Many people dream of working for themselves but to quit your job and work for yourself is one of the boldest and scariest moves an adult can make, and not many do.
A lot of conventional employees dream of one day throwing in their 9–6, venturing into other opportunities. They might want to become their own boss, pack up and go travelling the world or even both! Thailand, Melbourne and Mexico are excellent destinations for remote workers!
Many people are working remotely from different countries. Sometimes the unknown and made-up fear can stop someone from making their dream of quitting their job and working for themselves a reality, but once you put yourself in a compromising position, you just make it work. As we know from the recent Covid-19 pandemic, humans are excellent at adapting. Now is a great time to make that transition you’ve always wanted. There is no better time than the present!
If you have been working for someone else, and have produced great results for them and their company. There is no reason you cannot replicate your success in your own venture and reap the rewards and possibility of the unlimited holiday.
The prospects in life are endless. Many people who scrutinise the possibilities of starting a new business, need several months or years to put their launch plan together. Starting a business is both exciting and scary at the same time. Confidence really is key, and having a strong sense of self-belief will affect your startup’s success.
If your current day job is secure, then you are one of the lucky ones who can plan the transition before you hand in your letter of resignation. Good Planning allows you to leave your current job in a professional way, on good terms, not theirs. You may end up collaborating with connections from the past. So be mindful and try not to burn any bridges.
Why should I quit my job and work for myself?
1. I want to control the companies process and structure
It’s frustrating when you need a new pack of pens or an upgraded computer, and it takes forever. What seems like a small ask, turns into something big. It can take from a few hours to a few weeks. This can make your job extremely hard and take focus away from projects that need to be finalised. When you’re the boss… Just go and buy it!
2. I want to challenge myself, and have more control over the different areas of the business
You’re experienced in your sector but don’t have much experience in the other departments, however, you admire from afar what everybody does.
Selling, marketing, Design, Admin, Finance.. You can experience every aspect of the business or you could stick to what you love and outsource to people who love what they do. Either way, the decision is in your hands. Upwork and Fiver are excellent platforms to find freelancers.
3. Is there a better way to solve problems at work?
Problem-solving is essential to all good business. Are you a natural problem solver who helps people with your advice, skill set, creativity, knowledge, and network connections?
Other people often take credit for your hard work and ideas. If you’re lucky enough to work for a company that does exactly what you love doing and always wanted to do, you’re one of the lucky few! But most people find themselves working on something that was never a passion. Ultimately, the feeling of finding ourselves not being able to make much of a visible difference can be de-heartening. Especially if we work in a big corporate company and you’re just a cog in the wheel.
Focusing on your passions and doing what you’ve always wanted to, comes hand in hand when working for yourself. You can work to your own vision. In your own company, you can make a bigger difference, all the decisions and accountabilities are yours.
4. I crave scheduling flexibility that my current job doesn’t have
It’s Monday. You’re stuck on a train headed to work, just stop what you’re doing for a moment and look around. Really look around, if you can. You feel an aura of negative energy. Nothing beats romance like being crammed into a sweaty train like a pack of sardines and then once you’re in the office, you sit in a row of desks next to other people you don’t necessarily like, under strips of artificial lights. This repeats until Friday.
Working for someone else, you have to apply for a work/life balance. You’re often expected to work long hours, work through lunch, and do overtime for no extra money. Your boss calls the shots and if there’s a big projected work deadline, holiday requests could get rejected.
5. I want my own office space
Do you really, honestly, think you will miss your co-workers? Even the one who listened to her music without headphones? What about the brand manager who laughs out loud at everything that comes out of the director’s mouth? Or that messy specimen of a human who loves clutter and drinking from multiple cups?
You may even joke about this with your favourite co-workers who you decide to bring on into your new venture.
The best thing about having your own office space is, creating and nurturing the rules that you have been craving to create. If you decide one day you want to allow pets into the workplace, you can!
The Final Point
When you are doing something you are passionate about, you feel much better about burning the midnight oil. Working for yourself puts you in the position of controlling your own working hours and schedule.
You are accountable for everything that happens. Decide when to switch off for the evening and when to take a day off. You can set up your home office exactly as you like it, listen to your own music, work in your pyjamas if you want, and if you feel like taking the Italian Greyhound for a walk at lunchtime that’s perfectly acceptable. Create your own culture, instead of working to someone else’s!
As you finish reading this article, answer this question… What would make you quit your job, and work for yourself?
