This comment is a nice reminder of how good my current clients are - especially regarding their comfort with asynchronous communications.
Finally: Don’t underestimate how good a stable, big company job is right now. Freelancing isn’t really the easy money that some people make it out to be, especially if you’re not actually free during the day because you have a job.
I am acutely aware of how much more money I could be making if I chose to work at a big company at the moment. Much better benefits, too.
I've ended up taking the perspective that consulting is a route where I can trade earning more money for having more control over my time. My current clients don't care that I dedicate half of my working hours to building and marketing the job site I'm working on. I get their deliverables done on time, on budget, and (importantly) right the first time. That's something they've had a hard time finding, and it shows in their willingness to accept my (relatively high) hourly rate.
Aside from non-compete and generally unenforceable "ownership of work during your own time" clauses in my employment contract, I'd say I have quite a bit of control over my time. Nobody cares what I do throughout the day as long as I deliver my stuff on time.
As an employee I continued to run into people assuming I should be available from 9-5 and that I should take a similar number of vacation days as the rest of the team.
It seems like there was always some resentment toward the guy who leaves the office at 2:00 and take 30 days of vacation as an employee regardless of his salary or productivity.
Finally: Don’t underestimate how good a stable, big company job is right now. Freelancing isn’t really the easy money that some people make it out to be, especially if you’re not actually free during the day because you have a job.
I am acutely aware of how much more money I could be making if I chose to work at a big company at the moment. Much better benefits, too.
I've ended up taking the perspective that consulting is a route where I can trade earning more money for having more control over my time. My current clients don't care that I dedicate half of my working hours to building and marketing the job site I'm working on. I get their deliverables done on time, on budget, and (importantly) right the first time. That's something they've had a hard time finding, and it shows in their willingness to accept my (relatively high) hourly rate.