Working Freelance or in a Company?

Riding today I got to hear the Ruby Freelancers podcast talk about business. What stuck out to me was their stance on working for yourself (freelance) or taking a job with company. Each of the hosts talked about freedom being the biggest thing that keeps them working for themselves.

Late last year and early this year I was on full time contract with a WordPress shop. I did the same type of work that I do today, but I just didn't have the lame freedoms with my time. I didn't get to choose my projects and clients. I didn't get to book in how much work I felt like doing. I wasn't happy.

Needless to say I left. I didn't leave because it was a bad company, it just wasn't the right place for me. I learned a bunch about myself. I thought a more stable income was going to relieve a bunch of stress. It was nice to know I was getting paid day in day out, but the stress of not making my own schedule was harder on me then the stress of finances.

That's not to say that I wouldn't take a job with a company again, it'd just be pickier where I'd take it. The most important thing to me at this stage in life is being there for my wife and daughter. Earning money is just one small portion of being a good father and husband. Having time to spend with them is a much bigger part that I missed working on contract.

Even if you don't code Ruby the episode was a great if you are thinking of running your business on your own.