Many of us started working in the corporate world much by following convention without question. You graduate, you find a job in a company. It felt like the natural thing to do simply because almost everybody was doing it. But now, after a couple of years toiling away at a 9 to 5 (9 to 9 job for some), you're beginning to question the wisdom of remaining in your job. It's not what you love doing, the politics are a pain, the stress and the hours are increasingly demanding, and you're starting to feel disillusioned and bleak about the future. You're sick of waiting for the weekend for your life to begin.
If you're exhausted with the corporate world, you're not alone. There are over 40 million people in North America today who have left the corporate world to become freelancers, independent contractors, or small business owners. More and more I speak to here are also doing the same or are thinking of taking this road. It's becoming an increasingly viable option as more and more companies these days are outsourcing projects and hiring part-time or freelance employees.
It's a natural progression I suppose, as we become more and more affluent, educated and self-aware that we would demand more from life, more from our work, more from our opportunities. We no longer just want job security or money; we want to be passionate about the work we do, we want to express ourselves more and make a difference in this world. We want to live our lives on our own terms and on our own time. We want to savour more of what this world has to offer - travel, write, dance, sing, compose poetry, volunteer at a charity or animal shelter, spend more time with our family, sail a ship, fly a plane, climb a mountain.
All these infinite possibilities are there we realize, but they usually require a departure from a regular desk-bound job. Not to mention a truckload of guts to take that first step. But make no mistake, many people are doing this successfully and you can too. But before you do, make sure you do your homework. Get the resources you need - books, seminars, workshops. Talk to successful or other aspiring entrepreneurs. Work out your finances and budgets. Identify your core skills and key markets. Hone your craft, make more calls, network! Be your own unstoppable PR machine!
Remember, you have a right to discover your passion, live your purpose, and enjoy the profits and happiness that comes with living your dreams!
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
