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I left my full-time job in August 2021. I was a Project Manager at an agency in London. I was burnt out and not in a good place. Time off was needed. So I left, with no job lined up, no plan, nada. Some would say that this was an extremely stupid, irresponsible and just pure wild move. I probably even said it at the time, but it needed to happen.
I was extremely lucky that my partner was in the position to support me in my time of need and discovery. He was the one who pushed me to go for it and trusted that I would eventually land on my feet. After a few months of recharging, exploring and discovering, I took the leap. I started working for myself.
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Fast forward 6 months and I can wholeheartedly say it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. And I’ve seen David Attenborough in the flesh with my own eyes.❤️
But of course, working for yourself and working for someone else both have their pros and cons.
Pros
Working for yourself
Freedom 🙌
You can do what you want, when you want, where you want. With this you can have a better work/life balance (sometimes easier said than done).
Satisfaction
You can work to your own vision, values and creative ideals.
Environment
You can decide where to work and how to work. Jump from your desk, to the sofa to the kitchen table - why not! You can curate your space to how YOU want it. It’s all you.
Responsibility
It’s down to you and that’s exciting!
Working for someone else
Consistent salary
You know that you will get paid a salary each month.
Goodies
You normally get a few tasty perks when you work for someone. These normally include paid holidays, pension schemes, healthcare, lunch breaks, sick pay, bonus schemes, flexitime.
Socials
You’re surrounded by people (if you’re in an office) that you can collaborate with. They are there to support you and help you through!
Of course it’s not all plain sailing.
Cons
Working for yourself
Lack of security
The income can be unpredictable which can cause issues. As well as this you will no longer receive employee benefits like a pension scheme or health insurance.
Tax returns
Don’t get me started.
Lack of social interaction
No more coffee chats in the office kitchen (which I loved), or teams drinks on a Friday.
But this doesn’t mean it’s gone forever. You can join new communities and still have a gossip over a coffee with someone new.
Responsibility
It’s all down to you and that’s scary!
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For me, working for yourself comes up on top. Yes it can be risky, but that also makes it exciting. I’m aware I’m only 6 months in so all could change, but having the freedom to decide on what and who I want to work with, anywhere in the world is all I’ve ever wanted. I’m so much more confident than I have ever been in a working environment, taking the risk and just going for it has done me wonders. 🙌
But remember, there’s no right or wrong. Everyone is looking for something different. It’s just about weighing up what is more important to you.
I’d love to hear about your journey and how you got to where you are now. What are your thoughts on working for yourself vs working for someone else? ✨
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