Not long after I started freelancing, a friend of mine became seriously ill. I was able to adjust my schedule to nurse him, and that was worth more to me than any paycheck. I take my work seriously indeed. But sometimes personal priorities are more important than editing the next grammar lesson, and companies don't recognize that. Mind Your Own Business Talent alone doesn't cut it in the freelance biz.
Clients look for cheerfulness, dependability, promptness, and honesty.
People who become freelancers want a measure of control over their lives, a control that neither a job with a small company or a huge one will usually allow. When you become your own boss, you set the schedule for the number of hours you work every day and the days you work. You can adjust the schedule to suit your own needs. Although I have children, I have always been a big fan of sleep. As a result, I trained my kids not to wake me up in the morning unless there's some national celebration, such as double coupons at the supermarket or a Mel Gibson sighting in the neighborhood.