{"id":53,"date":"2013-11-07T15:38:00","date_gmt":"2013-11-07T19:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/?p=53"},"modified":"2021-10-19T13:42:46","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T17:42:46","slug":"is-your-steady-paycheck-keeping-you-from-making-the-jump-the-myth-of-job-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/is-your-steady-paycheck-keeping-you-from-making-the-jump-the-myth-of-job-security\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Steady Paycheck Keeping You From Making The Jump? The Myth of Job Security."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By now, if you\u2019ve read my about page<\/a> or some of my first posts, you know that I recently quit my day job to go full-time into freelancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was an amazing, freeing feeling. Having that conversation with my boss, telling my colleagues I\u2019m moving onto better things, feeling in control of my destiny regardless of the uncertainty ahead.Yes, it\u2019s scary. And even though I was immediately happy about my decision, there are those inevitable thoughts that go through your head, \u201cAm I crazy?\u201d, \u201cWhat if this doesn\u2019t work?\u201d, \u201cWhat will they think of me if I have to go back to working corporate sooner than later\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALL THOSE THOUGHTS REVOLVE AROUND ONE SUBJECT: JOB SECURITY.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve gotten several emails from readers about their biggest struggle being just that. \u201cI want to freelance full-time but I have bills to pay and so I can\u2019t leave my steady job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job security. The regular paycheck. Retirement. Being sure you can pay your bills every month and put food on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s just a myth.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A myth to keep us doing things we don\u2019t love day in and day out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve all read stories online about the myth of job security. People getting fired, laid off, companies being sold, etc. But it\u2019s one of those things you think only happens to others- until it happens to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This hit home recently.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I just found out the company that I quit from 5 months ago is moving their office to another country- and laid off everyone that couldn\u2019t come along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crazy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, I felt strange\u2026..like oh, me being able to say that I quit to go out on my own isn\u2019t as exciting anymore because I would have been forced to leave regardless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then I realized how amazing it really is. I took my career into my own hands, learned a valuable skill, and didn\u2019t let some corporation decide my fate.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I got an email from a friend back in the states who\u2019d just been laid off from the startup job she had been in the last 5 years. I remember her talking about the job over the years. And her reason for taking it and staying so long? Well it was a startup, that had a very good chance of selling quickly, which meant big stock payout for her when it did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 years later, it happens. But the stock payout? A couple thousand bucks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is a couple thousand bucks worth 5 years of your life? Not in my book.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, we learn wonderful things in every job we have and I think every experience is a good one- somehow. She now has skills that will help her in finding a new job. But that\u2019s called the rat race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I ASKED A FEW FRIENDS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AS WELL- BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU MIGHT REALIZE:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Torie<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring college I worked my way up at a small publishing house, eventually becoming the assistant publisher. I started designing on the side, to get more experience and to work on projects I wasn\u2019t able to at work, stuff I really liked. The company was doing great in the soaring economy, focusing mainly on real estate agents as clients. As the real estate market collapsed so did this publisher, as each and every egg in their basket was connected to this one industry. The company went bankrupt and I had no \u201cjob\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This took me from a nice little salary to a couple of small design jobs within months. I had just bought a house with my husband and knew it was time to see what I could do. That was 2007 and I have been running my business full time ever since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back on this I see it is the desire to do what you love that brought me to where I am today.  Prior to the publishing house job I worked a full time corporate job, and made really great money, but it was not what I wanted. I left this corporate job, and the raise they tried to give me to stay to follow my heart. Crazypants. Looking back I see I made this leap twice, and both were the best decisions I have made. And it wasn\u2019t always easy, sometimes you have to work hard and endure some struggle to get those things you really want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Torie Mathis, Owner & Creative Director of Epic Creative Studio<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gloria<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSix years ago I made a bold move: I left a long standing full-time job at a seemingly thriving graphic design studio to go freelance. I walked away from prestige, money and perceived security.  I had hit a glass ceiling and knew in my gut that it was time to put my faith in myself rather than someone else\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certainly as a freelancer you have to be willing to ride the ups and downs, deal with your own health insurance and wear many hats. It\u2019s not for everyone. But I can say that for those with resiliency, creativity, self-discipline and trust that the net will appear. It continues to for me. And the irony is that the so-called security at my full-time job, was really an illusion; as the economy tanked, clients left and the agency fizzled and disbanded less than 2 years after I chose to leave. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Gloria Owens, Creative Director, Fish Cat Design<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moral of the story? There is no such thing as job security.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now, I\u2019m not telling you to go out and quit your job tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, do not waste your life in a job for just the paycheck, assuming it will always come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start preparing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn useful skills that you are able to sell on your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build a portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get your name out there, and not just connected to your current job title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do these things to keep control of your own life & career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because job security isn\u2019t all it\u2019s cracked up to be.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you think you\u2019ll never want to say goodbye to the \u201csteady\u201d paycheck- prepare yourself for the inevitable regardless. It might just surpass your \u201csteady\u201d paycheck along the way!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you already want to leave, pick a date. Do everything in your power to get your business booming before that date. And then jump before you\u2019re ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s amazing what will happen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me know in the comments. Is your steady paycheck keeping you from freelance freedom? Do you have a story about getting fired or laid off? We want to hear it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"-Leah\"<\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By now, if you\u2019ve read my about page or some of my first posts, you know that I recently quit my day job to go full-time into freelancing. It was an amazing, freeing feeling. Having that conversation with my boss, telling my colleagues I\u2019m moving onto better things, feeling in control of my destiny regardless of the uncertainty … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}