It’s interesting how FT workers look at contractors - almost pitying them for their perceived scrabbling for another project “bone”. In my contracting, I see so many sad, angry and frustrated people who can’t see beyond the treadmill and frankly, I look at FT workers and pity them because they have to endure long commutes, boring meetings, endless deadlines and performance reviews year after year after year in the same place.

I do the 3-4 months on with contracting and 1-2 months off for writing/research/travel. Contracting gives me the freedom to: NOT have to work for the oh-so-many average to poor managers we’ve all endured over the years; NOT have to compromise my precious time off; NOT have to delegate my creativity to stolen snippets of time here and there on the weekends…I make 1/2 what I did when I had a FT slot but am 2x as happy which actually makes me pretty darn wealthy in the scheme of life.

I came during the years where corporations would have meetings in various locations where you got to travel and have other perks. But being 1st generation in my famlily to go to college (more about that later) and get a job where $17,000 to start was real money, there were a lot of errors made on my part. So let’s skip all my work years and get to the part I want to discuss.

I went back to work after being on hiatus after the WTC attacks (worked across the street). Prior to 9/11 I had a job that paid me $60,000 a year working as a specialist in the tech suport division. I was so proud of myself. I had worked hard to get out of the administrative assistant pool and had made the right contacts, performed well on my job (got great reviews) everything went well. Then of course one day changed everything.

In an instant, you realize tha everything and everyone you love can be gone. And if you are human, it should change you for the better.

I worked at a major Fortune 500 company that brought back it’s employees by masking the smell of human flesh and airplane fuel by having popcorn carts in the lobby, amid all of the christmas decorations (I kid you not). After 4 years of this (1 year temping 3 years permanent) I had enough. I was going to work hating every minute of it. I paid off every bit of debt i owed through the years, mind you $33,000 worth.

What bothered me was that here I was, @ age 41…with no husband nor kids, I had worked all my life at jobs I hated and was still unhappy. It was now or never.

I quit my job two months ago because seriously, I was on my way to hurting somebody. I am currently in school to finish my bachelor’s degree (did pretty well without one, but I wanted to complete something that was important to me, plus you cannot get a receptionist job w/o a college degree, experience means nothing anymore).

I used to read your blog at the job, so I knew you said to pad the bank account. Well, thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, I could have saved more. Being in debt limits your choices, I agree with you, pay it off first.

I have enough savings for 8 months of expenses. I am registered to take the Women Who Launch Event next month here in NYC (interested in starting my own business) . I’m planning on taking a temp job next month just to pad a little more–but see, temp positions are just that, temporary. Some of these companies try to bully you into staying and accepting a job so they can stay afloat. You as a temp have the power to choose your work style. After all their making money off of you as well.

I do miss my benefits, although I’m looking into “affordable” policies. There is a way to try to afford this, which means I will have to work harder for myself. Key word: MYSELF.

But let me say this; I’ve never been happier Everyone says I look great, I’m happy to get out of bed every morning. And I intend to put everything into my life the second time around. I deserve to be happy with MY choice of work. I’m just sorry that I did not realize it sooner.

How do I spell S-U-C-C-E-S-S? Not taking anyone else’s s**t and still be able to pay my bills w/o having to resort to taking prozac.

You rock honey!, screw ESQ/CPA…

And as for reviewers … bah. Don’t let the b*stards wear you down.