Most people love the idea of being their own boss — setting your own schedule, not having to report to a manager, generally having more workplace freedom and defining your own company culture. In today’s market, the world is filled with young, ambitious, outside-the-box thinkers who want to become their own boss and control their destiny.
But being your own boss can come at a price, and it can be difficult to get started. There are many pros and cons of employment through a company versus self-employment. Here, we offer our tips to see if starting your own venture is really for you.
Time management and productivity
Perhaps the biggest challenge when working from home is to structure your time well and make sure you are being as productive as possible. Try setting a daily schedule and sticking to it as much as possible — it doesn’t have to be the classic nine to five grind, but having a consistent workday layout will help you stay focused and on track.
Because working from home can create an effect of “invisibility” that might limit your career growth, it’s a good idea to make sure you are very plugged in — use LinkedIn or other social media platforms pertaining to your field to stay in touch with others and keep yourself on the industry radar.
Office space
One of the draws of running your own personal business is that you don’t necessarily have to do so from an office. Working from home (or a coffee shop, library or park) can cut out the drama of office politics, remove the stress of an inconvenient commute and eliminate otherwise unavoidable workplace distractions. Many studies and surveys are suggesting that workers are more productive when they are not confined to office environments. One survey’s results indicated that out of 2,600 employees, only 24 percent reported getting their best work done at the office during business hours.
If you do decide that being your own boss is for you, but you get distracted when working from home, you might consider investing in an office space once your business has been established and funds allow — it’s all about knowing what works for you and creating the best space possible to do business.
Freelancing
When testing the waters of entrepreneurship, it can be immensely helpful to do some freelance work because it gives you a realistic taste of what it is like to structure your own time, while still working with the familiarity of deadlines. Consider freelance work opportunities like those
with Amway, the 30th largest private company in the U.S.
Other options
In light of the evidence suggesting that office environments might not be the best for productivity, lots of companies are now encouraging employees to work from home at least some of the time. If you crave a reprieve from the office environment but aren’t yet ready to make the leap to starting your own business, consider working for one of these companies.
