CARINE VISAGIE

Content marketing specialist

IT’Salways been incredibly important to me to be able to support myself, to be financially independent. I’ve always had a nine-to-five job, and I’ve always gone the extra mile to make sure I add real value to whatever I am working on. Over the years I rose through the ranks in my career and felt I was succeeding, that I was in a good position in life – in other words, secure. But then something completely unexpected happened: I was retrenched. The company I worked for lost a client, and with that client went my job.

I was devastated. And terrified. My whole world was thrown into turmoil. I had to fight through the fear to think clearly, which wasn’t easy. I sprang into action and took a job that, as it turned out, wasn’t at all what was promised, and was unsuited to my skill set. After an incredibly stressful six months, with the support of my husband

I took the decision to resign and give freelancing a go.

Well, that was one of the best decisions I have ever made! I found clients almost immediately, and in a few short months I was working more or less full time on various projects. The difference was that now my time was my own, and I could structure my day however I liked.

I now earn significantly more on average per month than I did when I was a full-time employee, and I have better job security because even if I lose one client, which seldom happens, I am still supported by others. My livelihood is no longer in the hands of just one company.

Being retrenched, even though it felt like the end of the world at the time, was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

❛My retrenchment led to better job security and more money.❜