The security of no security

The security(səˈkyo͝orədē) of no security

By Derek Sivers

If you’re a full-time musician, you’ll never have a job, a boss(bäs,bôs
), a salary(ˈsalərē), or insurance(inˈSHo͝orəns). You’ll bootstrap(ˈbo͞otˌstrap) everything yourself. You’ll always struggle against apathy(ˈapəTHē) and gate(gāt)-keepers. And you’ll have to be one-in-a-million to achieve this incredibly(inˈkredəblē) difficult goal(gōl).

To some people, this sounds horrible(ˈhär-,ˈhôrəbəl). To me, it was a dream come true.

Someone with a steady(ˈstedē) 9-5 job asked me how I could handle the lack(lak) of security.

Lack of security? Living this way is like learning wilderness(ˈwildərnəs) survival skills. Being able to fend(fend) for yourself is real security.

You’re constantly(ˈkänstəntlē) thrown into new scenarios(-ˈnär-,səˈne(ə)rēˌō), and learn something new every time.

You’re not given a safety(ˈsāftē) net, so you learn to make your own.

Your career(kəˈri(ə)r) is not tied(tī) to any one company.

Your success(səkˈses) or failure(ˈfālyər) is up to you — not the whims((h)wim) of a boss.

You’re a free agent, so you can take any opportunity.

Your pay is always negotiable(nəˈgōSHəbəl). You can experiment in doubling your rates(rāt), or charging however you’d like.

Basically(ˈbāsik(ə)lē), having no steady job keeps you at your best! To me, it’s the ideal(īˈdē(ə)l) life.

https://sivers.org/no9to5