Thankful for self-employment success | Dec 06th 2007
Salary.com’s 2006/2007 Employee Job Satisfaction and Retention survey reported that over 60% of people plan on looking for a new job over in next few months. It’s really no surprise to me that so many people are unhappy with their jobs.
A couple of weeks ago I addressed how I no longer accept certain projects because they make me miserable. I’m much happier that I made that decision and have been able to focus on projects I enjoy.
But it’s not just the type of projects I maintain that contribute to my overall happiness. It’s the industry I’m in which continues to amaze and surprise me, the people I work with and meet each and every day, the ability to work remotely, the fact that I’m constantly reinventing my job and the incredible opportunities that cross my path.
So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here’s that list again with a bit more gratitude.
I’m thankful for:
- My clients – I have a fresh roster of interesting clients all of whom are enthusiastic about working with me now and moving forward in 2008.
- My industry – I stumbled into online marketing in 1997 when I barely understood the implications of banners and search engines. Now, nearly 11 years later, I’m still learning new things and I’m very grateful to be in the thick of it.
- My Colleagues – I have as diverse and interesting a group of colleagues as anyone can want. I work with people in Manhattan, San Jose, Seattle, Florida and England. I’d never have met any of these people if I was stuck at one company full-time.
- My House – I’d be remiss in saying that I wasn’t grateful for my home, which is also my office. I’m thankful that I can make a decent living right here where my kids play, and my husband bakes and the trees look so gorgeous in the fall.
- My Flexibility – I’m taking most of Thanksgiving week off and plan to take a week off in December for the holidays. I’m doing this without apology and without asking permission – and for that I am extremely thankful.
- And finally, I love the constant flow of new opportunities that comes from being self employed. The projects and clients that have crossed my path in the years since I’ve been on my own keep me enthusiastic, inspired and, above all, thankful.