The New Way To Work: Opening Up New Possibilites

In recent months, vivid memories of my childhood began to flood my mind. I grew up swiveling my hips in the living room, dancing to routines glamorized by once idolized pop bands I am now too embarrassed to name. I was quickly exposed to the term: American Dream. I wanted to be a bona fide pop celebrity like them. I would perform in front of multitudes of fans; pyrotechnics and strobe lights would consummate the stage.

There was just one flaw in my grandiose plan: I had neither the looks nor body for it. Fan girls and confused teen boys would not appreciate the sight of a half dressed me. I couldn’t exactly carry a tune either. To moonwalk for me is to totter backwards. Not exactly a recipe for overnight stardom, one would say.

More importantly, I wasn’t raised in the Western world; I’m an Asian looking to make his mark in a world of Caucasians. I had to come to grips with reality and tuck my American Dream away in a little box.

Until now. In between the confusing transitions of puberty and adulthood, I found my true calling: Humor writing. I always knew I had a natural flair for comedy. It is my gift, and it is one that I wanted to share with the world – “world” being the operative word. Carving a niche for myself and transcending geographical boundaries didn’t seem possible in the past, but now it is.

Herald the new way to work. I am still a neophyte – three months and counting – but I’ve made an enviable income out of freelancing online. In fact, it’s the biggest pay check I’ve ever received to date, and trust me, I’ve been around.

While the concept of freelancing online shouldn’t be too farfetched to the younger generation, the older generation just can’t seem to wrap their minds around it. Freelancing online is the antithesis of a steady job. To them, having a job means the need to report to an office by a stipulated time, dress up in smart and presentable office wear and work long nights.

My working style is quite the opposite.

The minute I roll out of bed, I make a beeline for my computer and begin work. This is not to say that I’m a workaholic; rather, I am just too lazy to commute to work. Sure, I still work well into the night as I used to, but that’s because I’ve packed too many social activities in the daytime. I am usually dressed in my silky pajamas (don’t laugh) as I plug away at my computer. While others countdown to their two-week vacation days, I have a vacation year.

So, really, my job defies all traditional beliefs. It seems as if I have no job security. Is what I’m doing even considered working? Well, I do get paid (a lot) for the services I render, so I’m guessing yes. In fact, I beg to differ when someone says I have no job security. I can’t get fired; the only person who has the kind of authority over me is me. If that doesn’t spell job security, I don’t know what does! In times of an economic crisis, I don’t have to scamper, do extra work and fawn over my bosses just to ensure that my job is safe.

These are the little perks when you freelance online. Incidentally, I’ve forgotten the last time I held a pay check in my hands, taking the trouble to cash it and waiting for the amount to appear on my bank account. It really gives meaning to the term “working HARD for money”. That’s probably the only thing I miss since my career switch: holding money in my hands.

Let me preface this by saying I am not a risk taker. Like most people, having a steady stream of income comforts me. However, my beef with working for someone who hands you a pay check is that he wouldn’t appreciate your innate talents. All bosses really care about is whether the job gets done. Sure, they would come forth with their sporadic compliments, but at the end of the day, grooming your talents isn’t exactly on their agenda.

Even if it is, they would need to have the right opportunity and resources to do it. You could be waiting for years for such an opportunity. Most of the time, you would be working hard – working hard at earning the approval of your boss’. You jump with joy when presented with an opportunity to prove yourself, even if the opportunity isn’t exactly something you have in mind. Over time, resentment festers and your passion for the job fizzles.

I’ve realized that if I ever wanted to be a lauded humor writer, I would have to depend on myself. I cannot leave the fate of my career in someone else’s hands. No one else would appreciate my talents more than I do, well, except for my mom – she comes in a close second. No boss of mine is obligated to give me the opportunity that I seek.

What is most gratifying about the new way of working is that I am finally able to tap into my full potential.

I relish the life of a swinging freelancer. I get to pick projects that are right up my alley, and the ones that I am fervently passionate about. Compare this to the days when I would be inundated with carcasses-type projects – the ones which nobody wants. I am now able to work my mojo on a daily basis. I also have 90% creative control – the other 10 percent would be the client’s – over what I do. I no longer have fastidious senior colleagues at the back of my head, telling me what to do. In only three months, I’ve had the opportunities to ghostwrite a few books, thanks to clients who wish to incorporate the element of humor in their literature.

So here I am, only 22, and already have 4 ghostwritten books under my belt. I’m also signed on to do 1 more just before the year ends. Life is good!

What’s even more exhilarating about this unconventional method of working is this: It has helped put my name on the map. I have clients who hail from the United States of America, United Kingdom, as well as Asia. These clients are moguls in their own right – CEOs, public speakers – and they chose me, an aspiring writer with no name to himself, to write for them.

Talk about living the American dream a few thousand miles away. Now, my works will get published internationally. Even though they are not under my name, at least I get to feel the thrill of exclaiming, “I wrote that book!” In a metaphysical way, it makes me feel as if I’m in the stratosphere of my Hollywood idols.

This is no longer just a job. This is a childhood dream come true for me. While the magnitude of it doesn’t quite measure up to being a superstar, I am grateful and contented. I am earning a reputation for myself in the global workplace. Also, I can belt out the soprano parts in Bohemian Rhapsody anytime while I’m working, and that is bliss enough for me. And I don’t have to starve myself and skip dinner (as celebrities do); in fact, I now have time to whip up one.

Life, of course, isn’t a rosy bed of flowers. There are days when the possibility of a job dry streak worries me to no ends. Would I able to make this a lifelong career? Yet, I remain optimistic. I do not know what the future holds, but what I do know is this: I cannot go back to the mundane routines of a desk bound job. I do not, and will not busy myself with revamping my résumés in hopes of getting someone to notice my talents. I will never have to seek the approval of someone else.

I am making it on my own, and I have the new way of working to thank.

Name: Boon Xian Yong
Elance Id: dfantasy
Elance URL: http://dfantasy.elance.com
Email: delusional_fantasy@hotmail.com

---