How many times have you thought about freelancing, but never pursued it? Perhaps you want a side gig, or you\u2019ve been curious about quitting the corporate world all together to start your own thing\u2026but fear is holding you back from making the switch. You\u2019re not alone.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As a career coach to millennials, I\u2019ve witnessed time and time again how nerve-racking it can be for my clients to quit what feels like a \u201csafe\u201d job and move into freelance work. But you know what? Once they take the plunge, they rarely look back. While it isn\u2019t for everyone, freelancing can be the perfect career move for some professionals, and I love suggesting it as an alternative to pursuing another full-time gig.<\/p>\n

Freelancing is becoming more and more commonplace and feasible across a variety of industries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that\u00a053 million Americans earn income freelancing, which is approximately one in three employees. While it takes dedication and can be a major lifestyle adjustment, there are a ton of perks associated with being a freelancer, the flexibility being a big one. Like anything, freelancing has its downsides too (like paying for your own health insurance), so be sure to weigh everything carefully before diving in.<\/p>\n

Here are three reasons why it may be time to step outside of your comfort zone and give freelancing a try.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Technology has made it easy.<\/strong>When was the last time you tried to find a seat at a popular coffee shop on a Monday morning? Chances are, you encountered a lot of people behind their laptops, enjoying free wifi along with their pick-me-up. Technology has made it super feasible for freelancers to work remotely, anywhere from a local cafe to a beach in Bali. You no longer need a home office or fancy setup \u2014 just wifi. Depending on your profession, most work can be done easily on mobile devices.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like more structure or worry about getting lonely, you can rent an office or hot desk at one of thousands of co-working spaces worldwide. This is also a great way to network and meet others with a similar lifestyle. You may even earn some new business along the way.<\/p>\n

2. It\u2019s a growing industry, and the work is there.\u00a0<\/strong>Demand is up, and the number of freelancers is on the rise. A study conducted by Intuit predicts that\u00a0by 2020, \u201cindependent workers\u201d will comprise 40% of the total workforce, including freelancers, contractors and temps. While many jobs work well freelance, there are some that are more popular than others. According to\u00a0Upwork\u00a0(a popular freelancing site you should check out),\u00a0some of the fastest growing freelance skills\u00a0are: bitcoin, Amazon DynamoDB, media buying, and video editing. These are just a few skills in a world full of possibilities. It isn\u2019t too late to join in!<\/p>\n

3. You get to be your own boss.\u00a0<\/strong>Do you love yourself? Good. Think of yourself as a business of one. Gone are the days when you have to report into someone else, or worse, work for someone you don\u2019t like. You are in charge of your time, your clients, your schedule. All of it. While this may come as a challenge for some, it\u2019s actually quite wonderful.\u00a0You<\/em>\u00a0get decide which clients you\u2019ll accept into your virtual space and when you\u2019re on and off the clock. Want to take a yoga class at 10am and then log back in from your local cafe, kombucha in hand? Dying for a\u00a0three week jaunt in Paris? Go for it. You make the rules in the freelancing world.<\/p>\n

Still not convinced? Try freelancing on the side, without quitting your current gig, to see how you like it. It requires discipline and hustle, but if the idea appeals to you, I say go for it. The worst thing that can happen is that you go back to working how you did before. If you aren\u2019t taking action purely out of\u00a0fear<\/em>, it\u2019s time to shift your mindset,\u00a0brush up your LinkedIn profile, and test the waters.<\/p>\n

Freelancing is easier to do than ever before. Now is the perfect time to test out being your own boss.<\/p>\n

What are you waiting for?<\/p>\n

Source: Forbes<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"