Items of Note Regarding My First Week of Self-Employment
I think I’m just as amazed as you people probably are that I actually worked a solid 40 hours. More, if you count the time I spent on my portfolio. Read more for observed positives and negatives after one week.
Positives
- Slippers. All day. And jeans! Oh how I’ve missed jeans.
- To Do lists are to the self-employed as oxygen tanks are to scuba divers (and OmniFocus is a pretty sweet GTD To Do List app).
- Blocked by WebSense Cyber Security? Not here, motherfuckers!
- NSFW? Pfa! I will click the shit out of that link. The number of boobs and grotesque injuries viewed between the hours of 9 and 5 has increased exponentially.
- Exercising during the day is much easier. But I really need to get a mat. On the first day of trying to doing Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred (shut up), I got a splinter in my toe doing jumping jacks.
- Dinner options have become endless. All week, I’ve made things that normally would have required way too much cooking time to be feasible during the week. Today I’m baking bread and rolling out pasta dough for LOST night dinner tomorrow.
- Speakers > Headphones
- Instead of annoying coworkers interrupting me at my desk every hour, I get fuzzy cats instead.
- Ability to get things done around the house is increased exponentially. Just yesterday I started wiring the house with ethernet. It’s only a matter of time before the house has a third floor and a secret tunnel hidden by an inconspicuous bookcase.
- My car is completely covered with snow and so it shall remain because my commute from Bed to The Office requires only the aforementioned slippers.
Negatives
- Getting up is really fucking hard. I did a pretty good job, though. I slept past 9 twice, which sucks, but it was made up by the fact that I got up at 8 twice as well.
- Really, NPR? You decide to pledge drive now? For years, I’ve wanted nothing more than to be able to listen to your broadcasts all day, and the first time I’m really able to, you beg me for money all week.
- Cats are cute, but sometimes I’m actually trying to get shit done and not pet you.
- The work day is never really over. If you were reading all the above wondering how I possibly worked an actual 40 hour week, it’s cause I was on the clock, so to speak, till midnight or so.
- Self-promotion still feels totally weasily (johnhutch.com johnhutch.com johnhutch.com!!!)
In the end, this week fucking ruled. Ask me again in six months after isolation has set in and the work has dried up, though, and you might hear a different story.
Comments
Thanks.. I needed that.. bad!
You forgot being able to take vacation any freaking time you want.
and, unlike a real job.. what you put into it, you get back. You can give yourself a bonus!
Oh… and how about not dealing with rush hour traffic… gas… wear and tear on the car… bleh bleh…
And your cats don’t give you any shit like fellow employees do!
The big questions are, are you getting a paycheck for that 40 hours and are you ever going to be able to go back to an office when the time comes? Going back office life after 4 months of unemployment and 3 months of family leave was a bear.
I hate cats too. also, working on your portfolio doesn’t count towards hours worked.
I picture john being Mr.Mom in a years time
I think the glaring positive to self-employment is that you get to break up those 8 hours of real work however the hell you like.
Sure you worked until midnight, but in between, you were able to get up from the chair for any amount of time to do anything you wanted.
And the boobs.
Talk about things increasing exponentially – my jealousy of you. Green eyed monster and shit.
You weren’t allowed to wear jeans? That’s horrible! At my current job, I think I’ve had to look businessy twice: once during the interview, and once when the investors were creeping around the office.
Anyways, glad to see you working happily, in the comfort of your own home. It really opens up your life. Maria’s been doing it since May, and while she wants to get back to a “real job, eventually,” she’s definitely appreciative of the benefits of finding your own work and doing it on your own terms.
And your cats don’t give you any shit like fellow employees do!
I think there’s probably a box full of it, somewhere about the house.
So how’s this going?
mandy said:So how’s this going?
I think this question would be better asked 3-4 months from now when he has company in the house with him. Loud, screaming, crying, pooping and vomitting company.
Yeah, we will definitely see how it’s going in 3-4 months. But right now? Though I’m no longer self-employed. I’m working full time for a web firm, but still from home. They made me a fantastic offer and it’d be crazy to pass it up. Though, at the moment, one of my projects is a korean-based website, so that means 9:30pm conference calls. SO that kinda sucks, but otherwise, it’s all aces over here.
Kevin said:mandy said:So how’s this going?
I think this question would be better asked 3-4 months from now when he has company in the house with him. Loud, screaming, crying, pooping and vomitting company.
I did not realize I was even going to be visiting John