Whenever I talk about my days in the corporate world, there is always a tinge of reminiscing about my colorful past.
Not that I’m not loving my life now, given that I can manage my time and choose the type of jobs I want as a freelancer, my growth is exponential. But there is a huge jump between working for someone and working for your own.
Here are 5 things I missed when I left the corporate world
Regular Income
Money is one thing I sorely missed when I left my cushy job for freelancing. Starting out as a fresh freelancer is rocky and money isn’t always flowing regularly. Now that I have my own stream of clients, Income is a lot better but I can’t let my guard down because there are always some days that assignments just don’t come in at all, no matter how much you canvass. Jumping the gun and getting anxious will just make things worse.
My Own Office
This might sound frivolous but I love having my own office. Currently, I work in a home office shared with my husband. It is a nice space but because it is shared, I do have to put up with his blasting of music sometimes. Not really conducive to writing. One of the jobs I had, I had a tiny room that just fitted with one small desk with the chair barely had any room to maneuver but the view from my ceiling to the floor window is awesome. I was at 18th floor so I have a clear skyline view of the city.
Another thing about your own office is that you actually get out of the house. When you are away from home, you don’t have to face the piling dishes in the sink, the mountains of laundry and wailing of a bored baby. You can actually concentrate on the task at hand – your work.
Although, yeah, I hate the commute too.
Colleagues
Ah, the good, the bad and the ugly. But seriously after 3 years of talking to my cats and my baby, I kinda of miss holding a proper conversation with an adult on a daily basis. I even missed the gossips. Not the malicious ones, of course. Sometimes, I’m so hungry for good adult conversation (other than mommy chats), I’ll attack my old colleagues and ravish them. Muahahahaha!
Appraisal
Everyone I know dread appraisals but I really think that appraisals are a good thing if it is done professionally and properly. It forces people to think about what they have achieved for the past year and as well as other coworkers’ accomplishments when they are evaluating them.
As a freelancer, you don’t get much feedback. And because it is run like a business, you only get to know if you are good through the number of clients coming back to you. But it can mean a lot of things – like it can be because my service is cheap or they are lazy to hunt for another writer. It doesn’t necessarily mean you are good.
Milestones
I’m talking about promotions. No such thing if you are working for yourself. Of course, to see your bank account growing fatter by the minute is one way to count as milestones. I do set my own personal milestones so I can challenge myself over and over again. I can never see myself being completely complacent. But it isn’t the same glory as a well-deserved promotion.
So you are a freelancer, do you miss anything from your previous jobs? Or if you are an employee right now, what do you think you’ll miss if you ever leave your job to stay at home?
Come and share with us your thoughts.
If you enjoy reading about freelancing, boy, have I got some articles for you here:
Don’t Forget Freelancing Is About You
7 Ways To Supplement Your Freelancing Income Regularly
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MiddleMe 
All good points that I’ve also noticed and considered. Many of them can be replaced, to an extent, I think. I’ve found freelance work that is regularly available, I’ve sought out other writers through critique groups, and I guess that appraisal comes in the form of feedback from clients (we could even ask for it if it’s not freely given:) I agree, that we can, and should, set our own personal milestones and goals. Sharing an office space is a tricky one. Maybe staggered work times?
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Haha. Good walkaround! Yes, many can be replaced. I’ve a few stable regular clients that provides me with a stable income as well. But I do find that feedback from clients are very subjective. They don’t necessarily feedback in the way that to help you grow stronger.
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It was a great read and too practical. Loved it!
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Thank you so much and welcome to MiddleMe!
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Great Post Kally!
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Thank you very much! Good to see you here again.
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Regular income..becoming dependent on a regular income can become an addiction, when the source of addiction is gone, bad things can happen… 🙂
Your own office.. A place of creativity by your own hand, mind and heart, a place many people dream of but do not have… 🙂
Colleagues… you have a multitude of colleagues with a multitude of ideas and dreams, just start typing.. 🙂
Appraisal… if you were not good at what you do, you would not be in business and this conversation would not be taking place… 🙂
Milestone; everyday is a milestone because every morning you wake up on the green side of the grass and share your gift with the rest of the universe, somewhere making someone’s day a little better… 🙂
“The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt. “ Frederick Buechner
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This is soo trueee !
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there’s also how so many decisions that are easier when someone else is making it & using their money to gamble on whether that purchase or expansion is worth gambling on
it helps to remind myself that I can always go back — nah — LOL
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Lol. And sometimes it is also easier when you know it is not your business at the end of the day.
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🙂
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Hi, I can related to your post here. I resigned from my cushy job 8 years ago to travel the world and I also missed many things.
I always tell myself that- I follow my heart and destiny and it will lead me to a better life.
I wish you all the best in the future
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Yes, I always listen to my heart but with a pinch of nagging gut feel from my mind too. Haha.
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ha..ha.. likewise. me too:)
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I miss my colleagues most and the regular income but as long as I have enough time for my spiritual life , I’ll always be contented. It was fun working in a corporate environment
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Me too! I do miss my ex-colleagues. It’s not the same when you’re looking in from outside.
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good medical benefits I can’t imagine not having mine..
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Ah that’s true. In my country, company’s medical care is not as good as your own personal one. Hence, I always make sure I’m covered either way plus wedging in the spousal coverage from my husband too.
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I miss all of these with a regular income being the first one. The most problematic thing is, you can’t take a long-term decision as you don’t actually know how much amount will be deposited there in your bank account the next month or after six months.
I hated the commute as well but having an office at home means I’ve to deal with household problems every half an hour or so.
Freelancing has its advantages but the points you’ve mentioned are absolutely true.
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I know, right? Even the thought of buying a car or anything that tag with a loan will take some serious considerations. I can’t work when my child is awake. It means constant supervision. The only thing I can do is to squeeze in precious time here and there and in between housework.
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I know the situation very well…
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