Freelancing or working in a company: how to understand what really want to do?

We live in very interesting times. People throw their native residence, "their homes" places in cozy offices with cookies and "nishtyak", seeking to increase revenues, not grinding away for 12 hours and in general want to turn into a holiday job. On every corner lurks a manifesto that "Doing what you love, you do not have to work a single day." earnings model and find their own path in life has turned into a simple building - at first look - ligament "startup + Internet Shop + personal blog." Above it all - almost manic confidence that all desired to come, just enough to give his heart and soul and time to his hobby - and from it we can create. "lifework" Is it really so?

Doing what you love most in the world is not enough. You can love reading - but did not monetize a blog about books. You can get involved in snowboarding - but not nearly resemble the pros who earn that participate in the cups and sovernovaniyah. An erroneous formula "hobby you can do your work," not nearly brings us to success in the financial and life independence, about which so many dream makers startups, bloggers and simply "talented slackers" (as he called them my grandfather).

Engage in life can be very, very many; but you can earn only on what you are exceptionally good and ready for what "stick" even more than it did in the office. You're making a big mistake if at school or after graduation go into freelancing after less than a year, even in the company. In this case, your creative and professional way (whatever you do) will become comic and absurd "race" egoist somewhere in the direction of Thailand, where everything is "sit for iPads and make a start. "The young specialist without experience and the ability to more or less self-organization, this approach is able to kill for a pair years old.

Own business is always based on some achievements from the past: Looking deferred funds accumulated skills and knowledge acquired form - unfortunately or fortunately - only in the course of work in companies or large projects. The most valuable asset - a communication that arise in a professional environment, surrounded by employees, partners and customers. These links will be useful for you to start your business, if you decide to do something, "my." By the way, to understand that "You want something his" can only compare the situation on both sides of the "barricades" and applying it to themselves and their relation to work. Not excluded that after working six months or a year or two in the company, you will realize that you actually do not need a start - and that's fine. There is nothing wrong with that work as part of a larger projectIf it fits your current perception of the world and their own professional goals. In another case, the circuit works well, "a couple of years in the company - and then transition to a start / start your own project. "In the third - in general care and consulting work in parallel with several different projects / start-ups. But to understand what exactly you want to do, you can only compare models and the situation in practice.

The only advice that can be given with confidence: Way to Pay always with all the "debts" and try different forms of work. Be realistic, and not just a dreamer who believes that "the business of life" does not require money. Here is a simple example.

Designer Paul Jervis for many years worked as the corporate web designer, on ordinary office paper. He began his career from junior designer and came to the art director. Years of experience have taught him to be "creative" for 8-9 hours a day 5 days a week all year round. Beginning of the road and his career have been linked to the fact that Paul was not afraid to ask questions, not only the authorities, but also to colleagues and subordinates if it something does not understand or did not know. From a certain point, Paul developed a kind of acute hostility to their work and to what he is doing; but the money continued to play an important role in his life, and well-paid job is not so easy to find, especially given the economic crisis broke out then. To smooth the sickening feeling of the corporate routine, Paul began to speak at conferences, attend barcamps industry, often happen in professional "coterie" (despite the fact that by its nature it - introvert).

Withdrawal from the corporate world and start their own business for Paul Jervis did not become painful "fracture" because he has a couple of years before the dismissal has developed an extensive network of acquaintances, interesting and useful contacts, among them were those who were willing to employ Paul and those who wanted to order it design.

In addition to the huge range of potential customers, Paul a decade of corporate work gained a lot of experience in how to properly organize development, to build relationships with customers, manage your time and to consider the budgets / costs resources. From the novice designer, he became a pro, who paid tribute to both the company and the actual process of learning (rather than books and university) Knowledge. And only then he was ready to move on, that have a positive impact on his work as an independent specialist: he became financially independent and in the status of a freelancer, just as they could become, as part of a larger company. If Paul ran "head" of freelancing right out of college, cherishing the dream in your head only "be cool designer" - most likely, it would simply failed or become one of the thousands of faceless "army" would-be professionals, nomadic by freelance online market in search of at least some work.

The above example does not mean that you have to give up her dream and the desire to become independent in life. This little story - just an object lesson that shows that before becoming a freelancer and decide what exactly do with my life, need to work on their own skills, communication, and vision of its place in the life of. And then everything will turn out exactly as you do, as you do.