I have to get something off my chest.

I’ve seen an influx of emails lately from startup founders. They’re looking for “top-notch people” like me to join their team. “One of the fastest growing companies in [enter pseudonym for tech region here],” they say. “You’d be fucking nuts not to jump on this fast train to Cashville,” they imply. The team is always “highly talented and collaborative.” And I’m sure that’s mostly true. I envy most startup teams. There are so many very talented people out there, making things that will change how we interact with each other and with the world. I mean no disrespect to those who decide to take a risk and tackle huge problems.

When I receive such an email, I kindly respond with a “thanks, but…” I’ve worked on startups as a full-time designer and as a contractor. I know what it takes, so I tell them I’m not looking to join any team full-time, but I would love to discuss their immediate needs and see if I could be of service as a contractor.

Maybe I’m crazy for not joining in. It’s not that I’m risk averse. After all, I took a giant risk three years ago, when I decided to trust the path that was continually appearing steps ahead of me. I became an independent designer. With the kind word of a few acquaintances, I began building my business through their referrals. Repeat ad nauseam and you’ll find me today: very content with my utter freedom to take the jobs I want, when I want, working at peak-creativity and providing excellent service to my clients. The risk I took has paid off decidedly well in both personal sanity and financial terms. It would take something absolutely huge and humanitarian for me to give that up.

Usually, if they respond at all, they are understanding and ask if I know anyone else. (I don’t—my excellent designer friends are also freelancers and also don’t want to work for you). This latest response though, was a slap in the face:

“We don’t work with contractors because they don’t have skin in the game — having been on both sides of the fence, the best work in my experience comes from teams that are in it for the haul, not the project. It’s hard to do great work by passing things off.

Firstly, it’s, “the long haul.” Secondly, I run a business. I don’t freelance because I’m lazy. I don’t contract because I’m antisocial, nor do I want to simply cash a check while half-assing it for nine hours a day, eight days a week. If I wanted to do that, I’d take a salary. No, I am independent because I believe it’s the best way for me to provide the most value to my clients. I do it because I believe that when I am able to take a day off mid-week to go hiking because my creativity level is at a critical low, it allows me to refill and do my best work the next day. I believe I could join any team at any stage in their product’s development and contribute greatly to the process. I have done so many times.

I am not without regrets. I’ve failed some clients, whether they realize it or not. If you were to break down each scenario, I believe you would find that I failed them in not having defined my process clearly enough; by caving in and doing something even though I disagreed with it; by not speaking up when they moved the goal post; or, my favorite: the CEO was a nut who didn’t actually want a design leader but rather, a puppet, and I played along.

I have never failed a client by passing things off because I didn’t “have skin in the game.” If you meet a freelancer who does that, do me a favor and tell them to take a full-time gig. And the next time you email me looking for a designer to join your startup, pay a little respect: I’m making a profit.