Why I'll always find joy in gig work 'even when it stings'

Last year, I got turned down for a project I really wanted. The kind that would have been perfect for my schedule, paid well and involved people I genuinely liked working with.

- Ilyce Glink, Tribune News Service

The email was polite, professional and yet it felt like a punch in the gut. If you've been following along, you know I've been writing about life as a gig worker. Juggling 5+ jobs has become a way of life for me — and for millions of others. According to recent data, 768 of gig workers say they are very satisfied with their choice, but that doesn't mean rejection doesn’t hurt.

Here's what I've learned about finding joy in gig work, even when the “No, thanks” emails pile up.

Let’s talk about “Real Life” for a minute. The majority of gig workers earn $10 to $14.99/hour, which sounds discouraging until you consider this: 658 of gig workers report earning more as freelancers than they did with their traditional jobs.

The math tells the story. In traditional employment, you put all your eggs in one basket — one boss, one company, one paycheck. In gig work, you're playing a numbers game where every “no” gets you closer to the right “yes.”