maybe don’t quit your job to become a content creator…

[@MaddieDragsbaek]

healthcare is the single worst part of being self employed. i pay $750 a month for health insurance and it covers almost nothing :) my health expenses are only second to my rent, it's unbelievable!!! having a financially unpredictable job paired with high expenses for basic care is definitely a point of stress for me lol amazing vid as always!!!

[@SarahSchneider2]

@@MaddieDragsbaek agreed, I know people and I was one who was willing to stay in a job they didn’t like just for the benefit package.

[@BooksUnstitched]

$750 a month?! How do yall manage to eat in America?!

[@christinasantamaria565]

This is so true 😢 mine is $650 but with copays and medicines I’m paying over $1000 a month

[@ASMRfleur]

Gosh I truly wish we could slice off some of our healthcare system (netherlands) like a pie and share with you this sounds incredibly difficult to deal with

[@pepsicolla123]

@@MaddieDragsbaek I would say move to Europe 😊 we have a pretty affordable healthcare here

[@tiffanyferg]

Always obsessed with how you film these. Such a beautiful way to share your insights!! And hell yeah to a creators union

[@NickRele]

Something I've been balancing a lot in my career considerations is how much fulfillment can be found in the act of the work itself. It does not spark joy to manage excel sheets and answer emails for 8 hours a day, no matter how beautiful the view from my skyscraper corner office is. However I could find so much joy in getting to see new neighbourhoods in a city I love, and getting to spend time outside, casually waving to people in their yards while I empty their garbage cans. Value in jobs is so caught up in prestige, title, and salary instead of the actual experience of the day-to-day.

[@Katherout]

huge huge huge

[@SarahSchneider2]

@@NickRele right like my last 2 jobs I was showing up just for the paycheck because unfortunately life costs money(once the new job excitement wore off which was pretty quickly).

[@stutisingh7205]

@@NickRele I’m stepping down from a high paying role to something I find more interesting. It’s so hard to turn away from the prestige and “success” you’re told to want. But I literally hated my life and felt like shit every day. Somehow that’s supposed to be a good trade off?

[@stevedavenport1202]

Yes, that's why I took a driving job straight out of college and absolutely loved it.

[@kale5847]

video so good! the solution/middle ground for me is a 9-5 with a chill kind manager and team, easier said than done but found that sweet spot now we just holdin on for lifee

[@Katherout]

so tough to tell if a job will be like that from the interview !

[@ScarlettRoseTurner]

This is a masterpiece!! I left my VERY stable corporate job to become freelance and start my own business!! I couldn't have done it without your encouragement and support!!!!! Took forever to build up my courage and I'm only 2 months in.

[@allyson--]

Best of luck on your journey, queen

[@MelMitchJackArt]

BROOOOOOO "WE CANT ESCAPE THE BOOT ON OUR NECKS BY BECOMING OUR OWN BOOT" Writing this as a post it on my desk to remember that I need to stop being my worst boss! - Fellow tech worker escapee who went the self employed route last year!

[@erdc97]

Oh my gosh. The clique-y-ness of corporate is insane. My last job literally felt like I was back in high school, and the managers acted like teachers berating students whenever we didn’t reach a goal or did something wrong. So dumb.

[@SarahSchneider2]

My last job was like that as well. I showed up just about every workday for the entire time (6 months) and they let me go because I had 1 month where I didn't meet metrics. I had even said I had a lot of personal life things going on during that month that more than likely affected things (losing a family friend's pet who I was close to because I had been dog sitting for this dog multiple times a year for over 5 years and also another extremely close relative had surgery). In the 6 months time I only took 1 day off for doctor/dentist appointment, 1 day PTO day on the Friday of July 4th weekend (that they wanted us to take since the 4th fell on a Thursday this year), and 1 sick day (I needed a mental health day to deal with the personal life stress).

[@Katherout]

institutional mistreatment!

[@martaregn4092]

after returning to my 9-5 after my 2 year grad school vacation, i really think it’s full-time work that distresses us, especially when the social aspect is toxic or doesn’t exist. an 8 hour work day for minimum 40 hour a week is archaic at this point, and I think we all know it’s unnecessary to work that much in most corporate settings. we also all have the knowledge that we are not being compensated fairly (looking at growth of wages vs. cost of living over the last several decades.) so we end up under more stress, discontent and looking for a new job with more compensation literally all the time. this time we devote to work (both the actual work and the emotional load) consumes so much of our lives, it blocks out the opportunity for fulfilling, inspiriting experiences.

[@rebekahjoy]

Very well-said. I definitely agree with you!

[@samschor]

Girl I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of staying at my 9-5 and working for myself (social media management or content creation). I’m currently on my lunch break and am so glad YT notified me of this upload, perfect timing lol

[@ZaidsMusic]

KATH this resonates SO hard - your videos were actually instrumental in my own decision to leave my corporate tech job & become a content creator! so affirming as always to hear you articulate the very experiences I've been going through. the isolation in particular has been SUCH a struggle & I've realized that despite the "privilege" of autonomy we are still very much entitled to belonging & togetherness.

[@Katherout]

rooting for u!

[@OGCUSH]

dude i'm all for a KZbinr's union

[@RachelBrennerReal]

Hidden Manifestation by Oliver Mercer (thank me later)

[@Kathrin_yt]

I really appreciate your honest, authenticity and transparency, it's so helpful to hear other creators talk about this!

[@DrGalazkiewicz]

$120 per month still isn't too bad for private insurance. I was paying $500 when I was out of work from 2021 to 2023. Of course, the US should have universal healthcare like every other developed country.

[@Katherout]

it's $120 a month because my income is pretty low while self-employed!

[@DrGalazkiewicz]

@Katherout I was working part-time for less than $500 per week, then had no income at all for the last eight months.

[@justinemard]

9-5 life is a drag… I’m vicariously living through you rn

[@morethanyourbasics]

I’m enjoying my job in marketing. I’m new / intermediate in my field. I like having a regular job but my considerations involve 1. My job. I like the people. It’s mostly remote. I feel connected and able to navigate multiple scenarios and also a career shift if I chose to 2. I’m an only child with a narcissistic mother who isolated me and was super controlling and manipulative. I find that working with people with relatively good communication skills and various life experiences is better for me to get the experience of structure and validation as a base before I explore other more unstable means

[@aohamer]

"We can't escape the boots on our neck by becoming our own boot" 👏🏾 You hit the nail on the head with this whole talk. This was a great compilation of the pros & cons of both.

[@morethanyourbasics]

Thank you for your insight. I agree with your ending that it will all take work for a better future. We all deserve it and self-employed or regular employment there’s pros and cons to both but the main sentiment is life doesn’t need to be so hard for all of us to live gainfully

[@VivaciousLyla]

i LOVE this comparison, so eye opening and validating as a content creator/freelancer.

[@willmax95]

Love this video, i’ve been self employed shooting videos for people for over 10 years now; and do youtube videos on the side too (monetized) and still this video reminded me of aspects of my own job that I didn’t even really think of… maybe I took these things for granted (the editing in solitude, hiring people for yourself (getting to choose who)) also your scheduling section reminded me to be better at having a physical schedule, a true katherout banger of a video!

[@catbeingcurious]

Love this video ❤ I'm recently self-employed too and it feels comforting to hear you go through a lot of the same things

[@EvilWeiRamirez]

I don't dream of labor doesn't mean self employment. It means that your job won't give you absolution. It can only be a small part of who you are, no matter what it is, what it is paying, or anything. It is just a job. Your dreams should consist of emotion. Sharing a good story with a friend. Experiencing serendipity. Work is just a job. My life's work is not a job. It's everything that I pour myself into. It's attempting to enrich and care for everyone I can. It's creating beautiful things and beautiful moments. I don't dream of labor.

[@the_fynethyme]

This is so interesting as someone who has just soft launched 9-5 in my own life (apprenticeship)!

[@TravelSpanish-j3v]

I just started my KZbin channel after many years of working like crazy. Thanks for this video. 😊

[@mauriciocordoba952]

I love watching your videos. Or just listening to them while I do stuff.

[@juliadastra]

omg the always sunny background music at 11:00!! also i love this video thank you for making a video discussing this!

[@HolaSoyJillian]

I’ve been W2 forever, but just moved to Spain and became freelance here. I put pen to paper to see if there really are more taxes here, and here I would make $200-400 less per month, BUT if we factor in me paying for my freelancer healthcare back in the states, it all kinda evens out. Pretty wild.

[@Catluvr543]

I love how this video was formatted so much. Thank you for showing us both sides!!

[@mirapichai]

I don’t often comment on videos, but just wanted to say I appreciate you sharing your journey 🍃

[@NFSMAN50]

Helloo Kath, this was another great video forsure!!! Very true things were said here!! I love your office setup!!!!

[@bluberx]

Thaks for sharing and being so candid. Thinking of quitting my office job to go back to school for a different field.

[@coolness8992]

So much I wanna say. Yet I'll stick to one I don't see mentioned much. It's nuts, that American, the land of opportunity and pull it by your bootstraps, makes self-employment so damn hard. You'd think taxes and the like would be so much easier for a one person show.

[@bbmadeline]

amazing video, with an honest review of both sides. first time viewer, glad i found your channel. ✨

[@iamcrisean]

You hit all of the points that a think about. I go on rants on my YT channel about the topics you mentioned in this video. After I got fired from my 9-5 because of a narcissistic boss, HR, which was really cool did nothing for me. It was my fault for thinking that HR would have my back. I got a job in retail which I hadn't been in 7 years and worked me to the bone! I then went part-time & had 2 part-time jobs. Working 2 part-time jobs & a YT channel was heck on earth. I quite both part-time jobs. Not looking forward to going back. But I need a full-time steady pay. But all in all, NEVER quit w/out a safety net.

[@youmeteacofeee]

At a crossroads here Kath, I'm only 2 more semesters away from graduating but lately I just want to drop everything and just get hired like I did in 2020 in jobs that give me a 9-5, weekends off, secure benefits, and a paycheck to devote weekends to volunteering and creative ventures that are put on the back burner lately. I got hired twice in other positions in one of my favorite places in Cali but let those opportunities go cause I was worried I might've regretted it, hence the current academic endeavor I'm doing know. Thank you for sharing, nice to finally catch up on your vids

[@purplecarrotstirfry]

"Do you understand Susan Wojcicki's salary?" I googled it out of curiosity and she is dead😮

[@brownkendallc]

Yep she died very recently

[@boredguy5805]

Love this video, I'm looking for a corporate job right now to get back on my feet (tech sales as well unfortunately which I'm not excited about), but hope to build something of my own on the side once a I have a 9-5. That being said, if you ever do find yourself needing to go back to the corporate role for the stability, I feel like you would be able to get a job as a CSM rather than becoming an AE again, with your combined experiences. Would probably be alot less stressful.

[@noah_angelo]

Loved this one! I’m 6 months into self-employment and I’ve been wrestling a lot with the pros/cons. I’ve been feeling that same reckoning that self-employment isn’t the always a perfect solution. Feels sometimes like I just traded stress about work for stress about money lol

[@judyotiende5697]

I deeply resonate with your videos!! Thank you!!!

[@SarahSchneider2]

Even working remote I felt extremely tracked. Everything we did (sent emails in the ticketing system, added notes, time on a call vs after call work, even clicking in the tickets and using resources that I found unorganized/not super useful) was tracked and time stamped.we still had to log on/off to a system at certain times - take lunch and break and defined times) and that was only the small things that was having an effect on my mental health. Not even the day to day scope of the job because that was a constant busy/hardly ever a time to breath in between the calls/emails. Between 8am and 5pm I was anxious and constantly stressed but needed the benefits and paycheck(that was just enough to cover expenses and save a little thankfully) but now I’m without that because I got let go a week ago today.

[@Mittenzzs]

loved this! i also worked in tech in the bay area and ended up accepting a different job in the netherlands a couple years ago. although it's still the same capitalistic system, there are soooo many more worker's rights in this country. for example, there's such thing as a permanent contract where you cannot be let go for no reason (like how 'at will' employment works in the us) - they have to prove why you need to be let go. there's a lot more security in the system here whereas i feel like in the us, there's a lot less - a lot of tech companies have great benefits but federally the us doesn't mandate worker benefits like they do in the netherlands which is so disheartening

[@msvictoria0110]

wow, how did you get a job in the netherlands?

[@Mittenzzs]

@@msvictoria0110 i just applied! i work in tech and at the time there was a shortage of people filling technical roles there

[@SarahSchneider2]

The "At will" thing in the US is so crazy, like absolutely no job security or even a warning or like notice so people can start looking elsewhere). I showed up just about every workday for the entire time (6 months) and they let me go because I had 1 month where I didn't meet metrics. I had even said I had a lot of personal life things going on during that month that more than likely affected things (losing a family friend's pet who I was close to because I had been dog sitting for this dog multiple times a year for over 5 years and also another extremely close relative had surgery). In the 6 months time I only took 1 day off for doctor/dentist appointment, 1 day PTO day on the Friday of July 4th weekend (that they wanted us to take since the 4th fell on a Thursday this year), and 1 sick day (I needed a mental health day to deal with the personal life stress).

[@Mittenzzs]

@@SarahSchneider2 it's absolutely insane! it works the other way too here which some people consider a con, for example you as an employee have to give 1-3 months notice if you leave the company, depending on what's specified in your contract. still, i think that caveat is worth it for the security of strong job protection

[@SarahSchneider2]

@@Mittenzzs here companies expect us to give them 2 weeks notice but on the other hand they can give us shitty treatment and let us go on the spot with no notice.

[@jenniwhatsbookin]

In your time off section, you joked about having an impersonator (which really would be amazing!, but I did want to mention that Hannah Witton had some guest people make videos for her channel when she was on her maternity leave! She's big into discussing analytics/behind the scenes stuff though, and I feel like she said those videos did not do very well - which proves your point as well!

[@georgedantz3617]

Thanks! This was very informative.

[@chiaraliane]

omg side note - LOVE your fork earrings 😍

[@figsandoranges]

The curl reveal in the first 1.5 seconds is outstanding

[@JusPri]

It sounds like you were either in the wrong job beforehand or in the wrong sector (sales and private). There are lots of jobs with a similar pace and rhythm to self-employment, or less stressful ones, some of which could be in the public sector.

[@taylor3342]

Knockoff Herman Miller desk chair is so real. Also OG patrons remember the corporate work nemesis and crush tea vid circa 2022.

[@Katherout]

RIGHTTTTTTTTT

[@otiyonwuren5755]

i LOVE your sarcastic humor .. lol I wanna timestamp which parts are funniest but im really just cackling throughout lmaooo .. so silly 🤣

[@lh2337]

Not to take away from the content and impact of this video, but Kath you look so pretty here!!

[@williamcarter1993]

these employed jobs are stressful. I'm in the same boat. Working as an employed physician even with minimal benefits sucks...but holy cow the pressure/cost of opening your own business is also deranged

[@Saint-r5v]

This is an amazing video. Wish this existed when I decided to become self employed. I love the political convo entwined in this, I don't hear anyone else talking about it the way you did!

[@sophiamartin4076]

If you consider your manager to be exploiting your labor by taking 20% why wouldn’t you just not have a manager? If you paid them 0% would you feel that you were exploiting their labor then? How did you decide on 20%?

[@lauraelisee]

I definitely know freelance is not for me but I love seeing other people succeeding at it!

[@ToastyToasterToast]

24:14 - Susan passed away recently. Your point still comes across, but I was surprised to hear the mention of her in this context

[@rebeccalynpytell]

The uncertainty is the worst. One day I can feel on top of the world, other days I’m like holy sh*tttt

[@all4Dorian]

Self employment would involve multiple income streams of income. Not just be a content creator because it’s changed so much as well as the compensation structure. So hopefully you can do consulting as well etc. it out there just have to find your niche’s. Definitely don’t want to be a slave to and money generating task

[@aldenrose8804]

You actually can get vision insurance through Delta Dental of Washington (Vision plan). Depending on what your needs/expenses are it may or may not shake out to actually be beneficial for you. I am uninsured right now due to lack of full time employment so I have a combination of Medicaid, delta dental of Washington, and no vision insurance (I have messed up eyes so I go to Vancouver BC for my eyecare needs)

[@Junkforcac]

Good breakdown but labeling platform fees and a lack of equity in patreon as "wage theft" is definitely a hot take. I'm an electrician and it'd be crazy for me to demand equity from every company that hires me

[@Ernest_Kahn]

This was your BEST video.

[@graceharrison9861]

love that Wayne Thiebaud art by your desk

[@Katherout]

discovered thru a dear patreon book clubber of mine!

[@stevedavenport1202]

Lovin that Fremont Troll background 😊

[@LindaSaysThings]

Another really thought provoking insightful video! I've been saving money like crazy where I'm at a point now seriously contemplating stepping away from my 9-5 but I feel like I don't want to let my team down. And also healthcare and applying for a lot of housing is very dependent on 9-5 you feel kind of trapped

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

I relate to sleeping at 2am and being a night owl. I often film my videos at 9-11pm ha

[@MrVikingsandra]

Welcome to America! I moved to Seattle from Europe and I'm living my life time dream, don't get me wrong. I love it here and I'm here to stay but capitalism is very evident. It's really sad to see the way this system is set up. Like in Europe I'd get 28 days off per year as soon as I'd start working somewhere. I've been working here for 6 months and all I accumulated is HOURS! 😬

[@erich7861]

There’s a concept called technofeudalism that I think you’d find pretty interesting!

[@Katherout]

oh i'm already intrigued

[@David_10157]

This is a really useful video. Maybe I missed the part, but did you mention if it was worth it? I'm asking as someone in tech that has been considering the move but would give up a hefty mid-six figure salary in a medium cost of living area.

[@emmeline-tyler]

Haven't watched the video past 1:51 yet but wanted to comment now since you just told me to and I am nothing if not an obedient worker, ready to hand over my labour to anyone who asks :P Seriously though, Leena Norms recently did a video about the reality of content creators and made me rethink what the "freedom" is that is actually involved when you go from working for a corporation overlord to "working for yourself" but completely dependent on a platform in which you have no democratic say, the terms of your employment can change overnight with or without notice, and there is not really opportunity to unionise. I haven't read the book yet, but I believe it is the topic of the recently released book Technofeudalism by Yanis Varoufakis.

[@ThrowBackZone]

I love how you break down the reality of corporate vs. self-employment! 🤔 It’s not just about freedom; it’s also about dealing with the uncertainty. Do you think the pros outweigh the cons?

[@KK-yr2vc]

Tom Scott used to do guest videos in January, so he would take the month of making videos, while still keeping his channel active

[@icequeen7025]

What about the skills aspect? Idk what i wanna do. I graduated and didn’t get a job i didn’t have a degree in and my issue is im just skirting around and getting anxious about the market. What do i do. I wanna pursue KZbin since i was a kid but idk if its possible

[@figsandoranges]

Better help and credit karma ads came up for me during this video. Those are really common for me. An uncommon one that came up was for a psychic service...

[@meliachanel8062]

Amazing video

[@digitalfxpertagenc]

beautiful content

[@Dobermanmomma]

Anytime i have taken an employee position although its less complicated with taxes, insurance, etc i just cant give my entire life to a company. They ask for too much. You cant have a life at all with a good job as an employee. Id rather make less being self employed and keep my sanity and my agency in my own life. They even control when you sleep and when you wake up as an employee. I just cant. Im not a prisoner or slave.

[@WhenItsHalfPastFive]

don't mean this in a negative way at all, but what if you need to recline in your chair at your desk? maybe it's just the angle in the video, but it feels like there's barely any space behind you in your chair at your desk

[@Lion_McLionhead]

Wojcicki died in august, but the current inequality is unsustainable. The system only works when the top governs its own compensation fairly. If the top hoards all the resources while starving the rest of the colony, the colony eventually fails.

[@Melisssssa27]

Love this video concept but can you please turn down the background music?

[@nunuchaa]

not betterhelp haunting us alll and being an ad on this video LOL yikes :')

[@Katherout]

WTFFFFF SO META

[@runnahpodcast]

My T chart is being fired and not knowing where to even go next

[@robzan8]

Sounds like your corporate job was a toxic environment where people were "managed" through performance measurements and fear

[@Katherout]

right

[@SarahSchneider2]

Right like I showed up just about every workday for the entire time (6 months) and they let me go because I had 1 month where I didn't meet metrics. I had even said I had a lot of personal life things going on during that month that more than likely affected things (losing a family friend's pet who I was close to because I had been dog sitting for this dog multiple times a year for over 5 years and also another extremely close relative had surgery). In the 6 months time I only took 1 day off for doctor/dentist appointment, 1 day PTO day on the Friday of July 4th weekend (that they wanted us to take since the 4th fell on a Thursday this year), and 1 sick day (I needed a mental health day to deal with the personal life stress).

[@lauraelisee]

And some companies do have a more positive culture!

[@2rx_bni]

Girl ain't nobody want Kaiser 😭

[@BarknoorZ]

24:17 May she rest in peace tho

[@pharaohphoenix8348]

lool

[@whoashell]

i would love to take over your youtube and impersonate you for at least one video

[@Katherout]

HAHHHAHAHAH we can arrange that

[@Jeniveve]

Some feedback from a neurodivergent person, the background music is distracting. It’s also hard to listen to at 2x speed.

[@marcmeinzer8859]

One would have to be incredibly motivated to produce a worthwhile product in terms of VLOGs. The typical content creator is literally just indulging in unscripted rants and typically lacks the background to be at all convincing. If you want to be an opinionated crack-pot self publishing a book would be far less embarrassing methinks.

[@noseporquien]

Vision could actually be kinda be cheap if you need to pay out of pocket. Especially if you only need single lenses. If you need bifocals (or something more specialized) it could get costly. In my area, I’ve recently noticed that a lot of people don’t have vision insurance and if you go to Americas Best (for example) you can get a deal on frames and they’ll throw in a free eye exam.

[@VioletEmerald]

Costco has great deals on glasses without insurance.

[@donaldjohnson-e8f]

When I was seeing the homeless guys working on their signs yesterday at an intersection, it occurred to me that it's funny that we judge them for asking for money - but put something online and add a donation or subscribe button and that suddenly becomes different and acceptable. Something to ponder.

[@wandamosley2182]

What's with the irritating background music can't focus on what your saying. Irritating!!! Sad

[@ab76254]

Israel is not an apartheid and casually mentioning that was a mistake IMO

[@mm-rl4sd]

24:18 Hmmm she’s no longer making a salary…

[@IgnisMonstrum]

24:17 Sadly she isn't around to make fat stacks anymore 😔

[@Katherout]

i filmed this before 😭😭