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Contractor Management

Six Signs It’s Time to Be Your Own Boss…

By 19 June 2020No Comments

If you’ve been sitting at home thinking that you would love to be your own boss, you’re not alone. I came across a piece written by Caroline Castrillon back in late 2018 early 2019, that I thought I would put my COVID-19 version on re ‘thinking of becoming your own boss’…

While “Be your own Boss” sounds exciting to many, it might be very daunting or difficult for others. Leaving behind a steady income and jumping into something completely new would not be an easy decision to make… Perhaps you have already considered self-employment, but you are scared to take the next step. You have thoughts like – ‘Am I too old’, ‘Is it the right time and right thing to do’, ‘I don’t have the money’, ‘What if I fail’, ‘Is it appropriate to take the risk?’. Well, it’s true – not everyone is made to become their own boss. However, let me tell you – if you are having second thoughts like these and experiencing some fear, that actually means you are ambitious and dreaming big.

Here are six signs it may be time to become your own boss:

  1. For ages, you have dreamt it!

It may have crossed your mind a 100 times a day, you may have researched multiple business ideas, talked to people you know who are already doing it and you may have also mentioned about it to your friends and family. It’s not a thought that can leave you anytime but something that follows you day after day, month after month and year after year. You keep saying to yourself, ‘I want to be my own boss’ and ‘I want to work for myself’. Yet, you continue to convince yourself that either it’s too late, too expensive or too risky compared to your ‘secure’ corporate job. You might not be sure about it, but the thoughts just don’t go away. But if you have been thinking of being your own boss, it’s time you should start acting.

  1. Climbing the ladder in a traditional nine-to-five job is no more your thing!

While you are working for someone else, chances are you have been spending your career climbing the corporate ladder. However, in the gig economy, climbing the ladder is no more the ultimate goal. In fact, in the gig-economy, many are bidding goodbye to the traditional nine-to-five jobs and ladder climbing to fulfil personal achievements/goals.

Possibly, you are already very successful by society’s standards, but your job doesn’t provide the satisfaction or the fulfilment that you crave. You are doing great at your workplace, managing teams and at times playing different roles if you have to, securing a six-figure salary, earning a title and status but even after all this, waking up every day to go to work feels like a chore, you wonder why you don’t feel satisfied. You look around the office or your room at home and say to yourself ‘Is this all there is?’. You tend to live for vacations and weekends, and spending the weekend recovering from the work week. And finally, you have decided to reflect your values in your work and do what makes you happy.

  1. You want a different work persona!

Mike Robbins, the author of Bring Your Whole Self to Work, explains that we can be better and more satisfied if we show ourselves up completely and authentically instead of trying to hide ourselves. It’s like you don’t recognise yourself anymore. You have gone too far from the real you and from the things that once gave you happiness and peace. Do you know why all of this is taking appeal? It’s mainly because a great amount of your energy is used in playing this role at your work. Basically, this means you need to be a completely different person at work to be successful (Imagine being you all the time, wouldn’t it be so good!?). Maybe ask the people who are close to you, they might have noticed the change within you and your personality, your lack of energy and enthusiasm you once had. It might have also affected your personal relationships.

  1. You feel suffocated and restricted!

You feel suffocated and restricted all the time in your corporate job. You like being the creative type of person who loves to be filled with energy and inspiration every day, rather than a person who is frustrated and irritated all the time because your job is sucking the right energy out of you. You want to be the one to decide what hours you will work, where to work, whom you will work for and when you will take a holiday. You have had enough with the never-ending conference calls and meetings while having to repeat the same terms with them again and again. If you imagine being in the driver’s seat and having more control over your future, this is the time you should start thinking about the creative persona you are and do what you love!

  1. The thought of change is better than the status quo!

You have finally reached the point where the idea of continuing your corporate job another minute is just intolerable. Your mental health is being affected. You are tired of doing the same monotonous work you do every day since you don’t even remember when! Your creativity and inner peace have just been put on hold. You no longer feel challenged and think you are meant for something greater. You want to leave behind a legacy that you can be proud of. You are now ready to start a new path and give it a try, even if you don’t exactly know how is it going to be. Perhaps you have identified the destination and just need to create a roadmap to get there.

  1. You don’t want to return to the office after working remotely

You are just not ready to return to the traditional nine-to-five corporate job. Waking up early in the morning, commuting to the office every day, coming back home too tired to spend time with your loved ones, it just makes you feel terrible from inside. Because of the current COVID situation, you have had a chance to identify yourself and questioning yourself if you are ready to take this leap. Having worked remotely and been more independent, you now feel confident that you could go it alone, putting yourself there and become your own boss either as a contractor providing your services or by setting up your own Pty Ltd company and engaging in business activities.

If this sounds like you, congratulations, you may be destined to be your own boss!

If your dream is to work for yourself, don’t let it go. After all, if you don’t have big goals and dreams, you’ll probably end up working for someone who does. If you want to discuss more how you can be your own boss, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

Purnima Kabra