You can keep your money

In our survey, we found average happiness levels ranked at 8/10, while satisfaction with income languished at 5/10.

I reckon not only does money not make you happy, but the pursuit of it can make you downright miserable.

Every soloist I know who’s taken on a job just for the money ends up regretting it. I’m not talking about lucrative jobs that you’re good at and enjoy. I’m talking about the ones where the money twists your arm.

Here’s why jobs taken on just for the money are generally a bad idea.

You’re less likely to love your work

I took on a corporate brochure which was a great earner, but each word I cranked out was like extracting teeth.

Jobs like this can throw you because it’s not that you can’t, it’s just that, well, you don’t want to.

You can find yourself out of your depth

While coaches and the like may well tell you it’s good to be nudged out of your comfort zone, there’s a fine line between being stretched and being compromised. At least I think so.

I found the corporate brochure extremely hard work. I pulled it off, but not before a few sleepless nights agonising about the client’s feedback.

I didn’t ‘grow’ or ‘enjoy the challenge’. I just felt uncomfortable and anxious.

Strings are attached

If they’d have hated it, I’d have had to have redone it. The amount they were paying entitled them to that. I’d have had to have got outside help, making the project more complex, less lucrative and in short, a total nightmare.

It didn’t happen, thank goodness, but easily could have.

Deadlines are tight

Those paying a premium expect results quick smart. I’m a soloist who prefers to smell the roses than the next essential coffee. Unless I’m working on something I’m passionate about, tight deadlines send me into a panic.

You’re selling out

I’ve always felt a bit guilty that I didn’t do a great job for that client. It was okay, but it’s not taking pride of place in my portfolio.

It’s unfair to them and to you when you know in your heart that you’re not giving them the best value.

Writing that ‘ticks the boxes’ doesn’t make me feel good and part of me envies writers with no such qualms.

Lovely as it was to have some more money that quarter, I would rather eat beans on toast for a month than go through that experience again.

What about you? Are you a soul-seller or someone who’d rather earn less, but smile more? Let it all out online.

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Until next time,

Love your work.

Sam Leader is a director of Flying Solo and its editor. She is the co-author of Flying Solo - How to go it alone in business.

24 comments | Add your own 1 2 3 4 | Next» View all»

Sam, you mentioned two categories, 'lucrative jobs that you’re good at and enjoy' and 'ones where the money twists your arm', but I reckon there's a sub-category called 'bread and butter jobs.
These are the jobs that aren't necessarily enjoyable but they're straightforward and you're good at them. So yes, you may be doing them just for the money, but it's reasonably easy money and you can deliver a good result because it's what you know best.
I find these jobs can sometimes help things tick over while you're looking for the ideal project and they also let you recharge your energy/creativity for the next big challenge. Peter Crocker from Flying Solo | Read my articles
You're right, of course, Peter. And in reality, I suspect bread and butter jobs are what keep most soloists going most of the time. Sam Leader from Sydney | Read my articles
It was one of those jobs (well paying, miserable, full of office politics & back stabbers) that catapulted me into working solo. Lucky me :) Heather Smith from BRISBANE | Read my articles
Ah Sam! You hit the nail on the head. I have recently taken on some work that I didn't really enjoy and that didn't even really pay that well. I justified it on the basis that if I'm not doing anything else, I might as well be earning something and it would be good experience. Really, it's only made me rethink whether I want to offer that service at all. The idea of being my own boss was to be stress free (or reduced at least) and to set my own rules. On the other hand, hopefully those yuk jobs may lead to referrals for more exciting work. There's always a bright side! Thanks for the article - very timely for me. Marie Chandler from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Once the necessities are covered (and it rather depends what the necessities are for you) you need to make ALOT of money for it to affect your happiness.
(Even those who win enough from a lottery to keep them for the rest of their lives don't stay happy all that long). Evan Hadkins from Sydney, Australia
Nice post - don't need to ellaborate on that!.
T... Tim from Manly Australia

24 comments | Add your own 1 2 3 4 | Next» View all»

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