Some people can fear the unknown, and one of the biggest fears people can have is working for themselves. Sure the idea of it is appealing. Setting your hours, having the flexibility to enjoy your life at home as well as earn a decent living. These things are big benefits, but there are drawbacks. You lose the security of a job and employment that guaranteed income and even the support you get from co-workers. There are some common reasons why people don’t take the plunge, but here are some of the reasons why you shouldn’t let them put you off.
Not being paid
A big worry people will have about working for themselves is getting paid. Sure you may offer a service and have a product to sell, but as a one-person operation how can you guarantee that you will be paid? There are no guarantees, but as a home business owner, you can do things professionally such as using an invoice generator to raise those invoices. You can put terms and conditions in them to cover yourself, such as payment windows and also late fees. The actual scenario of not getting paid is rare, but covering yourself will give your extra security.
The loneliness of working for yourself
Working for yourself can be quite lonely at times. You can miss the team spirit, having someone to chat to in the mornings or simply having the support for doing the job in the first place. But working for yourself doesn’t mean you can’t have that. Networking events are a great way to liaise with other like-minded individuals. You can also make contacts locally, and join forces with other businesses.
The fine line of working from home
Working from home is harder than you might think to do. It may seem like the dream to wear what you want, work from your bed or your sofa and pick and choose when you do it. But working from home means you have distractions. You have the TV, you have your things, and you have the reminder of things that need to be done in your homes such as washing or chores. It can mean that you feel like there is never an end to work and where home life begins. Having a designated area to work can help with this, dressing for the day, and even taking your laptop out and working from a cafe with WiFi for a change of scenery.
Is it more stressful?
Finally, is it stressful to work for yourself? Of course, it is. But there is no evidence to suggest it is any more or any less stressful than having a job. There will still be things that need to be done, deadlines to meet. However, you will find that you are possibly more motivated when working for yourself because you are accountable for it. You need to earn a living and the business that you are doing maybe something you are more passionate about and inspired to do. Stress can be any aspect of our lives, and it shouldn’t’ be a reason not to pursue your dream of being your boss.
Looking at things from a different way can sometimes help us see that it isn’t all that bad.