View Yourself As A Contract Worker Not An Employee

While I was working and saving for my trip, I got a great piece or advice from my friend. He said instead of looking at yourself as an employee tied down by your company, look at yourself as a contract worker.

A contract worker is a business. He provides a service and he sets his own price. Think of yourself as Derek Inc. not just Derek. Although there’s no real difference between an employee and contract worker, there’s a perceived difference, which is powerful.

Seeing yourself as a contract worker is effective because it does 4 things:

1. It gives you control. You are the one who now has the upper hand over your employer. As a contract worker, if you aren’t getting paid enough, you move on to the opportunity that pays the most for your time.

2. It lets you escape. If you look at yourself as a contract worker you’ll never feel caught in one company or one career. A lot of people coming out of college fear getting ‘real’ jobs because they don’t know what they want. And getting a job makes them feel like they might be stuck in a career for the rest of their lives.

A contract worker knows that at any time he or she can change careers for something that makes more sense to them.

3. It makes you mind your finances better. As a contract employer, not an employee, you are forced to take better care of your finances. Contract workers know that at any time, it might be difficult to the find the next job. They cannot live paycheck to paycheck like most employees. This is a good thing. Living paycheck to paycheck puts you in a constant state of fear. It’s a minor form of slavery.

4. It keeps you uncomfortable. As an employee you often fall into a zombie-like state of comfortableness. You don’t seek out new opportunities or challenge yourself to gain new skills. As a contract worker you’re always on the look out. You’re always looking to add to your resume to increase your value as a service provider.

Even if you’ve been in a stable job for awhile, you should still look at yourself as a contract worker. You are giving a company your time right now, because that’s the best opportunity for you at the moment. The second something better comes along, you should jump on it, like any contractor would. Fulfill your duties with your current employer, then move onto the new, better, employer.

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I’m headed back to Colombia with a flight to Bogota on Wednesday morning. Once I have a good internet connection I have some sweet videos and pictures to show you guys.