Expressions – Bhagwad Jal Park

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But suppose I’m on a death sentence, and I figure it’ll be at least a week before my turn comes. I’m woken up at 5 am by a gentle tap and told that I am to be executed at 10 am. When we’re asleep, or just woken up, is when our defenses are fully laid low, and there is no pretense or armor. I can’t imagine how I would feel.

If, as a prisoner, I have accepted my fate and resigned myself to die in a week, how will I react to the news that I am to die forthwith? This combined with my having just woken up would, I imagine, throw me into a panic. Not because I wasn’t expecting it. But because it’s come up so suddenly, as if my life doesn’t mean anything to whoever decided I was to die.

I would feel anger, helplessness. I don’t want to die like that. I want to die having accepted the fact, without fighting against it. The Samurai had it right when they would kill themselves without a thought. But that is perhaps because they never viewed themselves as individuals with a will of their own, but rather as slaves of their master, and of destiny.

Why am I here? What is the use of doing all this if I’m just going to die one day? Where is the meaning?

I know the answer to all this. Life has no meaning but what you give it. And when I’m calm, I will remember it. But every now and then, I can still be shocked.

Freelancers, contrary to public opinion, have got to be one of the most hardworking of all professionals. Taking a vacation for example is much more pricey for a freelancer than it is for normal employees.

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Regular employees get a fixed pay and leave is usually included in it. When a regular employee applies for leave to go on a vacation, the only financial consideration is whether or not they can afford the vacation itself. Due to the nature of their work, freelancers have to content with many more costs.

A freelancer gets paid only for work done. Therefore, taking a vacation means less money coming in for that period. A regular employee on the other hand gets the same pay regardless of whether they take a break or not. In some cases, leave can be encashed. This means that an employee can actually get paid for not taking leave!

So if a freelancer has to take a vacation, the cost of that vacation is not only the actual money spent, but also the money that will not be earned for that period – in other words, the opportunity cost of being on leave. This turns out to be much more expensive, and acts as a deterrent against excessive leave taking.

Part of the purpose of this category of posts is to educate people and make them aware that freelancing isn’t as easy as it looks. It has it’s perks, sure, but if you can’t handle the downside, then it’s not something you want to take up.

Earlier this week, I examined the issue of software piracy and why Microsoft needs Piracy to survive. It’s interesting how such a counter intuitive concept can actually make sense. Take a look at it, and leave your comments on what you think about it.