“That’s a pity. Being a workaholic means missing out on a lot of life.”

“That’s true, but it’s not just city folk who miss their kids growing up or are too busy working to help their wives clean dishes.”

I took hint and picked up a drying cloth. “You mean that anyone can get caught up in work, and lose sight of what’s really important? Even farmers, moat diggers and guy who sorts through trash at dump looking for tastiest morsels to throw to gulls?”

“I suppose so,” she answered with that what-have-you-been-smoking look on her face. "Why not try to see if workaholic redneck jokes work?"

“Well, if you look forward to Christmas this year, because you might take afternoon off from tilling land, you might be a workaholic redneck.”

“That’s spirit,” she encouraged.

I tried another, “If you’re drinking your morning coffee from a dirty mason jar from yesterday, you might be a workaholic redneck.”

“Very good,” she praised.

“If you stick family pictures to your backhoe window to remind you what they look like, you might be a workaholic redneck.”

“Why not try one more, just to make sure?” my wife suggested.

“OK, if you bring your work with you to your son’s baseball game, you might be a workaholic redneck.”

“Uh, OK…” she began.

“And if nobody complains about smell, you might live in a town full of workaholic rednecks!”

"You got it!" she shouted.

I realized that I had spent way too much time talking about workaholic redneck jokes. There was only one thing I could do to compensate.

I tossed aside drying cloth, grabbed my lap-top computer and rushed to outhouse to catch up on a few hundred urgent emails.

What kind of jobs are available to independent contractors? Well, here are some of indie jobs I’ve done: 1)Telephone psychic ($20.00 per hour, work from home) 2)Mystery shopper ($15.00 per hour + expenses) 3)Virtual assistant ($15.00 - $30.00 per hour, depending on task) 4)Editor ($35.00 per hour) 5)Ghostwriter ($50.00 per hour)

Many creative and professional jobs, such as technical writers, webmasters, graphic designers, programmers, teachers and tutors, etc. are done by independent contractors on a project-by-project basis. However, FedEx Home Delivery and Schwann’s Ice Cream drivers are also independent contractors, so not having professional credentials is not necessarily a barrier to indie work.

Not everyone is suited to life as an indie. If you absolutely need structure imposed by a job, a manager and a time clock in order to function, then don’t consider going indie. If, however, you like having some freedom, are self-disciplined enough to complete jobs on time without being told, and can organize your day and yourself to maximize your productivity and meet your clients’ needs, you have necessary personality traits to become a successful independent contractor.

Ignore gloom and doom scenario painted by politicians eager to have a job with perks you pay for. Join indie revolution, and gain an income – and a life – without a traditional job. It’s a choice you won’t want government to “help” you out of.