Flexibility, freedom to manage your own time and being financially sound are the three ‘F’s’ that we all aspire for in our lives. You might be skeptical, but there’s always a way to use your skills and expertise to carve a career that might give you all the three.
You don’t have to give up on your passion to follow the norm. For many the 9-to-5 just doesn’t appeal at all. If you are among those, then read on. There are a lot of opportunities that you can explore that can pay the bills while you work from home, and there are others that might need some travel or getting to your client’s location, but it’s all worth it since you get to work on your terms and time.
Here are a few careers that pay well in the US, but might pay equally or even more in your country if you excel at your skills.
1. Photographer – Wedding or Events
Whilst this job is hard to get into, due to its competitive nature, it really pays well to snap pictures of one of the happiest day (hopefully) in a couple’s life, up to $100,000 per year for your regular, hard working freelance photographer. Although your work should speak for you, having a formal degree in photography might also help in gaining a strong foothold and earning the much needed credibility to earn the high paying contracts. To get to the six figures income, make sure that you hone on your marketing skills. Having an impressive online presence that showcases your work is essential to get the word out, never compromise on that. Seek help from professional website designers for your website. Do what you can to wow and charm your clients.
2. Graphic designer – Animations
Present or future, digital world is ramping up fast. If you are passionate and have skills around computer animation and programming, you can find contract work for larger companies scouting for such talent. Used for commercials on television, games, movies and a whole host of other needs for animation, animators make the pixels move! The pay for this job is interesting, ranging from around $45,000 and going up to $85,000 per year.
3. Writing – Freelance Writer
Oh the irony! Writing is a great opportunity based career, if you have the right research skills, and can write fast and accurately to the needs and deadlines of your clients, you will be able to earn a great income varying between $28,000 and $60,000 per year. And this is just an estimate, since writing is completely on your time, you have the complete control on how many assignments you can handle at a time. Do more if you can bit deliver quality content and you’ll be in demand from far and around. What really is interesting about this career is that it is borderless, your client can be in any part of the world and you can write for your clients from anywhere in the world.
Great writing will never go out of style and there are many examples of freelancers on sites like Fiverr making six figures per year. It does not happen in a year or two perhaps, and no one said it’s easy, but with persistence and a good strategy anything is possible.
So, Just Do It!
As you see a passion can really pay your bills, you can enjoy a flexibility, freedom to work from anywhere and on your time and also have the financial freedom you desire or need. But be aware that freelancing comes with some struggles and trials before you find success. It all takes the three essential steps to make it happen:
- Excel at what you do
- Be business savvy
- Market yourself and keep growing
Cheers to your freedom!