Why I Work for Myself and Why You Can Too
Self-employed Nepali Woman. Source: aesta1
Pretty much everything that can be said has been said about working for yourself.
You set your own pace, do your own planning, are accountable for your own decisions and you own your own wins.
But like golf, there are no excuses. If you whiff, there's no one else to blame.
But there are some other considerations. If you're an idea factory, the lost time between design and implementation shrinks to your own performance.
Style adjustments are personal, not corporate. You can outsource almost everything except your own core competence so really focused on what you're good at.
The barriers between work and leisure and learning can fall apart as your life integrates around what makes you happiest. When you get your first peak in the mirror each morning, the face looking back into you is the Boss. No place to hide, no one to blame. It's just you.
Working for yourself is an epiphany for some people but for others, it is the living hell of total accountability. What kind of person are you?
You set your own pace, do your own planning, are accountable for your own decisions and you own your own wins.
But like golf, there are no excuses. If you whiff, there's no one else to blame.
But there are some other considerations. If you're an idea factory, the lost time between design and implementation shrinks to your own performance.
Style adjustments are personal, not corporate. You can outsource almost everything except your own core competence so really focused on what you're good at.
The barriers between work and leisure and learning can fall apart as your life integrates around what makes you happiest. When you get your first peak in the mirror each morning, the face looking back into you is the Boss. No place to hide, no one to blame. It's just you.
Working for yourself is an epiphany for some people but for others, it is the living hell of total accountability. What kind of person are you?
Woman Conducting Business in Oman. Source: aesta1
For myself, there is no there way. I have been raise by consummate entrepreneurs so this is the only way I knew.
Here are some of the key points I treasure in working for myself:
1. Freedom
The freedom to work anywhere, at my own pace, my own time, my own favorite place and the way I want to go about it.
This is key to my decision as after my husband retired, he went on to be a consultant and I join him wherever his contracts are. Sometimes, I pick a contract i the same place but often, I have to think of what I can do more productively with my time.
Not only that. It even gets better.
Imagine yourself sitting in your favorite corner of your garden with your special blend of coffee or tea researching freely on your computer without constantly checking your back for someone who might report you to your boss because you probably were viewing the squidoo lenses of your friend or another friend's pictures on facebook. That is what I am doing now. I have two laptops in front of me and several sites constantly grabbing my attention. I love it.
Here are some of the key points I treasure in working for myself:
1. Freedom
The freedom to work anywhere, at my own pace, my own time, my own favorite place and the way I want to go about it.
This is key to my decision as after my husband retired, he went on to be a consultant and I join him wherever his contracts are. Sometimes, I pick a contract i the same place but often, I have to think of what I can do more productively with my time.
Not only that. It even gets better.
Imagine yourself sitting in your favorite corner of your garden with your special blend of coffee or tea researching freely on your computer without constantly checking your back for someone who might report you to your boss because you probably were viewing the squidoo lenses of your friend or another friend's pictures on facebook. That is what I am doing now. I have two laptops in front of me and several sites constantly grabbing my attention. I love it.
Business Women in Oman. Source: aesta1
2. Control
Yes, the key word is control. I am not a total control freak but owning your own time and your own creativity is one I value most.
Right now, I am in my kitchen working and preparing dinner at the same time. I don't have to sit in my cubicle in an office, wishing the traffic will not be so bad so I will have enough time to cook a good dinner when I get home. I can just stand up and cut some vegetables when I get tired sitting in front of my computer.
More? I can get up and watch Martha Stewart or Moneywatch on television. I can go out and say hello to my plants. I have control of my time. Mind you, this does not mean I don't work hard. I work much harder. But I don't mind this. Why?
Yes, the key word is control. I am not a total control freak but owning your own time and your own creativity is one I value most.
Right now, I am in my kitchen working and preparing dinner at the same time. I don't have to sit in my cubicle in an office, wishing the traffic will not be so bad so I will have enough time to cook a good dinner when I get home. I can just stand up and cut some vegetables when I get tired sitting in front of my computer.
More? I can get up and watch Martha Stewart or Moneywatch on television. I can go out and say hello to my plants. I have control of my time. Mind you, this does not mean I don't work hard. I work much harder. But I don't mind this. Why?
3. Incentive to work harder
Yes, I work much harder because I know everything I earn goes to MOI. I am making revenue and profit for MOI. This might sound selfish but it is making me work harder.
I just love earning that money and have the freedom to decide how I want it allocated. I share so much of what I earn to those who are disadvantaged. So think of how much good you can bring to many lives.
When your business succeeds, you can employ more people. Add to that employment numbers!
Yes, I work much harder because I know everything I earn goes to MOI. I am making revenue and profit for MOI. This might sound selfish but it is making me work harder.
I just love earning that money and have the freedom to decide how I want it allocated. I share so much of what I earn to those who are disadvantaged. So think of how much good you can bring to many lives.
When your business succeeds, you can employ more people. Add to that employment numbers!
4. No cap to your creative potential
I can choose challenging projects to broaden my experience and make me a more open and knowledgeable person. That is what my husband does now. He only accepts projects that pushes him to learn new things because he works for himself.
On my part, I can be very creative. I can explore as much as I want whatever project I do. I can use my energy to think out ideas for the business or the project with only the end user or the clients in mind and not someone else who might not be happy with whatever ideas I have.
I get feedback, too. But from people I respect and not from someone imposed on me. Wow. Am I really this individualistic? Arrogant, perhaps? Maybe, but I now use my energy for constructive things and not for unnecessary worries, office politics and competition.
I can choose challenging projects to broaden my experience and make me a more open and knowledgeable person. That is what my husband does now. He only accepts projects that pushes him to learn new things because he works for himself.
On my part, I can be very creative. I can explore as much as I want whatever project I do. I can use my energy to think out ideas for the business or the project with only the end user or the clients in mind and not someone else who might not be happy with whatever ideas I have.
I get feedback, too. But from people I respect and not from someone imposed on me. Wow. Am I really this individualistic? Arrogant, perhaps? Maybe, but I now use my energy for constructive things and not for unnecessary worries, office politics and competition.
5. I can be more productive and have time for other things I like to do
I can be more productive. There are few disruptions. Then, I can spend more time with my friends when I finish my work earlier. I can do things I like to do.
Sometimes, I finish a whole day's work in a few hours. Four hours of uninterrupted, productive work is worth a day in an office. I can do more or enjoy the rest of the day. Or be pampered in the spa, go shopping, read a new novel, or do something for others. Or, spend the whole day writing. I can live a more balanced life. What more can I ask for?
I can be more productive. There are few disruptions. Then, I can spend more time with my friends when I finish my work earlier. I can do things I like to do.
Sometimes, I finish a whole day's work in a few hours. Four hours of uninterrupted, productive work is worth a day in an office. I can do more or enjoy the rest of the day. Or be pampered in the spa, go shopping, read a new novel, or do something for others. Or, spend the whole day writing. I can live a more balanced life. What more can I ask for?
Here are resource for those who want to work for self - Ideas for working on your own
We all need to know some of the basic steps of working for ourselves and here are books that give you just that.
I don't know about you but I do find handbooks easy to follow. These books are well prepared and obviously written by those who have been successful in the freelance economy. Having these books is like having mentors with you all the time.
We all need to know some of the basic steps of working for ourselves and here are books that give you just that.
I don't know about you but I do find handbooks easy to follow. These books are well prepared and obviously written by those who have been successful in the freelance economy. Having these books is like having mentors with you all the time.
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Have you been working for yourself? What has been your experience? Thank you for your visit.
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And, don't forget to share this with your followers.