Thinking Outside The Cubicle
Peter Gibbons, the character in “Office Space”, famously quipped “Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about mission statements.”
That was in 1999; and with self-employment on the upswing, Gibbons could be considered somewhat prophetic.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of self-employed people reached 12.2 million in 2003, an increase of 6 percent from 2000.
The most important thing to remember is that becoming a cubicle expat is not an overnight process. “You have to set a plan in motion both about what are the professional and financial steps you need to take to make the leap from a steady paycheck to full-time freelancer,” says Michelle Goodman, a seasoned freelancer who has dabbled in all things non-9-to-5, including temping, telecommuting, part-time work, flex-time work, and self-employment.
But how do you know if it’s time to flee the cube and join this growing demographic. Goodman says the telltale sign is when you can’t devote the proper amount of time to your 9-to-5 job. “When your side gig starts taking up 20 hours a week or more, it’s time to re-think your employment situation.”
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Photo by lib.store.yahoo.net.
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