It’s been almost nine months since my last post here and there’s a good reason for that. I’ve had the most wonderful year of my life: I’ve become a full-time freelancer, I’ve recorded a great album with my band and most excitingly I’ve become a parent!
Taking the plunge
Leaving the world of employment has had a tremendous effect on my life. It’s a struggle to keep the money flowing when you’re your own boss, but for me there’s no better way to keep your life in your own hands. So, if you are stuck in a cubicle and wandering if there’s more to life than that, please do yourself a favor and get busy creating the life you were meant to live. You deserve it!
The lifestyle
Creating a freelance lifestyle and the fact that I choose my work hours has brought me two more benefits: I get to play in a rock band, which has always been a crucial part of my life, and I get to spend quality time with my family, which is a luxury many people today can’t afford, sadly. Frankly, it can be quite a challenge to juggle between work and family, especially when you work from home, but all it takes is some practice and there is a ton of useful information and advice from other freelancers on the web.
The information
Speaking of useful information, here’s a list of websites and books that I found very helpful when I was transitioning to freelancing:
- http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com
Pamela Slim’s blog about leaving the corporate world and starting your own business was my great source of inspiration and support when I was considering escaping my cubicle.
- http://freelanceswitch.com
Freelance Switch is by far the best source of useful advice and resources for freelancers on the web.
- http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog
Steve Pavlina is a personal development expert. His blog is packed with top-notch information about entrepreneurship, business, productivity, wealth as well as personal development oriented topics.
- http://www.sitepoint.com/books/freelancer1
One of Sitepoint’s great books, very easy to read and understand, focused on providing you with useful knowledge about the tips and tricks of freelance business management.
- http://www.careerrenegade.com
Jonathan Fields will teach you how to make a great living doing what you love.
Get involved
I hope you’ll find these sources useful and inspiring. And please don’t stop here – the web is filled with great information. Find freelancers from your area of expertise and follow their blogs or Twitter accounts. Get involved, start your own blog, use the comment section of this post and and share your discoveries with others. You’ll be glad you did 
A true Ki Aikido master avoids conflict at all costs. Fighting techniques are used only if diplomacy fails, and even then the goal is not to harm the attacker, yet to disable him in a gentle and caring way.
