more flexible than that: If you need inspiration, try working from a coffee shop or at a local park (if it’s not too hot!). If you’re feeling creative, grab some paper and pencils and draw out all of those great ideas that have been bouncing around inside of your brain.

Or try taking some time off between projects by traveling throw away all expectations about what that means and simply go wherever feels right!

6. Autonomy

The freedom to do what you want, when you want. The freedom to choose your clients, projects, and work hours.

On the one hand, this is a great thing you can tell at any point that you’re working on something that’s going to be worth your while in the end. 

On the other hand…sometimes it’s hard to know where your next paycheck is coming from or whether a project will get finished on time and those are things that can make freelancing difficult for some people who aren’t used to being self-starters (like me).

Freelancing is undoubtedly reshaping the nature of work. In my article on how freelancing is changing work, I delve into the evolving work landscape and why it deserves more attention in today’s discussions.

7. An Opportunity To Grow As A Human Being

You’ll learn to be more self-sufficient and self-aware. You’ll also become more self-confident, which will help you take on new challenges and tackle difficult situations with ease.

Being a freelancer has taught me to be willing to grow as a human being. I think it’s one of the best ways for people who are sick of their corporate jobs but don’t have any idea what they want to do next!

8. Choices

Freelancing has given me more choices in what I do and when I do it, who I work with and what we work on, how I work and where I work, as well as how much money I make. It also gives me the freedom to focus on projects that are both personally meaningful and financially rewarding. 

This has allowed me to leverage my skills in service of causes important to me while also earning a good living doing something that is both challenging and fun at the same time.

In corporate life, you’re generally not allowed any choice about your assignments or who you interact with regularly especially if those interactions involve dealing with customers or clients (which are essential parts of most jobs).

On top of these limitations around your professional choices comes a slew of other restrictions such as policies dictating vacation time or sick days; deadlines related to quarterly earnings reports; company-wide meetings every Monday morning; mandatory overtime during busy periods; team-building exercises like bowling night once a month…the list goes on!

9. The Ability To Work When And Where I Want To Work

I can work from home, which is nice. It’s also nice that my house is about 50 feet away from my office so if I want to take a break, I can go for a walk or run some errands without having to drive anywhere.

The only downside of working from home is being so close by means that it’s easy for me not to leave the house and get stuff done. But when it comes down to it, if you truly want something done then there shouldn’t be any excuses holding you back.

And even though this might sound like a “duh” moment, one cannot stress enough how important it is for freelancers (or anyone who works remotely) not only to have good internet access but also reliable internet access as well.

Otherwise, life would be much more difficult and stressful than anything else out there right now (well maybe except for economic collapse).

Freelancing has significantly impacted work, bringing about both challenges and opportunities. Understanding these changes is essential for professionals navigating the modern job market.

10. Financial Success

Freelancing is a wonderful way to build up your finances. You can make more money freelancing, you can save money freelancing, and you can also invest your earnings in ways that will provide security for yourself and your family.

I have used my freelance income to purchase rental properties, which are now generating passive income for me every month. I have also had the opportunity to travel around the world with my wife because we don’t feel tied down by our jobs or mortgages anymore!

11. Fulfillment And Satisfaction

In the corporate world, you’re given a job and you do it. You don’t necessarily enjoy what you are doing, but that doesn’t matter because you get paid to do it.

But when freelancing, I can choose my work and thus choose the things that bring me the most satisfaction in life: writing articles (and books) about topics I love; helping others by offering them my services; making money doing so, and seeing results from my work.

12. Friendships And Stronger Bonds With Family Members

Friendships: I’ve always been a bit of an introvert, but freelancing has allowed me to spend more time with my family and friends. Instead of stressing over making small talk at parties or being in uncomfortable social situations, I can sit back, relax, and enjoy the company of those closest to me.

Stronger bonds with family members: Since we don’t live under one roof anymore (and my partner works from home most days), our relationship is all about quality time spent together. 

We rarely take each other for granted or let our schedules get in the way of spending quality time together; instead, we make it a point to actively schedule things like movie nights or trips to coffee shops just so that we can connect on another level besides text messaging.

Stronger bonds with friends: Freelancing has also allowed me more opportunities to meet new people because of business-related events (for example, conferences). 

This has made me feel much more confident when going into new groups where I may not know anyone else especially since most people who attend these sorts of events are usually focused on networking rather than getting drunk after work drinks like some corporate drones might do!

If you’re considering freelancing, it’s crucial to know what freelancing is like and what to expect. My article sheds light on the realities of freelancing and how to make the most of this exciting career path.

Final Thoughts

Leaving the rat race behind and embracing a freelancing lifestyle has given me all these things and so much more. I am no longer discouraged at work because I enjoy what I do each day. I look forward to waking up in the morning to start my day of doing meaningful work that helps other people.

As you can see, many benefits come with freelancing. If you’re looking for an escape from corporate life or just want to explore different career options and opportunities, then I encourage you to consider this route.

Further Reading

12 Things Freelancing Taught Me in 12 Months: Discover valuable insights and lessons learned from a freelancer’s first year journey in the world of freelancing.

From Unhappy Employee to Fulfilled Freelancer: Read the inspiring success story of an individual who transformed their career and found fulfillment as a freelancer.

Benefits of Freelancing: Explore the numerous advantages and perks of choosing freelancing as a career path.

People Also Ask

What Are Some Of The Things You Miss About Corporate Life?

I miss the stability of a regular paycheck. I also miss the structure of office hours and being able to count on a steady flow of work. But there are many other things that I don’t miss at all/

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Things About Freelancing?

For me, it’s all about flexibility. No one can tell me what to do or when to do it I’m free to set my schedule and take a break whenever I want. It’s also great being able to choose what projects I want to work on, which allows me to practice my skills in different areas.

And finally and maybe most importantly I love how much more money I make as a freelancer than I ever did as an employee.

What Advice Would You Give Someone Who Wants To Become A Freelancer?

If you want to become a freelancer, just do it. Don’t worry about whether or not you’ll be successful just try it out and see what happens. You’ll probably find that being your boss is much more rewarding than working for someone else.

How Do You Decide What Projects To Take On?

I consider several factors when deciding whether or not to take on a new project. First, there’s the client I want someone who pays promptly and has good communication skills (whether that’s via email or phone).

Then there’s the pay the more money I’m offered for my services, the more likely I am going to accept the job. Finally, there’s the project itself if it sounds fun or interesting or challenging enough for me, then it’s probably worth taking on!

How Do You Find Clients?

I use a ton of different platforms, but I’ll start with the free ones: Craigslist, Upwork, and Facebook groups. I also use other paid sites like LinkedIn and Fiverr, but those are usually for high-level projects that require more specific skills or connections than what I have available to offer at this time.

How Do You Manage Your Time?

I use the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working in 25-minute intervals separated by 5-minute breaks. In between each interval, I take a quick walk around my apartment or go to the gym. I find that this helps me focus on my work without getting distracted by social media, and it also gives me a chance to clear my head every so often.

How Do You Stay Energized?

I make sure to get enough sleep and food. This is something I struggled with when I was working full-time in an office, but now that I’m freelance, I’ve learned how important it is to take care of myself both physically and mentally.

If something isn’t feeling right with my body or mind, I can’t be productive at work so those are things that always have priority over everything else!.

Do You Miss Working In An Office?

In some ways, yes! I miss that feeling of being part of a team and knowing that everyone around me has the same goals as me. But as far as day-to-day tasks go, no I don’t miss them at all!

What Can I Expect From My Freelancing Experience?

You’ll be working with a lot of different clients, which means you’ll have the opportunity to build your portfolio and gain experience in multiple fields. You’ll also get to set your schedule, which is something that’s often not possible in a corporate setting.

What Are The Challenges?

There are a lot of challenges when it comes to freelancing, but one of them is finding clients (especially since I am new to this). However, the good news is that there are so many platforms out there where you can market yourself and find clients.

How Do You Handle Stress And Burnout?

I don’t always handle stress well when it comes to freelancing because it can get pretty stressful at times especially if you’re trying to make deadlines for multiple clients! But what helps me deal with these feelings is taking time off from work when necessary and spending time with friends or family members who support me through difficult times.

What Is The Difference Between Freelancing And Working For A Corporation?

The main difference is that you are your boss and have complete control over your time. You have to set your hours, negotiate your rate, and manage your workflow. It’s also possible to work from home or anywhere else in the world as long as you have an internet connection.

What Are The Benefits Of Being A Freelancer?

The benefits of being a freelancer are numerous but one of the biggest benefits is that you can work from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection.

You don’t have to worry about being stuck in traffic or waiting on an elevator during rush hour because you can work from home or wherever else might be convenient for you at that moment.

It gives you more flexibility than most other jobs do which can be very important when it comes down to it!