Friday, March 27, 2009

Becoming A Contractor Has Its Advantages

By Scott Collinsworth

No matter what your friends and family might say, becoming a professional contractor could be just the thing for you. If you've already learned a trade and have the drive necessary to make a small business successful then you owe it to yourself to at least consider the idea. What follows are six good reasons for becoming a contractor, just in case you need the additional assurance.

1. As a professional contractor that owns his or her own business, the amount of money you can earn is limited only by your vision and work ethic. The sky is the limit when it comes to your potential income. Contrast this with a typical job where your salary has a ceiling no matter how hard you work or how long you've been with a company.

2. Self-employed contractors have the freedom to create and alter their work schedule. If you want to take a two-week family vacation then you can just do it. By comparison, if you were simply an employee for a company you'd probably have to beg or grovel just to get the time off.

3. You have the opportunity to strengthen your body and improve your quality of life. One of the dirty little secrets about corporate desk work is that you more easily gain weight and lose muscle due to a lack of physical exertion. Contractors, on the other hand, spend most of their time being physically active which often results in a leaner body and a healthier cardiovascular system.

4. Self-employed contractors can boast that the result of their work is something truly meaningful. You can refinish hardwood floors or build new shelving in someone's den and know that it will have real, lasting value for that person or family. I'd say that most typical jobs nowadays can't offer you that same level of dignity or satisfaction because they involve the promotion of a dubious product or service.

5. You can talk back to a verbally abusive customer without fear of losing employment. If in the course your business you cross paths with an unsavory character you have the ability to stand up for yourself because there's no boss to answer to. This is in stark contrast to a typical job where you have to hold your tongue, regardless of how much of a jerk the customer is.

6. You'll have a thriving business to pass on to your children and grandchildren. One of the great joys of building a small enterprise is the knowledge that it can one day be a meaningful and fruitful legacy for the ones you care most about. As the business passes from generation to generation it will undoubtedly evolve, but you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you lit the torch and made the whole journey possible.

So those are six excellent excuses for striking out to become a contractor. If you have any level of drive and tenacity then starting your own business is worth pursuing, in my opinion. I don't think it's a decision that you'd ever regret.

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