Riding a Freelancer Horse!
A freelancer is not an entrepreneur.
A freelancer can be an entrepreneur.
Why and how someone decides to quit a salaried job and start freelancing? The answer differs from person to person, but there will be a common reason for everyone i.e. fed up with MNC culture and wishes to lead a life with peace and reputation.
Does, freelancing ensure peace and reputation? Not necessarily. Since freelancers also work for companies and CEOs there will be elements of professional gutters which cannot be completely avoided. Still, the volume of such terrors will be less compared to a regular job.
Freelancers are real warriors in a sense. They struggle a lot to search and find opportunities, likely to compromise on many aspects like getting payment done (I myself have lost almost half of the money I worked due to unfaithful clients. I take it as experience though.) Still, considering the freedom and flexibility it offers, freelancing is an apple of the eye.
A freelancer, after winning a few good clients can be an entrepreneur too. It depends on their guts and willingness to grow beyond a regular life. In my case, I don’t want to be an entrepreneur, but I do share assignments when feels like overloaded. This way a semi-entrepreneurship develops and the network thus created builds a strong foundation.
After decades of work experiences with MNCs what a freelancer pockets is knowledge, understandability, time management, soft skills and of course professionalism. These qualities make a freelancer more than an employee in any organization. A matured professional is worth approaching than an employee who nods to every word ordered.
These are my random thoughts and likely to update as I gain more experiences as a freelancer.
Have good day Freelancers!