Becoming Your Own Boss
Meet Kashmiere Lechinsky, a mother, cancer survivor, and an RN that went from punching the clock to making her own schedule.
Independent work has hit an all time high with a significant increase in professionals and highly skilled workers opting to become their own bosses. Nursing is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, and is a viable option for those dreaming of independent work. While many dream of becoming their own boss, Kashmiere Leschinsky, an RN in the Chicago area, is doing it.
Leschinsky didn’t anticipate becoming her own boss at the start of her nursing career, but now says she certainly wouldn’t change it. “I’m not [planning] to get a staff job ever again. I don’t want to have someone [else] say ‘you have to work these days or these hours’ or ‘you have to tell me what days you want off.’ I’ll never go back to a staff job.”
Leschinsky comes from a modest background. After having her first child in high school, she was diagnosed with cancer at age 20. It was her experience as a cancer survivor that originally drew her towards a profession in healthcare. “ [Fighting cancer] was scary and stressful. I was in a dark place at that time.” Although it was a challenging road, Leschinsky knew she wanted to become a nurse. “Being a mom and in school was rough. I worked full time [on the] night shift. At the time, I didn’t even have a car. I took public transportation to get to work and school.”
Leschinsky graduated at the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, and found herself in a full-time staff position as an RN. Leschinsky quickly realized she didn’t enjoy being locked into a schedule and craved flexibility. “A lot of the nurses were doing contract [work], but you’re locked into a schedule with [contract work]. I don’t like that. [Then] someone told me about Clipboard. I downloaded [the app] and it was easy. Clock in, clock out. Pay instantly.” Leschinsky signed up with Clipboard Health and was on-boarded and working within 24 hours. She immediately found the flexibility and independence she had been longing for.
Through Clipboard Health, Leschinsky has the freedom and flexibility to navigate parenting, travel, and new hobbies as well. “I try not to overexert myself. [I want to have] time with my kids. If I do two or three days of work, I’ll take two or three days off to spend time with my kids. I get offered staff positions all the time, but I’m never tempted to take them. I always politely decline. No, no, staff nurse is not for me.”
As her own boss, Leschinsky has the autonomy to build her own schedule, which is especially important since she has extensive travel plans. “[As your own boss] you do not have to put in a vacation request. Sometimes [in staff positions] vacation requests get denied. I do not like that. I should be able to take a vacation when I want to take a vacation. With Clipboard, if I want to take a vacation, I can. As staff, you only get so many vacation hours per year. I took my kids to Disney World three times last year with the money I’ve made from Clipboard. We are going back to Universal Studios in June. We’re going to a waterpark, and we’re going on a cruise.”
Not only has she found freedom and flexibility, but also has seen more earnings than ever before. As a staff worker, industry standards generally determine your salary. With independent work, there’s no employer controlling the hourly wage or annual salary. Leschinsky is one example of many who have taken control of their finances through independent work. She’s able to provide for her children in a way that didn’t seem possible even just a few years ago. “I’m going to buy my 16-year-old [son] a car. I want him to have something kind of nice. Growing up, we didn’t even get to ask my mother for things like that. It feels really good to be able to do this [for my children]. It’s a great feeling.”
Leschinsky certainly enjoys independent work and being her own boss, and she’s not alone; the data supports higher job satisfaction, optimism about career opportunities, and even a greater sense of stability among independent workers. “I love Clipboard. I’ll probably be using Clipboard forever. The app is super easy to use and the instant pay is amazing. The freedom is the best [part]. You can just be your own boss. You can work when you want. You can work around anything [that may be] going on in your life – your kids, school functions, etc. You pick the hours you want to work.”
Interested in learning more about becoming your own boss? Start your journey with independent work here.
