导语：自由职业的全部，就是对自由，以及自由所赖以生存的基础的一种渴望。这种自由意味着，我们必须为自己的成功或失败、快乐或不幸、富有或贫穷承担全部责任。
自由职业者可以分为两种。
一种是那些失业后找工作有困难，被迫成为自由职业者，向他人提供某种服务的人。
另一种，是那些无论如何，也会选择为自己工作的人：即使就业市场非常繁荣，即使没有Internet为自由职业所提供的便利，他们仍然会选择穿着睡衣在家工作，自由自在地服务他们的客户。
后一种自由职业者是被我称为天生的自由职业者。他们拥有自由职业者的观念。对他们而言，自由职业并不仅仅是在家工作。
自由职业的真正含义——
我以自由职业者的方式工作，只有两年的时间，不象其它人那么久。然而，我已经认识到，有些人是真正的自由职业者：他们是自愿选成为自由职业者，而不是因为境遇所迫。这些人有着完全不同的思维模式。
这篇博文中，我来探讨一下构成自由职业观念的五种特征。
1. 独立自主
自由职业者渴望独立......不受老板或雇主的左右，或任何由其它人强加于他们身上的东西：包括现有的管理架构，等级制度或机构体系。
的确，我们为客户而工作。在某种意义上，他们就是我们的老板，我们必须满足他们的要求，满足他们的期望。不同的是，你可选择或拒绝自己的客户。如果事情进展的不顺利，或者我们不喜欢客户对待我们的态度，我们可以搞砸与他的关系。
如果你是一个雇员，就很难这样做。放弃工作并不是一个雇员随便就能做到的，除非你已经在银行有不少的存款，或者说有一份新的工作在等着你。
自由职业者希望能够自主选择自己未来的方向，并自我管理，成为自己的老板，并承担与之相应的责任。
2. 冒险精神
自由职业是一种敢于面对全新体验和挑战的，并且不断寻求冒险的观念。与之相反，雇员们希望自己走上的，是一条可以预见到未来的路途。
不要误解我，我也是一个循规蹈矩的人。一旦我偏离了这一方式，工作的效率就会大大降低。
然而，除于每天的事务性工作，我还在不断接受新的项目，学习新东西，约见新客户和潜在客户，掌握新的技能，并重新设计我的业务。
对其它自由职业者而言，其中的一项体验就是今天在家办公，明天可能在隔壁的咖啡馆里。也可能你一边周游世界，一边工作赚钱。我们的生活，就象一本叫做《创造你的历险记》的书。
3. 风险
自由职业者并不反对风险。与我们的独立性与生俱来的，就是责任心，以及对自己生活的把握。
每月没有固定的工资，就是其中的风险之一。这种风险可能会让我们感到恐惧，但不会阻止我们。这是我们冒险经历中的一部分。
这种不确定性，超出其它人的承受限度。如果我是家庭中唯一的生活支柱，我不确定自己是否能够做出这种选择。（事实由，我之所以花了这么久，才从事自己梦想中的自由职业，就是因为想要确保我的家庭不会因为我的失败而挨饿。）
4. 创造力
自己职业者往往具有创造力。我之所以这样说，不仅因为我们中的许多人是作家、艺术家、摄影师，程序员、虚拟助理或其它服务供应商在他们每天的生活中，也是极具创造力的。
我们的工作，就是自我的表现形式。我们每天的生活，是我们信仰和选择的反映。我们在处理与自由职业有关的日常问题和挑战时，极具创造力。我们不会依赖别人给我们提供解决方案。
5. 理想主义
最后，自由职业的观念体现了一种理想主义。正是这一点，帮助我们渡过了自由职业生涯中的困难、失败和陷阱。
我们相信有一个“更好的世界”，在那里，人们不需要按照设计好的模子来生活，以获得成功。我们相信那些花里忽哨的头衔其实毫无意义（否则的话，我们可以随时给自己一个这样的头衔，只要自己愿意就行）。我们相信自由职业者的生活方式，也尽力让这种方式成功。
我们相信自己会幸福、繁荣和真正的富足，仅靠着从事自己喜欢的事业。
结论
自由职业的全部，就是对自由，以及自由所赖以生存的基础的一种渴望。这种自由意味着，我们必须为自己的成功或失败、快乐或不幸、富有或贫穷承担全部责任。
没有老板，不能暗算自己的同事，没有不公平的人事制度可以迁怒。除非你真的喜欢自由职业，否则，你可能会感到非常糟糕。
如果你不是打心眼里相信这些，那么你会憎恨寻找客户所需要的大量工作。你会对没有定期工资、带薪病假和年假感到不快。你会对经常性的长时间工作充满抵触（在从事全职工作时，难道只有我一个人长时间地工作吗？）。
有些自由职业者，虽然拥有自由职业者的日程安排，却在本质上停留于雇员的心态。他们一有好的工作机会，就会跳下自由职业之船。我并不是说，这种做法是对是错。毕竟，自由职业并不适合所有的人。
原文
There are two types of freelancers.
On one hand are those who have been forced into self-employment as service providers, because they’ve lost their jobs and are having a hard time finding another one.
On the other hand are those who would be freelancing no matter what: even if the job market were booming, and even if the Internet weren’t around to give so many opportunities to work from home. They would still be hawking their services, working in their pajamas, and being completely happy doing it.
The latter are what I call freelancers at heart. They have the freelancing mindset. For them, freelancing is more than about working from home.
What Freelancing Is REALLY About
I’ve only been freelancing for two years, not at all as long as many others out there. However, I recognize that true freelancers–those who do so by choice and not by circumstance–have a different way of thinking.
In this post, I describe the five characteristics that make up the freelancing mindset.
1. Independence
Freelancers crave independence… from bosses and employers, from “the establishment,” from structures and hierarchies imposed upon them by somebody else.
Sure, we work for clients. In a way, they’re our bosses, because we have to meet their requirements and satisfy their expectations. Unlike bosses, clients can be chosen or rejected. We can sever relationships with a client if things aren’t working out, or if we don’t like how they’re treating us.
This isn’t very easy for somebody who’s an employee. Quitting your job is not something an employee can do lightly, unless you have a lot of money stashed in the bank, or a job offer waiting in the background.
Freelancers are willing to self-direct, to self-manage, and to be our own bosses–including all the responsibilities this entails.
2. Adventure
The freelancing mindset is one that is open to new experiences and challenges, and is always looking for adventure. In contrast, an employee mindset wants predictability and routine.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a stickler for routine, and if I veer away from it, my productivity suffers.
Yet in spite of my daily routine, I’m always working on new projects, learning about new things, meeting new clients and prospects, developing new skills, and redesigning my business.
For other freelancers, part of the adventure is working in your home office one day and in a coffee shop the next. Or, working while traveling the world. Our lives are like a create-your-own-adventure book.
3. Risk
True freelancers are not averse to risk. With our independence comes more responsibility, more accountability for our lives.
Not having a fixed income every month, for example, is part of the risk. The risk may scare us, but it doesn’t stop us. It’s also part of the adventure.
This uncertainty is more than others can bear. If I were the sole breadwinner of my family, I’m not sure I could put up with this myself. (In fact, the reason I took so long to finally plunge in my dream to be self-employed was because I wanted to make sure that my family wouldn’t go hungry if I failed.)
4. Creativity
Freelancers tend to be creative people. I say this not just because a lot of us are writers and artists and photographers. Programmers, virtual assistants and other service providers are creative in their everyday lives as well.
Our work are forms of self-expression. Our daily lives are a reflection of what we believe in and stand for. We’re creative in the way we handle the daily problems and challenges of freelancing. We don’t rely on others for solutions.
5. Idealism
Finally, the freelancing mindset is characterized by idealism. This is what makes some of us stick through the hardships, failures and pitfalls of freelancing.
We believe in a “better world,” where one doesn’t have to fit a mold to succeed in life. We believe that fancy titles are meaningless (and if not, we can give ourselves a fancy title anytime we wanted to). We believe in the freelancing lifestyle, and we’re committed to make it work.
We believe we can be happy, even prosperous and downright wealthy, doing what we love.
In Conclusion
Freelancing is all about the desire for more freedom and all that it entails. This freedom means we’re solely accountable for our own success or failure, for our happiness or misery, for our wealth or poverty.
There are no bosses, no backstabbing co-workers, no unfair HR policies to blame. Unless you embrace this, then freelancing will suck.
If you don’t believe this in your heart, then you will resent the work it takes to find clients. You’ll hate not having a regular paycheck and paid sick and vacation days. You’ll reject having to work long hours occasionally (am I the only one who worked longer hours while employed?).
Some freelancers have a freelancing work arrangement, but they’re employees at heart. They’re the ones who will jump the freelancing ship at the first opportunity of a good job. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong. After all, freelancing isn’t for everyone.
【参考译文】
