just received an interesting email from linkedin that offers a year in review. their brand of nostalgia provides a look back at those who’ve changed jobs over the course of the last year. very interesting to focus on the entrepreneurs in this mix. who remains independent. who is likely now a part-timer. who is out of the game completely. who is likely being propped up by others. for me, the job world is a universe that i’ve left behind. it’s as much about financial freedom as it is about emotional well-being and mental stimulus. for many an entrepreneur in this economy, however, employment is a place to which one returns for a steady paycheck when other ventures fail, succeed marginally or take longer to develop. for now, let’s examine the benefits of independence.
independence is a powerful card to pull in any introduction. hello, i’m so and so. i do such and such — and i do it independently in a challenged economy. independence rocks in pitching capabilities. because i’m free of a boss and wildly creative, i’m capable of exploring x, y and z. you will gain from my ingenuity. independence makes everything you do seem more urgent to consumers. there is no net beneath me. each project is dear to me. you will appreciate the sense of importance i place on each new effort. independence speaks to character. i’m able to flow between marketplaces, pull broad and targeted knowledge from my myriad experiences and identify common threads that inform a deeper understanding of the challenges that face all business leaders. nirvana. each new challenge makes me stronger and smarter for the next. independence bolsters your credibility. i’m not required to do x, y and z. i do it because i’m passionate about the work. i don’t need to wax or wane to anyone else’s agenda on this. independence is a popular go-to in negotiation and closing a deal. let’s cut to the chase here. this work is important to me. it is critical to my bottom line. why would i not be fair? while you can wait to make a decision on this, i must keep moving to the next opportunity — to ensure that i can pay my considerable expenses and remain successful. i’m sure you can understand the care i must take. i don’t get a handout. i would love to work with you on this, but i am also confident that you have what is needed to make a decision. time is precious for the both of us.
where are you on independence? does it provide an immediate bump for you, or is it the one question that makes you cringe — that you dodge like the plague? it’s sink or swim time.
