Robin Monique, Blogger & Freelance Writer

Last week, I had a revelation. After reading a post on cnn.com about people who have taken up freelance work to get through the recession, IT dawned on me.

I was not created to work for someone else.

I'm too much of a slave to my passion. I have to follow inspiration when it strikes, and unfortunately for my employers, inspiration can occur on company time. When I feel a message bubbling in my soul, supressing it is not an option. No matter where I've worked, my vision has always trumped the needs of my employers. It would be downright unfair to both myself and my employers if I continue to pretend that I care about company missions when I know all I want to do is get in my hands on a keyboard so that I can write. And so, last week, I wrote on a piece of paper:

"I will be self-employed by age 30."

Throughout that day, as I read the statement over and over again in my head, it still didn't sound quite right. If I was going to speak my desires into existence, then the statement had to be perfect. And so a few hours later, I rewrote:

"I AM self-employed by age 30."

I carry this thought with the full knowledge that this will not be an easy task to accomplish. There will be struggle, just like there's struggle with working for the Man. If I'm going to endure difficulties in my work, I'd much rather the work be toward my vision so that my difficulty isn't for naught. The advantage/disadvantage of spending seven months without employment is learning to appreciate and value your own time. To be able to wake up and guide your day's activities by asking, "What do I want to do today?" is an amazing freedom. I don't want to pimp out too many more of my days working to advance someone else's mission. That's time away from building my own.

I don't have particulars or a plan just yet. (That's what the five year deadline is for! Lol.) I just have the goal in my sights. Last night, I went to see "Notorious" (which was great, by the way) and heard Puffy tell BIG, "Don't chase the money. Chase the dream." I have to trust in my soul's desires and know that they would never lead me in the wrong direction. The road will get rough, but my eye is on the light at the end of the tunnel: self-employment by age 30.  All I have to do navigate the path in between.