Comments on: Take Ownership of Your Career and Your Life

By: Mack

Mack — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wow! You stole my heart with that one! I love that mindset. The last sentence summed it up best:

"In fact, position yourself now so a pink slip could actually be your ticket to a better future."

Thanks. I needed that.

By: Eunice Castaños

Eunice Castaños — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I always thought that self-employment wasn’t for me until I lost my teaching job a year ago…now, my husband and I realize that this is the best time to start our own business in production….recession? What recession?
Unfortunatelly, though, we’re hitting the wall of the Latin mindset in the production business.

By: Zach Pippin

Zach Pippin — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

technically I’m still a student, but I feel like a freelance with the jobs I do in media. I never want to have a “normal” job. Freelance is definitely the life for me!

By: Anthony Peterson

Anthony Peterson — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I freelanced for 6 years. It really makes you think about where you can add value. Its definately a different mindset.

By: Rick Wilson

Rick Wilson — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Great post Phil! I love Seth Godin's ("Tribes") metaphor of being a unicorn in a baloon factory - always blowing up the status quo.

This hits home. My severance package from one of the many shrinking former giants in media has enabled me to spend critical development time in my own business. This pink silp was and continues to be my ticket to a MUCH better future.

There is no substitute for loving God and loving what you do for Him!!

By: Ty

Ty — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Even if I am an employee

I live by the mindset that says, "I will never work for anyone again, I will work with them."

It keeps the entrepreneurial spirit in me.

By: CF

CF — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil, a couple years ago you gave me some very sound advice. It came after I'd been unexpectedly blown up at a tv ministry. I was still pretty mad and bitter about things.

You said: "Get over it. Better to go where you're celebrated, not tolerated." Last add from you was, "the disciples shook off the dust of their shoes from the towns and villages that wouldn't accept what they had to give. Do the same."

Still good advice. Thanks, Phil.

By: Mary Hutchinson

Mary Hutchinson — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Reminds me of the old saying that often the one thing keeping you from a great job is a good job...and it is so true.

The freelance mindset is key, and not sure it can be learned easily. My father was self-employed, and we kids all understood that things waited until "the money bird flew".

Today all four of us are gainfully self-employed. I have often wondered if part of the reason was we were never afraid to not have the steady paycheck, willing to trade steady for the rewards of owning your own gig.

By: cv

cv — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

"Freelancers take ownership of their career and know everything is up to them. They spend time learning about the market, networking, expanding their options, and being more independent."

Yes! A lot of it comes down to how we define what it is we actually do to earn a living; and of course, how that fits into how we define ourselves.

By: Bret Teegarden

Bret Teegarden — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil, I think the same company you left when you were 37 taught me early on not to look to organizations for security – the hard way. I have lived the freelance mindset ever since, for over 30 years now and I have never felt un-secure. Have times always been easy? By no means, but I knew I was the one who could make a difference in my own situation. Not to mention, being freelance allows you to be totally open to what God may have in store. I think all our biblical heros were freelance, weren’t they?