I’ve got a company, business cards, a number of websites and, as of yesterday, five clients in total (so far). It’s going very well and I truly am so much happier. I’m not making much money yet, but I’ve got a budget to live on while things pick up. After a few months, I think I’ll be at a crossroads where I’ll need to decide whether I’m going to stay in the freelancing game long term, and make my business grow, or use the experience I’ve gained to try and break into work for a communications or digital agency. That work that was beyond my reach previously due to lack of experience and the recession’s effects on the job market. We’ll see. The beauty of the situation is that I don’t have to do either for long. I can keep changing and changing roles and no one thinks that’s bizarre outside academia.
Research was the one thing I thought I might miss. Back in June I decided to stop working on all but one last big research project, which was in page proof stage in November and has now been published. Have I had any urges since then to do any research or research writing? No. Not once, not one bit, not even a little urge to just finish up that one last article that was already in progress. How some of my nasty former colleagues would scoff at me for not being a ‘true’ academic if they could hear me say that! LOL. I do sometimes get nostalgic for the idea of being a lecturer at a picturesque old university, but I did have a job at one of those universities and it was not at all like that nostalgic dream. A very small number of people might have charmed academic lives, but that is not the norm. The norm for most of us is overwork, crushing frustration and no life outside work, which is dreadfully isolating and demoralizing if you’re in a toxic department.
As for having a life, I’ve been on holiday somewhere tropical, I’m going to see a band play tonight, I’m attending courses about things I feel like learning about for fun and I’m remembering how to enjoy reading books. Things are looking up. I am so glad I left.
Happy tales! So glad you shared. This was just the boost I needed. Congratulations on your new life and having the courage to get it!
I’m so glad to hear this. It really is better out here, isn’t it … even if everything at work isn’t 100% perfect all of the time. Like you say – you are always changing and evolving. Everyone expects it. And while you’re doing that, you can go on a vacation or see a show or hang out with a friend, and no work guilt is hanging over your head.
Congrats on your new life!!
I am writing a book and would like to quote something on this entry. If you could email me about this, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
It’s good to hear that you’re enjoying life. Yes, it is better outside academia even its not 100% all of the time as JC rightly says. It’s also really good to not have that niggling work guilt hanging over your head all of the time.
Thanks everyone for all these encouraging comments!