1099 as an Anti-Ego

If you are leaving a W2 gig for a 1099 job, you might develop an "anti-ego."

Basically you adopt an identity as an anti-W2.

You become proud of the fact that you don't have a boss, unlike your former self who had a measly 3 weeks of vacation and had to take whatever projects the company dished out to you.

And it's good to be proud! It's a major accomplishment!

But it's easy to develop contempt for W2 life and make that the defining characteristic of your professional identity.

The problem is, there may be a day you need to take another W2 job and it will be much harder because you have developed this anti-ego.

It will feel like an existential failure and maybe lead you down a path where you're basically unemployed because of your pride.

Think of going 1099 as another skill you can adopt in the bigger context of your life.

It's not a full identity; but a trait you have that allows you to move you closer to your life goals.

That way you get the pride of working of yourself AND keep your work options open psychologically.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.