he COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a lot of things about our work culture in the U.S.

We realize that we don’t need to have as many meetings as we thought. We enjoy the time we save by not spending hours on the roads commuting. And we are suddenly aware of how productive we can be working remotely.

There is also a very real, negative impact on our economy with industries like art and entertainment, restaurants, and most retail completely shutting down. Millions of Americans are out of work as a result.One myth this pandemic has exposed is that working for a company brings with it more job security than working for yourself.If you’ve been following my work for the last few months, and especially since quarantine, you’ll know that I am a big believer that we are the captains of our own (career) ships. That we can evaluate the unique gifts and passions we’ve been given along with a way we want to serve the world (I call this our Soul Boomerang), dream about the kind of life we want, get clear on our values and strengths, and shape a career from those foundational things.

I believe this is true now more than any other time in history. With the technology available to us to work from anywhere and serve people in innovative ways, there is no reason that we should still buy into the lie that working at a company for someone else is the only way to have financial stability. You can take your career (and life) into your own hands by using the skills you have as a freelancer/consultant/solopreneur.

Of course, my business was also affected by the pandemic, but working for myself, I am able to pivot and make creative changes to serve the world as it changes (and how I’m gifted).

If you’ve been laid off or furloughed, this is the time you can reinvent yourself. Even if you’re still working and have discovered there’s more to life than your 9-5 day job, this is the time to start dreaming. And if you’ve recently started your own gig and not sure how to pivot, this is the time to start innovating.If you are looking for some resources to start your own business, you can download my ultimate launch guide here or check out my Freelance Bootcamp videos on YouTube.