It’s the 8th anniversary of my self-employment. It’s been a good, steady ride. Most importantly, it’s been a meritorious work experience––every time I work hard, I make lots of money. And I can’t even tell you the money I’ve saved and the hassle I’ve been spared by traveling “off peak”––that alone has been a major perk of self-employment.
Before I embarked on my “solopreneurship,” I worked at the marketing agency, Wechsler Ross & Partners. At that time, nearly all of us on the Creative Team were in our 20s and 30s. We were writers, designers, web programmers, etc. We bloomed with ideas, means of expression and a desire to make an impact.
If I had known then that my Wechsler colleagues would be the last group of friends I’d make en masse––I would’ve rethought leaving.
A major downside to self-employment is the isolation that comes from sitting alone day-in/day-out in my home office (and as a writer, alone in my head). Of course I try to combat my isolation by scheduling lunches with friends, attending professional events in the evening and going to a yoga class rather than just practicing at home with a DVD.
But it’s not the same. Which is why nearly a decade later, I’m still in touch with my Wechsler colleagues, even though none of us work for the company anymore. Whenever I’m back in New York, I pull together a “Wechsler Alum Reunion.” We gather over cocktails to listen to each other’s stories, discuss client projects and reconnect our career paths. To me, they are still the company I keep.
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