How a freelance role offers what most traditional jobs can’t: Career satisfaction

This morning, I was on the phone with a friend who lost her corporate job around 9 months ago, thanks to some restructuring. She has since launched a wildly successful embroidery business. We were comparing our current workloads, discussing childcare plans for the fall, and talking strategies to squeeze in just a little more work throughout the week.

As we talked about work, she made the comment, “You know, I thought I didn’t want to work and just wanted to stay home [with my baby]. I realized I do want to work—I just want to do it on my own terms.”

She put into words the reasons why millions of people are choosing independent work over the traditional 9-to-5. Freelancing comes with its own set of challenges, of course, but a growing number of people are realizing that the freedom to work on their own terms matters more than almost anything else.

Let’s talk about why people are choosing freelance work over traditional corporate jobs and how you can design a financially and personally fulfilling freelance career.  

The career satisfaction crisis

Recent research tells us that today’s workforce isn’t satisfied with their current 9-5. People want more than a steady paycheck—they want flexibility and the option to do work that feels meaningful.

I belong to some working parent discussion groups, and I’ve seen the same question pop up again and again lately: How much of a pay increase would be worth returning to the office full-time? The consensus is usually at least 30%, though some group members wouldn’t consider it for anything less than 50%. These aren’t the thoughts of some small segment of people on a comment board. Fifty-nine percent of people say that flexibility at work is more important than their salary or other benefits.

According to MBO Partner’s 2024 State of Independence Report, change is in the air.  In just 4 years, the number of full-time independent workers doubled, going from 13.6 million in 2020 to 27.7 million in 2024. And these independent workers thrive.

• 84% of full-time independent workers say they’re happier working on their own
• 65% of independent workers feel more secure in their role
• 79% agree that working on their own is better for their health

Here’s the kicker: Only 52% of independent workers make more money working on their own.

According to the report, “Over the past decade, the traditional social contract between firms and workers has undergone significant changes. The traditional social contract was an implicit agreement in which employees exchanged loyalty for job security, stable career progression, and benefits, often including a guaranteed pension.

However, job security no longer exists, benefits, including retirement and health benefits, have been cut back or eliminated, and the mutual loyalty between organizations and their employees has eroded.”

No wonder people increasingly turn to independent work.

Why good jobs feel bad

Many things look promising on paper but often fall short in reality. That $79 flight that ended up closer to $200 after all the fees. The New Year’s resolutions that fell flat by January 15th. The 20-minute sheet pan dinner that took three times as long.

It turns out, traditional corporate jobs often fall on that list as well.

The term Sunday Scaries was coined for a reason. Even if your employer holds up their end of the traditional social contract, providing you with a good title, decent pay, and job stability, you can still feel dread at the start of another workweek.

Job satisfaction isn’t just about extrinsic rewards, like money. It also depends on whether the work is intrinsically rewarding. Only 47% of traditional employees believe their job fits with who they are as individuals. A freelance career, where you can choose every aspect of your work, allows you to choose work that completely aligns with your core beliefs and mission. It’s hard to turn down that freedom.

Freelance = complete autonomy

Research shows that having control over your work environment and decisions triggers positive neurochemical responses in the brain. When you have a genuine choice in how you work, your brain releases dopamine and reduces cortisol—more happiness, less stress.

The complete autonomy that comes with freelancing doesn’t just mean you can work in your pajamas. It impacts every aspect of your work, allowing you the freedom to:

• Choose what projects you work on and which clients you work with.
• Design your ideal work environment.
• Set your own flexible schedule without coordinating with a team.

Of course, freelancing still comes with constraints. You have deadlines to meet, meetings to attend, and clients who might ask you to use specific tools. But there’s a key difference: you still have negotiating power. You don’t have to automatically say yes to every request. You can evaluate requests and push back when something doesn’t work for you.

The shift from compliance to negotiation is what gives freelancers their true autonomy.

Three actions for long-term freelance career satisfaction and success

Building a freelance career that’s both financially and personally fulfilling requires intentional decision-making. Here are three tried and true principles that have helped millions of independent workers thrive.

1. Build a diverse client roster

One of the main benefits of freelancing is that your eggs aren’t all in one basket. There isn’t a magic formula to determine how many clients you should have, but many freelancers may take on anywhere from two to 10 clients.

Maintaining a diverse client roster has two benefits. First, it’s mentally stimulating. You’ll likely perform different tasks for different clients, breaking up the monotony of your day and allowing you to develop relationships with various teams. Second, it provides greater financial stability. Even if you lose a client, you have income from the rest of your work to sustain you until you fill the gap.

2. Stop trading time for money

When you equate time to money, you limit yourself tremendously. The 8-hour workday doesn’t involve eight hours of focused work; in fact, experts estimate that most thought workers are truly productive for 3 hours a day. You can’t bill clients for the time you spent building your brand on LinkedIn or completing a new course on using AI to improve your business. You’re just not going to reach 40 billable hours a week unless you’re working 50-60 hours a week.

As you grow in experience, consider switching from hourly rates to value-based pricing. You can also use your knowledge to create courses, books, and other products that you create once but sell again and again. Not only do these resources act as passive income streams, but they also reinforce your expertise and allow you to increase your value-based pricing.

3. Set clear goals

Long-term success comes from setting clear goals and staying on track. As a freelancer, it’s easy to get caught up in what you’re doing day to day, so focused on what’s right in front of you that you forget to plan ahead for the next month or upcoming year.

RescueTime’s customizable goals and alerts help freelancers define their objectives, receive reminders, and track their progress, ensuring continuous growth and fulfillment in their careers.

Finding fulfillment in freelancing also means looking beyond the money

Back in March, I met up with a friend to share a quick lunch for her birthday. After we ate, she and I talked while my kids wore out the indoor playplace.

I shared with her that I was feeling professionally behind. I wasn’t feeling successful enough, knowledgeable enough, or any other enough that proves you’re the best of the best. And once I finished my tirade, she kindly set me straight by saying, “You’re at Chick-fil-A on a Thursday morning watching your kids play. You’re exactly where you always wanted to be.”

It’s a perspective I revisit again and again because she was right. We’ve all been taught that success is about moving up the ladder, proving your perfection, and landing in the 1%.

But it’s not. We can’t all be the best at all that we do—that’s not how percentiles work.

To find career satisfaction as a freelancer, you need to determine multiple indicators of success, including:

• Financial: Do you have stable income and the ability to grow your income over time?
• Personal: Does your freelance career fit into your personal life? Or are you shaping your personal life around your work?
• Professional: Do you feel professionally satisfied? Are you getting enough opportunities to develop new skills?
• Social: Do you feel like what you do makes a difference? Do you have strong relationships with your clients?

By taking a holistic view of your freelance career, you have a clear picture of how independent work has changed every aspect of your life.

Making the transition: A step-by-step action plan

If you’re ready to make the leap from your corporate role to independent work, here’s how to get started.

Phase 1: Prepare

Complete an honest assessment of your marketable skills. On Upwork alone, there are freelance jobs listed for accounting, project management, customer service, data analysis, design, engineering, IT, sales, mobile development, writing, and more. I have a close friend who left her job as a public school art teacher to host art camps for the community. You can transfer your existing strengths or consider what new skills you can develop.

This is also the time for some financial planning. How can you build a financial cushion that carries you through the beginning of your new career path? Most financial advisers suggest saving enough money to carry you 3-6 months.

Phase 2: Create a foundation

You know how they say prep work is most important when you’re painting a room? The same is true for your transition to independent work.

Start freelancing while you maintain your current job. It’s one of the best ways to determine if independent work is feasible. This usually involves taking small, lower-paying jobs while you build your portfolio. Reach out to industry connections and let them know about your new pursuit. Even if people don’t have work for you, they can often offer references to people who do.

Before you make your large-scale launch, build your systems for working with clients. This doesn’t require anything fancy, but having some key processes in place communicates professionalism and trustworthiness. Create a basic contract, decide how you’ll invoice clients, and choose a system for tracking projects (like RescueTime).

Phase 3: Make the transition

Once you have 2-3 steady clients that provide 50-75% of your current salary, it’s time to take the leap!

Even if it’s tempting, don’t burn bridges. Give your notice and plan a professional exit that maintains relationships and references. You never know where future projects could come from—including previous colleagues!

Conclusion

Let’s be clear—freelancing isn’t right for everyone. It requires you to constantly adapt and develop your skills so you can stay relevant. You have to be open to at least a low level of networking to maintain strong relationships with your clients and get referrals for future work. It’s not sustainable without the discipline to keep yourself on track and the adaptability to wear all the hats of a business owner.

But there’s no doubt that if a freelance career is what you really want, you have what it takes to make it happen. When you succeed as a freelancer, you know it’s because of your skills and efforts. That powerful sense of accomplishment is something you don’t always get from a traditional corporate job.

The best time to start freelancing was yesterday. The second-best time is today.