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Making the jump to freelance/consulting

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Blake Pawlikowski Founder | President | Lead Consultant| Pawski Consulting Huntley, Il, United States
I'd like to hear from anyone that went from a permanent position and decided to do freelance or start their own consulting business. What were the biggest challenges? What made you decide to make the change? What advice would you have for someone considering a similar change?
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Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
I was in both sides of the desk. It will depend on the market where you are working today. Because market characteristics along the years I passed from consulting to permanent position. If you have you own firm then you have to think about you are responsible for people that are working with you too. Obviously it depends on you way to do things. Some people will not agree with me and it is right.
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Blake Pawlikowski Founder | President | Lead Consultant| Pawski Consulting Huntley, Il, United States
Thanks, Sergio. Working for myself is something I've daydreamed about for a long time, but never have been in a position where the uncertainty was worth leaving something comfortable (including now). Makes sense that local market would impact the situation significantly. I would imagine someone making the change to freelance/consulting would spend a considerable amount of time networking and looking for opportunities. Or is it more common for people to take short term contracts?
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Oct 06, 2017 5:00 PM
Sergio Luis Conte
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In my personal experience is about the risk you are willing to accept. And here comes the market consideration too. Let me say, you are your own company so to start the business you need to analyze the macro and micro environment and you have to analyze your personal situation too. For example, in my country Argentina, all related to legal regulations make not too easy to start your own firm. But if you take short term contracts to work with other firms then the situation change. As you imagine, between the inherent risks, there is an important difference into the amount of money you can earn in one situation of another.
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Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
Oct 06, 2017 4:53 PM
Replying to Blake Pawlikowski
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Thanks, Sergio. Working for myself is something I've daydreamed about for a long time, but never have been in a position where the uncertainty was worth leaving something comfortable (including now). Makes sense that local market would impact the situation significantly. I would imagine someone making the change to freelance/consulting would spend a considerable amount of time networking and looking for opportunities. Or is it more common for people to take short term contracts?
In my personal experience is about the risk you are willing to accept. And here comes the market consideration too. Let me say, you are your own company so to start the business you need to analyze the macro and micro environment and you have to analyze your personal situation too. For example, in my country Argentina, all related to legal regulations make not too easy to start your own firm. But if you take short term contracts to work with other firms then the situation change. As you imagine, between the inherent risks, there is an important difference into the amount of money you can earn in one situation of another.

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