Oceans of Opportunities

To some the economy appears dismal. Others have found a new way to work and are reinventing themselves and the job market itself- one person at a time. I’m one of those supremely fortunate people, who clutched a life raft called “freelance” and sailed to shore.

I’m not alone.

There are millions like me who have been able to make sense of their own lives when the big corporate waters around them were choppy and tumultuous. We now gladly captain our own unique and individual ships. This is a course of uncharted freedom and exciting destinations.

It’s a trade wind worth following.

What is this “New Way to Work”? It’s a means to thrive even in the midst of an economic storm. The new way to work matches skills and talent with global employers as no other career movement has before. I’m thrilled to be riding the crest of the workforce wave of the future.

Freelancing now spans the globe, linking client to highly qualified service providers worldwide with cutting edge technology. Gone are the mental images of bathrobe clad folks bleary in front of their computers. These contract professionals are the trendsetters and talented who know the marketplace is global, not corporate.

This wasn’t my port of call initially. The ship I’d been a passenger on, The USS Traditional Career, simply sank slowly to its demise into a sea of economically murky waters. I was left, clinging at age 44 to a small floating shred of dignity, the wreckage of my former job and five children to support.

As a stage III cancer survivor and single parent, I’d spent years building a successful career with few resources or finances. The thought of transitioning again, with children in tow, struck a genuine chord of fear in me.

My field of expertise is industrial safety and hygiene, which is a highly skilled but niche market.  I had years of compliance and safety as a national trainer, technical writer and developer of government required programs. Certainly there were clients who would value my education and background- I just had to find them. This meant I had to move from small traditional career inlets and into the wider open seas of opportunity.

In a search one night, I discovered several intriguing sites that changed my course and my thinking. Among them, Elance, who brought the ability to reach the broadest network of employers and offered me ready assistance.

Within a few weeks I linked to clients across the country. I sold my first articles to publishers I’d never have reached years ago without the technology of this new way of working. Later, I began developing programs, consulting and working for clients internationally in web content, blogging and marketing their products, ideas or sites.

Along the way, I continually find global colleagues that inspire, encourage and assist me in my new career and clients worldwide I consider friends and co-partners in enhancing their business.

Like many others, I’ve brought my own life to a calm place in the midst of this economic hurricane and pursued my dreams. Forget the stigma of “starving writer”- that too has been revolutionized by this newest way of spanning career horizons.

We, who freelance-whether writer, graphic artist or any number of qualified professionals-are not choosing a second best career option. We’ve started a revolution and we’re reclaiming our lives with each satisfied client, project and paycheck.

If mainstream career waters aren’t taking you where you want to travel, maybe it’s time to trim the sails and head into the winds of change- the new way to work in a worldwide ocean of opportunities.

If this isn’t enough, toss in all those television informational promises for the home worker.

Certainly there are legitimate means to make money at home, right? A lot of us on a budget would enjoy either additional income.  Generating cash while saving on fuel and mileage from the comfort your home? What’s not to like?

 Are there real possibilities of making money on Work at Home ideas?  I believe there are.  

One reputable means to earn some Work at Home cash is freelance writing:

Take a gander at all the websites out there. Someone’s gotta write all that content, don’t they? Typically, it’s not the owner of the site. With billions of sites, there are endless possibilities for writers.  Finding these jobs takes a little knowledge and a lot of time.

Some to try, from personal experience: Craig’s List, Helium, and Elance.

• Craig’s List: I’ve picked up several writing projects on Craig’s List. It’s not a difficult process to search for jobs, and it’s free. Just be on guard for non-specific postings. A real job will never ask your banking account number and offers particulars about writing. Don’t be afraid to call the company or ask for website information.  There are scammers on this site so use common sense.

• Helium.com is a fine place for generating income. The most profitable avenue for earning on Helium is the Marketplace. Publishers in Marketplace post article requirements, such as word count, audience, and SEO’s. Most articles pay between $30- $80, with a few at or above $200.00. The site is friendly and community based. You will love it there. I’ve found it a great way to learn the writing process for online content. Additionally, your profile gives added exposure as a writer.

• Elance charges a small fee, (under $20 a month for a membership), but yields high returns as the minimum project is $50.00 and most are over $300.00.  Elance allots credits for bidding.(You can purchase additional credits if needed).There is no writer connection and no open forum, as in Helium.  However, there are jobs paying thousands of dollars available, making Elance a worthwhile freelance opportunity.

Now I open this up to you, the reader. Freelancing is just one piece of the home business pie. There are other ways to bake a second income cake. What opportunities have worked for you? I’d like to hear about your home business. What are reputable means to earn some cash?