Answered by Bryan, Hiring Expert at IBM Corporation, on Thursday, July 24, 2014
I should probably first point that a hero of mine is an individual by the name of Hélio Gracie. If you ever have a chance, do a quick internet search on him. Essentially, he helped to revolutionize a type of martial art and his family name has been recognized worldwide for bringing the knowledge of that martial art to the world. What was so impressive about him to me though is that he was training, teaching and fighting well into his nineties. You are probably asking why I am bringing him up as part of your question. Here is the answer....It comes down to you.
Are you the type of person that is willing and able to take a risk that might mean more flexibility and time in your personal life? Have you done a personal assessment of your skills and the market demand for contractors and freelancers with similar skills? Do you have the ability to live on your retirement and savings for 6 months, a year or longer if you have some downtime between projects? Do you have a strong network in the industry? These are just some of the questions that you should spend some time thinking about before making a decision.
If you are passionate about what you do, can find a way to separate yourself through your skills and are not afraid of taking calculated risks, then you will find a way to be successful as a freelancer for many years to come.