If you told me almost 9 years ago that I would be self-employed and absolutely loving what I do, I would have laughed in your face! I never imagined being my own boss, working the hours I want to work, doing what I want to do when I want to and working with whom I want to. 9 years ago, I would have been scared to death of not having the comfort blanket of a regular income paid to me by an employer.
Looking back, I hated Mondays, that was the day we had the company board meeting, and, because I was dreading it, I used to get myself all worked up over the weekend and never really had any down time from ‘the job’ and my attitude and behaviour affected my family. So, when I was made redundant it was a sense of relief but also blind panic. What do I do now, where do I go, how do I pay my bills, who will employ someone my age? That was when I decided…. I’m going to do it myself and be my own boss. Undoubtedly THE best decision I’ve ever made in my working career.
It doesn’t matter what it is you decide to work at, I happen to love Social Media and that’s why I became a Social Media for Business Trainer, as long as when you get up in a morning, sit down at your desk and open up your laptop, that each and every day you’re loving it. Don’t get me wrong, self-employment is not a bed of roses. When you lose a client you instantly panic, oh my god, what am I going to do, how am I going to pay my bills, but then…..with every door that closes another one opens. You need to enjoy your self-employment business journey….not just focus on the end goal. We should all set goals obviously but how we get there should make us happy, otherwise what is the point?
My journey is a day by day one. I decide every day what it is I’m going to do. I decide if I am going to Network and where, I decide whether I’m going to finish work at lunch time and take the wife out for the afternoon, I decide when I am going to go on holiday and how often. I am fortunate enough to be able to do my job anywhere in the world providing I have access to the Internet.
If you are considering self-employment, don’t do it lightly, do have a proper plan that doesn’t need to be set in stone (I originally was going to be an HR consultant!), I had the knowledge and the training but it wasn’t my passion. Do something that you believe in 100% and which you enjoy. Remember it’s as much about the journey as it is the destination. I love my life!!
If you’d like to chat, get in touch with me, Mark Northall