Two weeks ago my boy’s good friend was in town for a work trip and the three of us had breakfast together. His friend asked casually,”So how’s the freelance life? Good and loving it so far? Is it what you really want to do?”
Well, I absolutely loving my job and the lifestyle NOW. I mean, yes I am lucky that I get to work on what I love to do, I can have more than 12 days leave in a year, I have reached the certain amount of income that I set two years ago, I get to spend IDR1.800.000 (RM600++) on my hair which is impossible if I still work as 9 – 5 designer and so on.
But his question did make me think of so-what’s-NEXT? Is this what I really want to do for long term? The answer is NO!
People often says how nice our lifestyle and job is, being our own Boss, yadayada. The truth is, we are no different from people who slaves in their 9 – 5 job. Probably worse. We are the employer (Boss) and employee (slave) at the same time. It’s not a big deal as we’re enjoying the hard-work moment for NOW – which means face the computer for up to 12 hours a day, look for clients, do the design, coding, managing time, managing finance, cover from the start to the end of the project all by ourselves.
Now come the worst part, we are offering service, so when we are sick or away for vacation, no one will be working in the office and the income will be paused until we’re back to work. Bottom line, no work, no income; unless we hire people to do the job but we ain’t ready to build an agency yet. The downside of active income and freelance. No fix monthly income from the Boss and no yearly bonus too. At this point, I’m amazed at how my boy and I managed to travel average 4 times in a year. Whew..
As for now I can afford to face the computer for more than 12 hours a day, at least 72 hours per week, but not in the coming 3 years or when we plan to have Wong junior.
I envision myself to be able to enjoy the motherhood and at the same time having own business line which requires very little time commitment, i.e. not more than 12 hours working-time per week.
Yes, I mean passive income, where I can earn money while sleeping cause the internet is a sleepless world – 24 hours ON! Transaction can happen anytime.
To make it happen, we definitely need to sell our own products instead of offering services for the rest of our life. It could be joint health supplements, beauty products, shoes, anything. We’re aware for the challenges and hard time that will come during the first year or so. We’re so ready for it! After all, what does life mean without challenges and failures?
Well, I’m glad that my boy’s friend threw up that question. It might sound like a casual how-are-you conversation, but it helps me to stop and think of “what’s next?” – an important question that is overshadowed by the boring routine.