Comments on: PROs And CONs Of Going Solo http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/ Knowledge comes from inspiration - one bit at a time Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:57:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Vivien http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/#comment-13497 Vivien Sun, 04 May 2008 07:38:10 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/?p=958#comment-13497 I wish you to find that right balance, Ivan. It's not working that well for me at the moment: after work I'm trying to catch up with my daughter, husband and at the end of the day I'm often having a hard time keeping my eyes open and do some work after finally putting my girl to sleep. So hopefully switching to freelancing full time I'll be in a position to balance career and family better - I'll keep my fingers crossed ;-) I wish you to find that right balance, Ivan. It’s not working that well for me at the moment: after work I’m trying to catch up with my daughter, husband and at the end of the day I’m often having a hard time keeping my eyes open and do some work after finally putting my girl to sleep. So hopefully switching to freelancing full time I’ll be in a position to balance career and family better - I’ll keep my fingers crossed ;-)

]]> By: How To Establish A Successful Online Business Presence » Inspiration Bit http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/#comment-13496 How To Establish A Successful Online Business Presence » Inspiration Bit Sun, 04 May 2008 07:32:01 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/?p=958#comment-13496 [...] since I started thinking of going solo (even before putting it down in writing), I was collecting various ideas for effective integration [...] […] since I started thinking of going solo (even before putting it down in writing), I was collecting various ideas for effective integration […]

]]> By: Ivan http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/#comment-13443 Ivan Fri, 02 May 2008 21:45:55 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/?p=958#comment-13443 Well, I'm currently working full-time job, until that point I was trying to work as a freelance and it didn't worked very well. Although it's good to have a fixed income and not to fear about your paycheck, it's not same as having a choice to choose for which client to work, where or when to work and how to work. I'm trying to make some balance in my full-time job, college and freelance work so I will see where this is going :) Well, I’m currently working full-time job, until that point I was trying to work as a freelance and it didn’t worked very well. Although it’s good to have a fixed income and not to fear about your paycheck, it’s not same as having a choice to choose for which client to work, where or when to work and how to work. I’m trying to make some balance in my full-time job, college and freelance work so I will see where this is going :)

]]> By: Vivien http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/#comment-13381 Vivien Thu, 01 May 2008 08:42:05 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/?p=958#comment-13381 Lauren, you're even a bigger optimist than I am ;-) But of course, I'll be sharing with everyone here what I'll be learning and dealing with as my own boss. Tara, thanks so much for your comment and uplifting advice. All three of your last IFs summarize the situation perfectly. Your first IF is so true nowadays. It seems that no matter where I work, few months after hiring me the company's business spirals down out of control. The companies are closing down almost with the same rate as the new ones appear. So yes, at least when working for yourself, the cards are open and you know what you are and will be dealing with. Lauren, you’re even a bigger optimist than I am ;-)
But of course, I’ll be sharing with everyone here what I’ll be learning and dealing with as my own boss.

Tara, thanks so much for your comment and uplifting advice. All three of your last IFs summarize the situation perfectly. Your first IF is so true nowadays. It seems that no matter where I work, few months after hiring me the company’s business spirals down out of control. The companies are closing down almost with the same rate as the new ones appear. So yes, at least when working for yourself, the cards are open and you know what you are and will be dealing with.

]]> By: Top Best Graphic Design Articles of April 2008 http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/#comment-13377 Top Best Graphic Design Articles of April 2008 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:07:58 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/?p=958#comment-13377 [...] The Pros and Cons of Going Solo - from Inspiration Bit Vivien sums up the best and worst bits about going solo as a graphic designer. [...] […] The Pros and Cons of Going Solo - from Inspiration Bit Vivien sums up the best and worst bits about going solo as a graphic designer. […]

]]> By: Tara http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/#comment-13372 Tara Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:14:02 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/?p=958#comment-13372 Go Solo! I had wanted to go freelance for several years but was always to scare - nice wage safe etc. I eventually made the break and haven't regretted it. I was lucky my partner had a steady job and we haven't got kids so we could have fell back on just his wage if we needed too, but touch wood so far (4 years) we haven't had to. I read somewhere that in some ways its safer working for yourself - •if you work for a company you have no control and don't necessarily know how the company is doing until they make you redundant •If you work for yourself you at least know the financial situation and so can do your best to do something about it when things aren't going so well. If the worse comes to the worse you can always go back to a full time position anyway. Good luck Go Solo!

I had wanted to go freelance for several years but was always to scare - nice wage safe etc. I eventually made the break and haven’t regretted it. I was lucky my partner had a steady job and we haven’t got kids so we could have fell back on just his wage if we needed too, but touch wood so far (4 years) we haven’t had to. I read somewhere that in some ways its safer working for yourself -
•if you work for a company you have no control and don’t necessarily know how the company is doing until they make you redundant
•If you work for yourself you at least know the financial situation and so can do your best to do something about it when things aren’t going so well.

If the worse comes to the worse you can always go back to a full time position anyway.

Good luck

]]> By: LaurenMarie - Creative Curio http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/#comment-13364 LaurenMarie - Creative Curio Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:42:27 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/?p=958#comment-13364 :D Going solo!! I'm looking forward to all the success stories you will have for us! :D Going solo!! I’m looking forward to all the success stories you will have for us!

]]> By: Vivien http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/#comment-13355 Vivien Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:05:49 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/?p=958#comment-13355 Hi Ebele. I'm too glad you found my blog. Hope you manage to keep track of all those different sides of you. ;-) Joey, thanks for your reassuring comment. That's indeed a good idea to mentor someone and collaborate. I might do that once I get too much work to handle myself. The school where I used to teach full time has an internship program, so I could "recruit" a student from there. You guys are all great at convincing me to go solo. :-) Looks like that's what I will do, as soon as I get things resolved at my current work. Hi Ebele. I’m too glad you found my blog. Hope you manage to keep track of all those different sides of you. ;-)

Joey, thanks for your reassuring comment. That’s indeed a good idea to mentor someone and collaborate. I might do that once I get too much work to handle myself. The school where I used to teach full time has an internship program, so I could “recruit” a student from there.

You guys are all great at convincing me to go solo. :-) Looks like that’s what I will do, as soon as I get things resolved at my current work.

]]> By: Joey http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/#comment-13351 Joey Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:24:17 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/?p=958#comment-13351 In following your blog for more than a year now I think you will always be able to find work. Yes there will be slow times and fast times but I think you can remain pretty steady. The comments above have been great. I would like to add one more. You mention in your cons, #4 No more Teamwork that you love working with people. What about trying to find a young person possibly still in school and having them intern with you. For the right person it could be a win win for both of you. You would get a team member to work with plus someone to share the work load. In my day job all of the management staff have people they mentor, it has been very rewarding for everyone and has helped with the growth of the company. Several are now in management with us or other companies. You say you have the support of your husband, an emergency fund and at least one solid client so I say put your ducks in a row and go it solo. Good Luck Vivien! In following your blog for more than a year now I think you will always be able to find work. Yes there will be slow times and fast times but I think you can remain pretty steady.

The comments above have been great. I would like to add one more. You mention in your cons, #4 No more Teamwork that you love working with people. What about trying to find a young person possibly still in school and having them intern with you. For the right person it could be a win win for both of you. You would get a team member to work with plus someone to share the work load. In my day job all of the management staff have people they mentor, it has been very rewarding for everyone and has helped with the growth of the company. Several are now in management with us or other companies.

You say you have the support of your husband, an emergency fund and at least one solid client so I say put your ducks in a row and go it solo.

Good Luck Vivien!

]]> By: 2ThePoint http://www.inspirationbit.com/pros-and-cons-of-going-solo/#comment-13349 2ThePoint Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:34:12 +0000 http://www.inspirationbit.com/?p=958#comment-13349 Hi Vivien I tend to use different names to tap into different sides of me. My real name is Ebele :-) . I used to pass by your blog some time ago. Glad I found it again! take care...here's another hug...on the house... Hi Vivien

I tend to use different names to tap into different sides of me. My real name is Ebele :-) . I used to pass by your blog some time ago. Glad I found it again!

take care…here’s another hug…on the house…

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