A long time ago, in the autumn of ’96, I travelled to Japan as an MBA student. Japan has left an indelible impression in my mind. The beauty of the country side, the discipline of the people and the polite communication are some wonderful memories I cherish. I always wanted to work for a Japanese company and when the opportunity of being associated with a Japanese freelancing service (Workshift) came to me via the inter-net I jumped at it and registered on their site. Moreover, the job where I am currently working on contract is seasonal so I have time to spare. Another benefit for me is that Workshift allows me to pursue my interests in writing, exploring new things and conducting research while also earning supplemental income.

- As a freelancer, what are your thoughts about Workshift?

Workshift seems like a friendly place. Communication with Workshift staff is easy and helpful. Instructions are clear and doubts can be cleared up in a hassle free manner. The ability to review your project before final submission is also available which makes the project free from any ambiguity. Regarding monetary transactions the payment process is smooth and can be automatic. Payment cycles are monthly and the option to receive money via PayPal is a convenient option for me.

- How does freelancing fit in with your daily schedule?

I start my day with some transcendental meditation and thereafter quickly shift to working on my appointments for the day. Between making and receiving calls from customers and business partners I catch up with my online tasks and messages. My current job sometimes involves travel to meet clients and do negotiations with them, so on such days there is hardly any time to spare. The city I live in is New Delhi and it being a big city with plenty of traffic, travel is something which I spend a lot of planning on. I try my best to merge appointments to one day and optimize my time when visiting clients, who are mostly spread across large distances.

Amongst all this, staying healthy is something I am passionate about so it’s one hour of swimming in the summers or similar time walking or jogging in the evening during the winter months. The weekends are mostly for the family. I like travelling with them to various places and trying out the local cuisine and visiting the places of historical importance. The late evenings are reserved for freelancing work and other focused tasks.

- From your point of view what are the benefits of freelancing?

Freelancing allows freedom from the routine, it allows me to extend my reach into other things that I have interest in. It also allows me to express my views about subjects which will help someone make an informed decision. This fact, about contributing to a vital business decision, is a key factor and very satisfying to me.

The future of work lies in sharing knowledge with the maximum number of people. Workshift allows you to do that and sharpen your skills as well.