A listen to the news recently tells us that we may have hit bottom economically during our current recession.  In fact, many financial soothsayers are forecasting (ie. guessing) that the recession may end as early as September.  To some, this matters. 

But for most of us, the question that matters more is "Do I own my work, or does my work own me?" 

• Courage. Freedom is more important to a Free Agent than the perception of job security.
  
  
• Action. Employees wait for the “thumbs-up” from management to proceed. Free Agents aren’t waiting for “all lights to turn green”, they’re going across town going from green light to green light.  Free Agents don't wonder "Is there a way to make it work?", they think "I KNOW there's a way that WILL work!".
  
  
• Build your business in your mind and on paper first. An employee looks for a job after the business is built. The most important work a free agent does is to design their business before there is a business. Do your research.  Talk to a lot of wise people.  Write it down, and make it work on paper ... first.  If you can make it honestly work on paper, you have a great chance of making it work in reality.  Can't make it work on paper = no chance to make it work in reality.
  
  
• Wary of too much early success. A free agent understands that while low hanging fruit falls off easily, the tastiest fruit is waiting higher up in the tree. Your business must be well received and well conceived. You may make some easy money initially; don't let it ruin you and make you lazy.
  
  
• Be willing to bounce. Employees are trained to avoid risks and failure. Free agents embrace challenges and know that risking failure is the best way to learn and grow. How else will you learn what works and doesn’t? Find out what works and do lots more of it.  And, strategically quit doing those things that don't and are simply wasting your time.
  
  
• Free Agents know how to make money when they’re not doing work. Have you simply created and own a JOB? Are you trading hours for dollars?  Sure, your first stage of free agency likely means you're doing most -- if not all -- of the work yourself.  From the beginning, look for ways to make money while you're playing golf, sleeping, out with the kids at the playground, etc.  You may do this through product creation, hiring others to take care of customers, build a membership community, get paid based on results rather than time, etc.  Free Agents find a way. 
  
  
• Are creative and able to accomplish things beyond their own resources. Free Agents are masters at problem solving. They can see possibilities where others can’t, thereby creating unique money-making opportunities. They are zigging when employees are zagging. 
  
  
• Stay your course.  Persistence is a golden word with Free Agents and a key fore teller of their success.  Many employees masquerading as Free Agents make the deadly mistake of continually trying new things and spreading themselves too thin before they've learned what works and what doesn't.   Rather, true Free Agents prudently plan an action plan, do it and then check the results.  To be sure you're not killing off a good thing, my rule of thumb is you need to do it at least 90 days to get true results.  Anything less and ... you're trying to sprint in a marathon. 
  
  

Now, go buck the trend (what everyone else is doing) and create your own free agency!