Ahoy, me Hearties! Pirate Prentice here.  Last Friday was Talk Like a Pirate Day, and the fact that I did not finish this article in time for the occasion made my heart walk the plank. But, I’d be a son o’ a scurvy-ridden scallywag if I don’t tell ye why being a freelancer is just like being a pirate. So grab your mead, and gulp your grog. Sit right back and read me blog!

The Adventurous Spirit – Pirates of the Freelance Sea have a strong sense of adventure. Oftentimes, occupational land lubbers ask “Why don’t you just get a normal job with normal hours and normal pay?” To this, we just sing “Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A freelance life for me!” We would trade an office job in the blink of an eye patch covered eye for the chance to taste the salty, entrepreneurial breeze of the open seas! We celebrate life’s uncertainties…actually…we celebrate everything because pirates like to party.

Never met a pirate I didn’t like.

Seizing All Opportunities – Whether we find an under secured ship full of booty or a great job opportunity, the freelance pirate must jump on any profitable prospect. We’re always searching for the next chance to earn some dubloons, hone our skills and build relationships with colleagues and clients.

Networking – Speaking of colleagues and clients, a badass buckoneer networks like there’s no tomorrow. We know that who you know can be even more important than what you can do. “Oh, we need __? I know a guy!” We build strong relationships and utilize our social resources. Even the best pirates depend on their fellow sea dogs, sutlers, lookouts, sailors and that gruff black market dealer with a heart o’ gold.

Resourcefulness – Life has a way of throwing you curveballs, especially on the fiercest freelance seas, and sometimes you have to swashbuckle with a banana, swab the decks with single ply toilet paper, or plug a hole in the hull with nothing but some gum and paperclips. And when that doesn’t work…

Abandon Ship! – I have been told I am a muster station master. With freelance work comes contracts, and with contracts comes chaos. Budgets get cut, businesses die, jerks with cannons blow up your dreams, layoffs happen, and if you’re a proper pirate, you better know how to swim… or your finances will be swimming with the fishes.

Jack-of-All-Trades –  A pirate does not just wear one hat. Well, I guess technically they do, but what I mean is we have to be multi-disciplinary. We must wear ALL the metaphorical hats for our trades: accountant, marketer, talent, captain, talking parrot, engineer, navigator, etc! The more skills you have, the more valuable a pirate you are!

Space Pirates – Aye! Not even the sky is the limit for Freelance Pirates, for we think outside the boat! We dream big, aim high, fire a rocket, and soar through the sky!

And if I had my choice in the matter, I would want my space pirate spaceship to be a cabbit.