Being self-employed isn’t the freedom fantasy many imagine. After years of freelancing, I’ve learned the real magic isn’t actual freedom—it’s the powerful illusion of it. And surprisingly, that illusion might be worth more than the real thing.

There used to be a tribe of us — developers who lived and breathed code, sharing discoveries and debating ideas late into the night. The profession grew, the tribe scattered. We’re still out there. Just harder to find.