Contract, In-House, Corporate, or Business Owner?

I’ve always had the goal of one day being able to sustain myself on freelance work alone, because after years of experience in a variety of positions in the work force, I like the idea of being my own manager, working on a variety of projects, and the flexibility that often comes with contract work. Another big consideration for me is that I’d like to find a position (or at least, work my way up to a position) in which I can work remotely. 

Hearing about the experiences of our guest speakers these past weeks, I’m starting to put into context how difficult it can be to work solely on contract when first starting out, and I’m warming up to the idea of looking for a corporate or preferably an in-house position to get my bearings in the field, potentially establish some new connections, and then reevaluate the idea of branching out more on my own down the road. 

Additionally, I would one day love to have enough of a presence and following in the art world to own and run a small business in which I sell my illustrations via prints, zines, stickers, and potentially apparel and original pieces as well. That’s a lofty goal for much further down the road, and who knows what new direction this dream might take on, but I can safely say that I’d love to one day be in the position to consider working for myself and establishing a small business based around my personal brand.