It’s no secret that the workforce is changing. Over 55 million workers in America are freelancers or independent business owners. The pandemic has only increased the number of freelancers as workers become fed up with the restraints of traditional employment. To say that freelancers are a driving force in the economy is an understatement. Freelancers contribute to the economy to the tune of 1+ billion hours and 1 trillion dollars. The traditional workforce is on notice.
PROBLEMS WITH THE TRADITIONAL WORKPLACE
I define traditional workplaces as places where you are working for someone else, don’t set your own hours, and don’t have any say in the work. This includes what many think of as part-time or starter jobs, such as Starbucks, as well as high-paying jobs with a corner office with a view. There are a lot of stories of people leaving these jobs heartbroken because they genuinely have had a wonderful experience. I bawled my eyes out on my last day at Starbucks in Lexington. Sadly, there is also an abundance of stories of people quitting on the spot because the work experience was so bad.
The main problem with the traditional workforce is the expectation that your job is the most important thing regardless of how well you are paid. Is a family member dying? Suck it up. Are you sick? Come to work unless you’re vomiting or have a fever. Oh, did we advertise the job at $11/hour? It’s actually minimum wage. Your availability? No, that means nothing to us. You’re getting married? No one can work for you, you’ll have to come in. There is absolutely no sense of boundaries, and instead, there is a sense of entitlement, that the employee’s time is a debt owed to the company.
YOU CAN START YOUR OWN COMPANY.
If you have been feeling like
You are undervalued
Your boundaries are constantly violated
You could do it better
You could do better
then starting your own business might be an option to explore. That being said, starting a business is not for the faint of heart. You have to deal with rejection regularly, sometimes clients don’t pay (check out freelancersunion.org for a great resource), people won’t always see your job as legitimate, and you have to put in a LOT of hours. If you’re not a self-starter, don’t have strong boundaries, are easily swayed by detractors, and don’t like long hours, it might not be for you. On the upside, I’ve learned to set strong boundaries with people and it’s gotten easier as I see my worth. Detractors still get to me, but I’ve learned not to let the criticism break me, and the reason I can handle the long hours is that I really love what I do. You don’t have to master these skills, but you do have to be prepared to develop them and learn how to apply them in a way that suits you.
GET STARTED NOW.
Yes, now. Don’t worry about the money just yet. You can start for free. Start with brainstorming business ideas, researching markets, and connecting with people. Maybe even start by evaluating yourself and working on yourself. Do you suck at setting boundaries? Learn more about how to do it. Explore how you might structure a day so that you can work best. Dig into what motivates you. Maybe you have a business idea. Develop a business plan. Lay some groundwork and in the meantime, find a way to get some money saved up.
The first thing I did was get a notebook to journal and track the journey of running a company, and develop a business plan. This can all be done for like $5 depending on how much you want to spend on a notebook.
WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT AND WHAT DO YOU LOVE?
One of my favorite quotes is by theologian Frederick Buechner: “Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need.” Here’s an exercise for you: get a piece of paper and draw two columns. In one column write down the things you are good at, and the things you love. In the other column, write down needs you see in your community. Take a look at where your skills could meet a need through a business or non-profit, considering solutions that don’t exist yet. Not sure what you’re good at? Go to your library or local bookstore and pick up a copy of What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles and go through that to help you out.
USE YOUR RESOURCES
You have a business idea, maybe you want to see if it’s a good idea. A viable idea. A great place to start is a local startup community through an organization like 1 Million Cups. It’s an organization that gives entrepreneurs and startups a place to pitch their idea and receive feedback, as well as free coffee. Find out what other opportunities there are for startups and new businesses and start getting connected when you can.
BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR YOURSELF
Running a business is challenging, but there are a lot of benefits to working for yourself.
Making your own schedule (even if you have to work a lot)
You’re the boss (sometimes that’s scary AF)
You can work from where you need to (local coffee joint or your couch?)
You end up being more passionate about your work (because you don’t have a passionless boss sucking your soul out)
You have creative freedom
You grow as a person in ways you won’t expect
You never stop learning
Depending on your business or your industry, you get to choose who to work with
I have been working for myself for 5 years now and I don’t have any regrets. It’s been extremely hard and I have shed many tears over my job. I have had shitty clients, one who bailed on his contract and cost me $4,000. I’ve learned hard lessons and I’m STILL learning hard lessons. I have had a lot of happy clients, enthusiastic clients, and worked with a lot of people that I absolutely adore. There isn’t a second of it, good or bad, that I would trade for anything. It’s been SO WORTH IT.
A nice camera does not a photographer make. Whatever your pursuit, make sure your work is worthy of the industry you will be joining. Make sure you have a competitive product.
A WORD OF CAUTION
Beware of get-rich-quick schemes and MLM (multi-level marketing, social marketing, network marketing). DO NOT FALL for them. They lure people in by promising the benefits of entrepreneurship, without delivering on the promise. Over 90% of the people who get involved in an MLM end up losing money.
Along similar lines, be wary of companies, mainly MLMs, who sell their “opportunity” as a chance to “own your own business.” You do not own your own business. Someone working for an MLM is working for the company they distribute for as an independent contractor. It is not the same thing.
Make sure you have a marketable skill set before you jump in. This is why asking what you’re good at is important. You won’t make it in business if you have no marketable skills.
Make sure that you have a product that is worthy of the industry. For example, it’s all too common that people buy a ”nice camera” and open up a “photography business” the next day. A subpar product will leave you with pissed-off customers, or undercut the very industry you’re trying to join.
There are no shortcuts here. Just enjoy the journey.