What it's Really Like Working for Yourself
The hustle culture makes people think those who are self-employed wake up whenever they want, work for a few hours then shut off the computer by lunchtime to go do whatever they want for the rest of the day. While that might be possible for the rare few who manage to turn their idea into a successful business, it’s not like that for the vast majority of us. As someone who has been doing this for a few years, here are some harsh realities about being a solopreneur.
Hard to switch off
Your life revolves around your business. It will only grow if you’re working at it, especially when you’re starting out and you’re the one person who does everything from creation to production. And even if you did pour in all your heart and soul, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will take off. Your mind ends up being geared toward seeking out and developing business ideas, even when you’re having a break. The idealised ‘freedom’ of a flexible schedule is really only attained when one’s business has achieved a stabilised income. Until then, it is a mostly unpaid slog with little certainty.
Flexible schedules aka very free
I tend to wake up later but also work into the night. If you happen to come from an Asian family, chances are that means you have family who think you are very free because you don’t start getting ready to get to your job while it’s still dark. The idea of working from home is still catching on in some places, so don’t be surprised if you have people thinking you’re slacking off. If you’re like me, you might find yourself telling people you still work at your old job so you don’t have to deal with their judgement.
Have a good stash of savings
It might be a while before you start seeing some actual income, then a while longer before that income stabilises. Until then, you’re going to need to have savings to live off. There aren’t promotions, pay raises or bonuses. Fortunately, the upside is that all the profits are yours to keep. Eventually.
The one-person army.
When you work for yourself, there isn’t a job scope because you do everything. If you like making art but hate negotiating contracts, guess what you’ve got to do it too. You need to learn to use social media, how to network, how to invoice etc. Always remember that working for yourself is half creation, half running a business and all the nuts and bolts that go with it. Be ready to get your hands dirty because they will.
Also, this might be especially daunting for extroverts. If you’re an introvert like me, working alone is fine. But if you thrive off social interaction and colleagues, being at home alone all day working at a computer might seem too much.
Conclusion
So why do this?
Because you love doing what you love more than you hate the work it takes to get there. There aren’t any shortcuts and the road is long with many detours. But for me, I would rather make that trek than to be stuck in my old job, always wondering what might have happened if I had dared to make the leap. So if there are days when you want to set fire to your workspace or question why you even bothered with any of this in the first place, I hope you feel a little better knowing there are others who feel the exact same way.
