my top 10 recommendations for life as a free agent

"Free agent" is writer Daniel Pink's phrase for the 25 million Americans out there who are self-employed, temporary workers or independent contractors ("people who move from project to project and who work on their own, sometimes for months, sometimes for days"). I downloaded Pink's Free Agent Nation from Audible.com last week; I really like the way he thinks.

As I've been listening to Daniel Pink, a couple of friends have recently expressed interest in joining the ranks of the free agent. They're ready to leave the comfort and confines of the corporate world and go solo.

Listening to their reflections on their work lives, I started thinking about what I've learned since I began freelancing full-time. Sure, I still feel like an uneducated bumpkin when it comes to the finer points of self-employment, but I think I have learned a few things. So here is an unsolicited entry with advice for anyone leaving their 9-to-5 and going solo for the first time.

(1) Have a dedicated work space. This is big. It doesn't matter if you're an event planner, a writer, a quiltmaker, a code slinger, or a therapist. Set aside a physical space in which to practice your art. I believe that we're all more focused — and profitable — when we work in spaces that work with us. Also, having a dedicated physical space invites you to set up mental boundaries around the work. I know that when I'm sitting in that chair at my desk, it's time to work. And when I step away from the desk, the day's labors are done.

(2) Spend money on the important stuff. When you're just getting started, it's kind of tempting to outfit your space with completely new stuff. New computer! New filing cabinets! New trash cans! Most purchases are not that critical. For me, the most important physical acquisitions to make are: (1) a high quality, comfy, supportive desk chair; (2) a functional backup system; and (3) critical self-promotional items for your business. For many folks, this translates as a website and business cards.

(3) Give yourself a cash cushion. I've been freelancing for a few years now, and in that time, I've become intimately acquainted with the ebb and flow of my income throughout the year. The flow of money has actually become fairly predictable! But when you're getting started, nothing is predictable. Every little bump in the road feels like it might toss you right out of the wagon. The first year I went freelance, money came in pretty nicely for the first half of the year. Then it really dried up in the second half of the year. (In August of that year, my grand total in billings was $300. That was not a good month.) Your admission into the ranks of free agency will be much smoother if you start with a little cushion of savings for those slow months. Now I know to anticipate that the second half of the year is going to be slower than the first half. I make a point to say "yes" to my clients more frequently in the first half of the year, and I plan my vacations and personal projects for the second half of the year. As a matter of fact, I've already booked a spot at a women's retreat in December. It's also paid for already — so I don't have to worry about scraping together extra billings late in the year.

(4) Surround yourself with experts. I'll be honest — what I know about tax liability could easily fit on the inside of a matchbook. Dealing with the IRS puts me in my unhappy place very quickly. However, I have a smart, funny accountant who helps me make sense of the IRS. I pay her for her expertise, and it's worth every penny. Consider the value of a long-term relationship with an accountant, lawyer, web development genius, or other expert.

(5) Mine your longstanding relationships. One source of steady income for me has been past employers. In fact, one of my main clients today is the creative director I worked for in my very first job out of college. He's now growing his own small business, just like I am. As you get started, spread the word to past employers about what you're doing. If you have good relationships with past employers, and you still enjoy the work they produce, there's no reason you can't come alongside again. The implied subtext of this recommendation is, of course, "Never burn your bridges."

(6) Diversify your income. Don't be afraid of part-time jobs. They can be wonderful ways to invite some steady income and predictability into the mix. Having a little flow of regular money can also be very psychologically comforting. I used to be weirdly offended by the thought of part-time work — I felt like I was somehow failing if I didn't have a full load of client hours every week. Now I think that's just silly. A few lucky free agents will hang their shingle on Day 1 and immediately fill up their calendar with billable work, but I think of that as exceptional.

(7) Take breaks. One of the joys of working from home is finding little windows of time for yourself during the day. I love to step away from the computer and walk around with my camera in the middle of the day. I spend 20 minutes shooting this or that, and then get back to work. It clears my head and sets me up for a productive afternoon.

(8) Consider your tax status. Do you plan on being a free agent for more than just a couple of months? It might be more profitable for you to incorporate your business. The money you save in taxes is probably worth the trouble you'll go through to file articles of incorporation.

(9) Plan for vacation. Frankly, I work harder as a freelancer than I ever did as a salaried worker. If I deserved decent vacations when I was a cubicle warrior, I deserve them now. Plus, who wants to be that guy who doesn't know how to not work for a few days?

(10) Find a rabbi. Find someone who's a little further down the road than you are. Someone who talks about the challenges of business in a language that you can understand. (Personally, I love singer/songwriter/creativity consultant Christine Kane.) Buy their books, read their blogs, and reflect on what they have to say. It's OK to have multiple rabbis. I have a whole folder of bookmarks of writers who support the entrepreneurship and the free agency model in their thinking (Escape from Cubicle Nation is another favorite.)

If you have any recommendations or reflections about life as a free agent, I'd love to hear them.