We are all ‘slaves’ to our jobs, it just depends on your mindset

Someone once made an astute observation that even though I was a freelancer working for myself, I was still a ‘slave to my client’.

This, is very true, but not entirely accurate.

NOTE: This is just from my perspective as a freelancer. This does NOT apply to every job OR industry.

NO ONE FORCES ME TO DO ANYTHING

Whatever my client says needs to get done, I buckle down, work the paid 35-40 hours a week and deliver what they need to improve their business.

I do what my client wants, but the difference is I have a choice to do it or not and for any reason, halfway through a project it becomes unbearable —  I CAN QUIT. There is always a clause for them to fire me if I don’t live up to expectations and vice versa.

I can also choose my projects and decide whether I work or not, and these are choices I did not have as an employee. If your company tells you to go to Alaska for 6 months, you have to go, risk being fired or end up quitting for a job that you prefer.

Regardless, they give you the order to go and you may not really have a choice to just up and quit without some planning ahead of time.

In contrast as a freelancer, if someone contacted me to go to Alaska for 6 months, I can decide to go, but charge an insane amount of money, or decide not to take it at all.

That little difference in choice makes a big difference in quality of life and empowerment.

EVERYONE IS A ‘SLAVE’ IN THAT RESPECT

Even people who own their own companies like me, are slaves to some extent.

Any sales = Need Clients/Consumer/Customers = To Get Money

If you have a company that sells anything, then you are a ‘slave’ to your customer/client/consumer.

So without sales or customers, there is no money — then what are you really working for? For fun?

Then it’s a hobby, not a job.

Even non-profits have clients — an obligation to the people they are helping, as a payment for their services and care rendered.

WHAT I REALLY MEAN WHEN I SAY: “A SLAVE TO YOUR JOB”

When I say “slave” to a job, I am talking more about having no other alternative or option for a number of reasons:

• No money saved up to be able to go on unemployment for a period of time
• Debts like mortgages and car loans to pay for that require a stable income
• Being stuck in a job with no career path
• Not being able to leave your job due to lack of available jobs, dying industry, lack of skills, etc

The difference between wanting to do a good job so that you get more clients and keep the ones you have happy, and being forced (in some way) to stay in something you don’t love, is what defines ‘being a slave to your job’.

SO DON’T BE A SLAVE TO YOUR JOB

1. Save up for an emergency fund.
2. Don’t incur quick cash loan debts without a good reason and goal for what you are using that debt for.
3. Stay current and aware of your career path — don’t be pigeonholed into something without alternatives
4. Continue to improve your skills — with education, training, etc