The one change you need to make to escape the rat race
Tags: freelancing, webdev, career, beginners
Published: 2022-03-01 16:58:42

🐄 The 9 to 5 was created for cows. Cows work slow, steady, and have “safe” jobs.

![Unlucky cow](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/t0xrw7tu8lasbofi9dos.jpeg)

Most cows work in cages. Their job is not great (eating animal feed ain't the best), but they are content. It's all they know, and after all, it's not a hard life.

Other cows are luckier. They live comfy lives. They work in a green valley and eat grass daily. Some even think they own the valley. 

![Google cow](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/aol5ti1ew50ph0bj3baw.png)

Sadly, all cows share the same destiny.  One day every cow gets butchered by the system. **Because even the luckiest cow is still a cow**.

Most of us start as cows, **and that's okay**. 

I’ve been there too.  As a kid, I did everything expected of me (go to college, get a well-paid job). Until one day I realized the cow role was slowly killing my soul. 

I hated the lack of freedom of the 9 to 5.  

Luckily, there was a way out. 

If this resonates with you, bear with me. You don't have to keep that role.  **There's another beast in town**.

## Meet the Lion



![Lion](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8x00bpwm4kbctt37xmnn.png)
🦁 The Lion sleeps, relaxes, observes, and when they see prey (a task), they attack.

🎯 The Lion knows focus is more important than how long they work.

🏖 The Lion isn't obsessed with productivity, because their job is input-output asymmetric. 

🎲 Because they own their work, they have time to **explore and play before the next hunt**.

Most successful freelancers and business owners are lions, and **the good news is you can turn into a Lion today**. Here's how:

## How to become a Lion


It's all about your mindset. The world is a giant playground, and you get to choose the role you play. Society puts you in a box. If you like it, that's great. If not, it’s your responsibility to get out and **re-create yourself**. I wrote about this [here](https://thefreelancechoice.com/casestudies/make-your-first-100k).

**Remember, you are not defined by your skills or degrees**. They are nothing more than tools in your toolbox. 

**You can turn into a lion even while you have a regular job**. With the lion mentality, you will see new possibilities everywhere, and it will allow you to take the leap to owning yourself sooner.

**You should know this**. The savannah can be scary at first. You will have to hunt your own food. You might even get hungry at first. But it gets easier. Lions are powerful and **command attention**.  Once you're known as the lion you are, you will have a reputation, and **opportunities will come directly to you**.

**Beware**. There will be forces (family, friends, “safe” jobs) trying to keep you constrained. Don't forget to listen to yourself. The greatest thing about the world today is you **get to choose who you want to be**.


## It's a wrap
Thanks for reading! For more advice, hit me up on [twitter](https://twitter.com/CebriaGabriel).

I am preparing many more actionable freelancing tips on the keys you need to become a successful business owner. To get them directly in your inbox, you can [join the list](https://thefreelancechoice.com/casestudies).

Peace,
Gabri