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It’s been almost a year since the epiphany that changed my life. I was on my honeymoon on the southern coast of Spain, my second week away from work, poking around my hotel room, when it hit me: my first creative thought in awhile. It was just a dumb little joke about the sign on the bathroom counter, reminding us to save water by recycling our towels – not even funny enough to share. But it was inspiring.
After years of grueling work without a long break, I realized what I wanted more than anything: to start my own business, create things I was proud of, work for myself, and control my schedule and destiny. A few weeks later, I was on my way. Later that summer, my new site, SplatF, was born. It’s been amazingly fun. Now it’s your turn.
I can only speak for my industry, but in digital media, it’s never been easier to go out on your own. Developments like high-end ad networks, inexpensive publishing and hosting tools, and services like the Apple App Store and Kindle eBooks store, have all made it possible for a writer, software programmer or engineer to start something new.
Why bother? If you’re like me, your time is the most important thing in life: more than money, notoriety or anything. There’s something about working for yourself that’s freeing. It’s a lot of work, of course, and often humbling. But when you’re in control of your time, there’s nothing better.
When I was growing up, my father started a small ad agency, and I saw the benefits of going out on one’s own. Now, 20 years later, I’ve done it too. You can be next!
– Dan Frommer
