Be An Independent Contractor – Five Reasons To Work For Yourself
With unemployment at an all time high and our economy rebounding at a snail’s pace, there are many who have lost their jobs, are looking for new ways to earn money, and have decided the next option is to try self employment. Are you looking for new direction and new opportunities? Do you have a sense of adventure? If you are a self-starter and ready to meet challenges head-on, then working as a self employed, independent contractor may be just the right choice for you. Sometimes called business consultants, freelancers, free agents, or independent contractors (ICs), more and more people are finding this is the way forward, particularly in difficult times. And there are innumerable good reasons for making that choice. Here are just a few:You Are Your Own Boss You may be surprised at how much you enjoy the freedom and fulfillment of succeeding with only self motivation to guide your way. As an IC you are autonomous, independent and entirely flexible as you begin your journey of working for yourself. You can set your own business hours. You will have more freedom in taking vacation time or sick time. You don’t have to answer to anyone but yourself. And hurrah! You won’t have to get stuck in rush hour traffic! Why work for yourself? It’s the autonomy, independence, and flexibility you may never have had before.Unlimited Earning PotentialYou will have a direct impact on the success of your business and how much income you make. Aim high since you are no longer on a fixed salary. Now, you have an unlimited earning potential. And a nice “perk” of self employment is that you will also be entitled to deduct a variety of business expenses. You will soon realize that you are also worth more to a company as a small business consultant than as an employee because the client does not have to bear the cost of benefits for you like Social Security and Medicare taxes or unemployment compensation.Create Your Own ImageEven as you get started you will be able to establish your own image to reflect your personality and your talents. You can do this with business cards and letterheads and create your own work environment to make it as comfortable, inviting, or as businesslike or relaxed as you wish. Depending who your clients are and where you meet, you can dress up or down, and even your handouts will reflect who you are and the quality of your services. There are innumerable ways to decide on the image you want to portray. It all depends on your client base. But, if you are working at home, and at your leisure, you may even decide to work in jeans!Gain Freedom and Opportunity As an entrepreneur, you are the one who will make the rules, and therefore you also have the opportunity to open up new vistas in the industry of your choosing. You can now pick and choose the projects you want to work on. A good example of how self starters can make inroads into a new industry is YipDeals, a collective, online discount service dedicated specifically to local mid- to small-sized towns across the United States. They feature an ongoing program to recruit independent contractors called Local Marketing Consultants who help businesses post drastically discounted products on the internet. These are free agents who are literally trailblazing by bringing local businesses, consumers, and even charities together for the benefit of entire small communities.A New Way of Thinking According to Kelly Services’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, George Corona, “The economic downturn has resulted in a new way of thinking about careers and job security. Many people have watched their jobs disappear and now want to do something that puts them in control…These are often people with many years of experience, who may have been displaced and who have taken an entrepreneurial approach to marketing their skills.” There are also young people embarking on new careers and previously stay-at-home moms wanting to participate in generating income for their families. There are others still employed but looking for a cushion to fall back on – worried about the impact of a seemingly endless recession.If you are willing to embark on a totally new career with immense freedom and unlimited potential, and if you are ready to step ahead into the future, then becoming an Independent Contractor may be your path to success. There are a myriad of reasons to take the leap and explore the opportunities available to you as a free agent. Yes, there will be surprises along the way, but the benefits may outweigh the risks and you will definitely be setting the stage for a potentially rewarding adventure.
