Everyone has their own story about why they work from home. What’s mine? It’s not that I dislike office jobs. I could probably tolerate it if I needed to. I just don’t love it. As annoying as it is when I need to stay up late to work on a project because I chose to go to the movies during the day instead, I still love it because that means I have freedom.
It’s About Freedom
Freedom. One thing that drove me crazy about working for someone else is that I always had to ask for the day off unless I called in sick. I had to ask to go on vacation. If they said no, which they often did, I’d have to be faced with a decision. Deal with it, or quit. Finally, I quit. Not because of the vacations but because my husband and I needed to leave town for over a month. After a brief stint with temp work, that was my last time having an employer – eight years ago.
Just Begin
Looking back on it, my first year in freelance writing was a disaster. I was excited. Creative. Eager to learn. Eager ti submit. But, I only made $60. A year of this, and I didn’t give up. And more importantly, I began. I look back at that time and wrinkle my nose. From where I am now, I see all the things I was doing wrong and I want to shout at myself to approach things differently. But I need to remember that I did get started. That wasn’t the end. This is the most important part. I began.
Creativity Meets Business
But the truth is, I’m a little jealous of what I was back then. I skipped through Europe – tiny notebook in hand – and wrote. My husband took pictures on a bridge in a park in London. I wrote. I didn’t worry about a batch of articles I had due. I just wrote. Happily – creatively. When was the last time I stopped to write a poem, shopping bags dropped on the ground around me. I couldn’t wait five more minutes. The walk took ten. I had to write the poem right at that moment. Maybe Germany was inspiring. Maybe my mind was tipped more towards creative and less towards business. That’s probably it. Self Note – try to get some of that free-spirited artist back.
Career for Free Spirits
Oh, I’m still creative. Just in a different way. This is the ultimate career path for free spirits and creative types. But I needed to unlearn some of that – hide it almost. Not because I was ashamed, but because I needed to make room for Business. And that’s what it is. Creative writing is now Hobby, as is travel. Turns out, this is a great career, for people who love to travel.
What Would I do Differently?
Nothing, but I know what I need to change. I can’t completely abandom the Creative Girl with the notebook, nor can I ignore that I am running a business. So… Something to work on, I guess. 
What’s your story? Create a post on your blog and put a link to it in the comments. I’d love to read it!
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