When I announced I was setting up on my own I got a few mixed reactions. But generally, the question on everyone’s lips was: “Ooooh how are you going to cope working on your own?”
Well, not too bad really! I still have little trips out to offices and work spaces but mostly I’m loving working the hours I want, which helps when I need to pick up my little one from nursery.
Yes, there’s no holiday or sick pay and bonuses but the good does outweigh the bad. If you’re thinking about making the leap too, here’s what you can avoid…
The commute
I can’t count how many minutes I have spent sitting in traffic. Even when setting off at 7am I managed to get stuck somewhere – driving a mere 14 miles into the centre of Manchester. I was never home in less than an hour, even in school holidays.
But when you work in an office where you’re the ONLY one who drives in, while everyone else has a 10-minute tram trip or can saunter in to work on foot with five minutes to spare ’til clock-in, it can be wearing explaining why and where you got stuck everyday.
The non-brew makers
How is it that wherever you work, there’s always someone who thinks they can wangle their way out of a brew round… yet always drink them? Or it’s “Oh I don’t drink hot drinks” as they whizz over to the tap for a water.
This also applies to people who refuse to get in the fruit or snacks or sign up to a rota to buy them yet devour them all. AND are first to complain when there aren’t any.
Home gives me 24-7 access to the fridge. Not that I have some kind of problem… but at least I don’t have to make 8 teas for the price of 1.
Lurgies
Yeah. If you’re ill, be ill at home. Do not come in spreading your diseases and make the whole office feel crap!
“Oh I couldn’t be at home, there’s so much to do here.”
Please do! I wipe enough bogies from my kid’s nose without having to endure my own.
Terrible TV talk
No I don’t watch Love Island. Sorry. No interest at all in a load of desperados with bleached hair, false teeth and orange skin prancing around getting upset about some wideboy with bad hair gel.
And the chances of me having watched it when you ask me again tomorrow or in four weeks’ time? Er, very unlikely.
Christmas parties
With the exception of my last office, all Christmas parties I have been to have been utterly crap and to thank me for all my hard work for the year, I’ve had to cough up for them myself.
Often a terrible yet costly meal with a shocking Barry Manilow – or someone equally scary-looking – tribute in an industrial estate venue so far away from civilisation that Uber haven’t heard of it and when you do manage to flag down a bus, you’ll spend another three hours trying to get home.
Then there’s having to endure the gossip on Monday about what Chris and Georgia got up to behind closed doors. Oh, and they’re both married ‘n all.
Collections
I’m all up for leaving, birthday and maternity presents…. for people I KNOW.
But what about getting passed a birthday card and collection for someone you’ve never met.
Valerie? WHOOOO??
“Oh yeah, you know Valerie, from accounts. She’s retiring soon. Worked here about 30 years.”
And you’re frowned at if you don’t jib in more cash than you’d spend on your sister.
So, there you have it. Plenty of reasons to set up on your own! If you do need a content writer to help you on your way, I’m waiting to hear from you: helen@friedeggmedia.co.uk