Different strokes
I notice an interesting warring reality between those people with office jobs and freelancers.
(Aside from the fact that many of such will refer to the former as a “real job”.)
For those of you who believe you have a real job, vs. those of us who work in our PJs and set our own hours, let me inflect a little comparison upon you.
A - For many of you clock-punchers, you work 9-5 or 10-6, and are done with work the second that clock strikes. This remains true even if you spent all day on MySpace, or in IM complaining how bored you are. You will get paid for *being there*, and not for your actual degree of productivity.
(Of course, that productivity may determine how long you actually *keep* said job.)
For us without a “real” job, we have not the luxury of said clock. Project to be done? We work until it’s finished. Sure, we may spend our afternoons in coffee houses with lattes on couches, but our work is not done until the task before us is completed. That remains true if we work a 2-hour day, or a 10-hour day. Goofing off only causes us more work.
B - Vacation? Ha! We don’t work, we don’t get paid. Same goes for oddities like…being sick.
I’m interested to know how many of you freelancers vs. traditional-jobbers feel about this. Recently, while out with a friend, I commented I had to head home (it was around 11 p.m., and I had a magazine I was editing on deadline), and she commented, “You work in your PJs, that doesn’t count.”
Note, this is a girl who spends her days shopping on eBay, planning her happy hours, and leaves on the crack of six.
Another friend, who is currently looking for a job, is saying I couldn’t possibly understand her hell because she has to work all day at an office, always on the go.
Yep. Couldn’t imagine!
I believe that a large part of the issue is the difference between those who work for someone else, or are working on something of their own. Further, if you are in a creative industry where head-butting takes place all the time. A huge conflict begins to arise between those who work for the money - and those who work toward something. Whether it’s creating your own thing, or just making a difference (not to sound hokey!), it creates a separation between you and your friend who is just staring at that clock until they get that pay check.
So, share, do many of you go through similar misunderstandings? How do you help your friends and family who are in the dark to see the light?
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Fun fact! Aly Walansky wrote this story just for you on March 16th, 2008 |
March 17th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Many of my friends and colleagues do both (regular 9-5 type job AND freelance work), including myself, so I don’t really encounter said misunderstandings. I have an office job and I do commissioned art work as well as Mary Kay. I have to say that my office job is not as satisfying as my art is or as fun as doing Mary Kay, but I also make a lot more money in my office job.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I know the rules are very different for office vs. freelance. Pros and cons exist in each scenario. I realize frustrations can surmount on either side when misunderstandings occur, but I think the keys to dealing with any differences among friends (be they work-related or cultural) are patience and an open-mind. Having the patience to explain oneself and to listen to the other party, as well as a mind that is open to new ideas and experiences, are equally important in any successful relationship. When all else fails, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and agree to disagree…which can require a great deal of self-control. No matter what, I hope things improve for you, Aly.
*all my love*
xoxo.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:55 am
I’m an IT consultant (it’s a new job) and the company I work for really expects more than 9-5. It’s project work on client sites, and when there’s work to be done, it just needs to be done.
When I’m not on a project, I do professional development, corporate improvement, charity work and the flexibility to work from home.
It’s a busy and demanding lifestyle, not all ‘office jobs’ are cooshy and easy. =P
Also, I started my own jewellery business about a year ago…^-^
March 18th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
i don’t think anyone’s suggesting that an office job is per say cushy… having plenty of experience on either side, i can say they both have their share of stresses and rewards.
i recently made the following comparison to a friend… say your goal is to get a wheel down to the bottom of a hill. in a freelance or small business environment, it feels like you have to figure out what wheel to build, how to build it, how to get it to the top of the hill, which direction to roll it down, and run along behind it the whole time because invariably it will keep falling over. in a bigger company or more corporate structure, you have the same goal, but instead of doing all the work yourself, you need to work within the confines of the system / budget / etc. to choose from the pre-selected, pre-approved wheels, requisition a team (that are probably busy doing lots of other people’s wheel projects) to push it to the top of the hill, hire a consultant who will adhere to the corporate guidelines as to the direction and speed of pushing it down the hill, then meet it at the bottom to prepare a roi (return on investments) summary of the whole affair, all the while having meetings and reports and feedback and red tape and approvals to stay on top of. so sure - scenario a, you are entirely responsible for the whole process. that’s hard work, but there’s something to be said for being in control of your own destiny. scenario b may seem easier in that it’s not all being done by one person, but the responsibility is still on your shoulders and when you don’t control every facet of the process, it’s stressful and frustrating. plus, managing other people around something you care about succeeding is exhausting.
i know some people think one kind or the other sounds easier / more appealing, and my guess is that it’s going to be the one you aren’t doing…
March 18th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
i’ve spent most of my career self employed, but even in my time working for a company, the only thing based on 40 hours a week was my paycheck. i was a construction manager, so there were plenty of 12 hour days, and a taking a sick day meant the world came to a stop. i would often get frustrated by finding out while i was climbing around in an attic, half of my friends were chatting all day and surfing the internet. also, another annoying by-product of this shows up on the weekend, when all of those friends don’t have any money do do anything. the moral of the story is if you have time at work to spend most of the day on myspace, make sure you’re happy because you aren’t going anywhere.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I’m a new freelancer and it is very stressful, both when you’re busy and full of work and especially when you’re looking for work.
I’ve punched a clock and it’s not for me, but to each is own. I can understand the security in a full-time job but there’s nothing like answering to yourself, even if you spend most of your days/nights and weekends working. At least it feels…well…like you’re making a difference. Even if it’s only to your own life.
I’m for whatever makes you happy, just DON’T JUDGE, IT’S NOT COOL!.