Why the Decline of the Spanish Empire is Useful for Freelancers
A History of the World is a useful primer for high school and college students. Here’s a passage from the 1989 edition:
In the middle of the sixteenth century, Spain had been regarded as the foremost power in Europe… Within a century however, Spain lost most of its power, and in 1700 the Spanish Hapsburg line came to an end…
Read on, fellow freelancers! How this history lesson applies to all of us is up next.
The book continues by listing the specific causes of Spain’s decline, detailing how the country focused too much on its distant colonies, neglecting important matters at home.
As you build your freelancing career, you’ll most likely create your own “empire.” Numerous contacts you can depend on for new projects, well-paying retainerships to ensure regular income, and better tools to make projects a little easier. Not to mention the freedom allowed by greater control over your schedule and the potential for higher earnings.
But maintaining all these can be very demanding. While enjoying the rewards of your freelancing efforts, you may end up forgetting what’s also important: Yourself.
Your skills and dedication let you find success as a freelancer. But if you remain content with the amount of ability and passion you possess, never taking efforts to improve them, you’ll eventually stagnate and get left behind. This neglect becomes so easy when you’re enjoying the fruits of your labor. You’ve already found success, based on your current level of progress. Why not just rest on your laurels?
For the same reason I’ve just mentioned. Be content with where you are, never investing the returns of your freelancing career in self-improvement, and you’ll suffer when someone who can do the job better and faster comes along.
The Spanish Empire used its newfound wealth from its conquests for short-term gain, merely enjoying them. They were too busy enjoying the spices, gold, and the perks of being a world power. The eventual rise of the British Empire happened at the same time Spain was losing its power. If they just invested some of their gains into their own society and infrastructure, their world dominance would’ve lasted a lot longer.
If you’re a freelancer currently enjoying the spoils of your “empire,” remember never to be content with what you have. More specifically, never forget to always improve yourself, no matter how much you’ve accomplished. For it is only through constant self-improvement can we hope to assure our continued success as freelancers.
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