The Positives of Self-Employment [Archive]

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Life_is_Simple

4-18-12, 7:10pm

short commute - about 12 feet
the boss is nice - me ;)
flexible schedule - can listen to my body clock
it's good for the health
very few meetings
no annoying co-workers
can travel to see family, and work while there
certain expenses go way down: clothing, gas, haircuts, food, stress-related medical expenses
can sit outside and work at times :cool:
can save in SEP-IRA
can buy office/computer equipment that is tax deductible
can take a walk outside and think about a project
health insurance is obtainable if you live in MA
can learn from previous self-employment adventures
can make your neighbors wonder if you are independently wealthy or what :laff:
are home to receive packages that you order
flexible dress code
can eat and snack and have tea

CeciliaW

4-18-12, 7:45pm

:thankyou: for reminding me!

puglogic

4-18-12, 8:15pm

I'm sure there is a parallel post out there in the universe with all the downsides of self-employment, but you're not going to get that from me :D

I can add:

I get to work with my dog at my feet all day (great since he's been sick)
I'm the only one who gets to decide how much money I make.
Can work in bunny slippers most of the time.
Can write off a portion of my home mortgage, insurance, utilities, and repairs with the home office deduction.
Don't have to attend any brainstoning meetings :)

cdttmm

4-18-12, 9:43pm

Yes, yes, yes! I love working for myself. :cool:

Cypress

4-24-12, 4:24pm

Would you mind sharing your profession? Is your office set up in a way you can close the door and leave it for the day? I wonder if there is a sensation that you are always at work.

My cats are lovely to behold. However, they do insist on jumping into the middle of anything if I dare focus my attention on say a book, newspaper or comp screen. They usually sit right on whatever it is.

Nella

4-24-12, 6:48pm

I can check the Simple Living forums board anytime during the day that I want without feeling guilty that I'm stealing time from my employer 'cause I am my employer. Of course, any single minute that I'm not at my computer transcribing, I'm not making any money. Maybe I better get back to work.....>8)

Life_is_Simple

4-30-12, 8:23pm

Would you mind sharing your profession? Is your office set up in a way you can close the door and leave it for the day? I wonder if there is a sensation that you are always at work.
I am a statistician who analyzes marketing data, mostly predicting who buys which kinds of products. I have a separate room for an office, and I do close the door when I am done for the day. Is there a sensation I am always at work? Not really - maybe sometimes, if I feel I'm behind on work. I might feel more separation between work and personal if I actually went out and did more personal stuff like hobbies. Actually, when I worked at bad on-site jobs, I felt a lot more of work never leaving my head when I got home. So this is a big improvement over that.

My cats are lovely to behold. However, they do insist on jumping into the middle of anything if I dare focus my attention on say a book, newspaper or comp screen. They usually sit right on whatever it is.
I will sometimes go to my bf's house for a few days, and work from there. I take breaks to play with his kitty. I feel like I get MORE work done taking little fun breaks with the kitty co-worker ;) Though one time she sat on my work papers and took a nap. I couldn't wake her up, she was too cute. ;) So I was done for the day!

Bastelmutti

5-1-12, 1:31pm

catherine

5-1-12, 1:52pm

The only obligation I have to the person paying me is the best work I can do for that project. Money is tied to the work itself, not to time worked.

I welcome work, but if I get a few days' downtime--oh well. At least I'm not boxed into a small finite number of personal/sick days. And at least during that downtime I don't have to show up and look busy.

I decide the parameters of my value proposition.

My phone doesn't ring a lot. I don't get copied extraneously on emails (for the most part).

If I decide to do something different, I won't be held back by golden handcuffs.

Gregg

5-1-12, 3:24pm

Life_is_Simple, you sound almost exactly like me. The only difference is that my boss can be an ass sometimes. !Splat!

Life_is_Simple

5-2-12, 11:48am

Life_is_Simple, you sound almost exactly like me. The only difference is that my boss can be an ass sometimes. !Splat!
You might want to have a chat with your boss about that!:laff:

puglogic

5-2-12, 12:27pm

Life_is_Simple, you sound almost exactly like me. The only difference is that my boss can be an ass sometimes. !Splat!

+1 ! Mine's just a little tyrant.

profnot

5-3-12, 7:32pm

Life_is_Simple

5-5-12, 2:52pm

The main benefit of being self employed is that the best part of my adult life (working years, 5 days out of 7 a week, best daytime hours) are spent building my portfolio, not that of someone who works less hard than I do.

Definitely YES to this one! Oh, and the corollary to this is, not having to do a co-worker's share of work for them.

Plus I really like doing my work.
The other thing I find is, I can CHOOSE what clients to take on and what work to do. I have had some REALLY INTERESTING projects in self-employment. Also, one can choose clients who are really into their own stuff, which makes them fun to work with.
:+1:

citrine

5-7-12, 7:05am

1) I have Mondays off...unless there is an emergency.
2) I have the most amazing clients.
3) I have the most beautiful studio in my home.
4) No emails, no "rush", and no co-worker bs.
5) I get to work on beautifying the house, restoring furniture, and arts and crafts in between clients.
6) I can give myself a raise anytime....usually after I take classes and get more CEU's!
7) I get to help people and directly see the difference the work is making on them.