The decision to move into self-employment has never been one that's taken lightly.
Shrouded in doubt and uncertainty, even today’s most successful entrepreneurs would have navigated pros and cons lists, Magic 8 balls, and even resorted to ‘heads and tails', before finally making the leap into self-employment.
Ask anyone who's started a business how they are and you'll undoubtedly receive the response "I'm busy" or "I'm stressed".
And that would be the truth. There's no denying it. Life, as a business owner, is busy and stressful.
Next, ask them if they'd change a thing, and you will always be met with a resounding NO!
If you're considering taking the leap into self-employment, and, even if you're not, here are seven reasons why no business owner would ever go back.
1. Freedom to make your own decisions.
When you work for an employer, there's only so much leeway you have to make your own decisions. It doesn't matter how high up the pecking order you are, unless you sit right at the top in a CEO position, there'll always be someone to potentially say no to your ideas, if they choose to. Your manager or leader might tell you you've got free reign, but the buck really does stop with them.
When you're self-employed, your decision-making capacity is unlimited! Marketing campaigns, website design, sales strategy…all you, you, and you! And the best bit? You don't have to justify your decisions to anyone else! You can do what you want, just because you want to.
2. Endless personal and professional growth.
As a self-employed member of the workforce, most days are a steep learning curve. You'll generally be required to wear many hats and each role will come with personal and professional lessons you didn't even know you needed to learn!
With the reputation and success of your business at stake, your responses to people and situations will all contribute to your personal and professional arsenal of skills which will help you grow into your future.
3. Flexibility.
The flexibility that comes with self-employment is envied by employees across the globe. Last minute holiday? No problem! Working overseas for a month? Where do I sign! Feel like a doona day in the middle of the week? That's your prerogative!
That's not to say that people who are self-employed work less than their employed counterparts, because in my experience I know that's not the case, but they can certainly choose when and where that work takes place.
4. You can do something you love.
When you're self-employed, your whole role revolves around a product or service that you've created and which you have a passion for. Whether you're working in a professional capacity in the area you studied, or whether you're bringing your unique entrepreneurial vision to life, you can immerse yourself in something that sets you inner light on fire every single day. Job satisfaction to the max!
5. No two days are ever the same.
Some people can't think of anything worse than getting in a rut or routine. For those people, stepping into self-employment is a humdinger of a way to make sure life never gets boring! It's very rare that as a business owner two days will ever be the same. Sales meetings, proposals, suppliers, investment opportunities, customer service, buying and selling…the list goes on of potential ways you can spend your days and each one has more opportunity to highlight and enhance your own unique skill set than the one before.
6. You can make an impact on the world.
The reasons someone turns to self-employment are many and varied. Perhaps you're financially motivated and you have a ground-breaking idea on how you can make a lot of money, quickly. Maybe you want to make a difference to people less fortunate than yourself. Or maybe you're just done with working hard for someone else to reap the benefits. Whatever your ‘why', self-employment is your opportunity to make your mark in the world.
Regardless of your industry, product, or service, the number of people you can touch with your business is limitless. You can create a life-changing product, offer a revolutionary service that impacts people daily, or follow a more traditional professional route but do it bigger and better than anyone before you. Whatever you decide to do with your business, it's your name behind the logo and you, and only you, who's making it all happen.
7. It's rewarding.
Self-employment is hard work but it's undeniably one of the most rewarding ventures you can commit to. With your personal and professional results directly linked to your output, you’ll have the opportunity to build on your results day after day to build an empire as big as you choose.
While the thought of the responsibility resting on your shoulders might fill some people with dread, watching the fruits of your labour grow is a feeling so rewarding there's nothing in the employment world that can compare.
If you're at the stage of your life where career is important to you, there's no denying that self-employment is the way forward. Not only will it give you an opportunity to change the world for the better, but it'll also give the world the opportunity to change you in return.
What are you waiting for?
