Lisa Terry, Freelance Writer, California

Lisa Terry is a California-based independent contractor writing content for technology companies and business-to-business media. Thirty years ago, Lisa turned to freelancing to accommodate the demands of motherhood, increase her wages beyond what she could make in staff positions, and gain greater control over her hours and projects. This choice paid off countless times for her, both personally and professionally. The flexibility of freelancing allowed Lisa to take her chronically ill daughter to medical appointments and address extended family needs as they arose. It has also benefitted her clients: working for a variety of publishers and tech firms has provided a broader perspective on the markets she covers, which makes for better quality work.

Those benefits continue as Lisa nears retirement.

“The choice to become an independent contractor enables women and older workers like me to avoid workplace discrimination, provides caregivers and those with disabilities the flexibility to work when and how they are able, and allows Americans of all stripes to earn income on their own terms,” Lisa says. “It allows people starting a business to have that first big client. It means never losing all your income at once because a big company decided it needs more profit. Independent contracting means empowerment.”