Being self-employed, with no boss other than yourself, can allow you to take control of your own career path. While there are many positives to going solo, there are also a number of challenges that you will encounter. It can be difficult to give yourself credit when you have achieved a goal, and likewise to determine when you should be working harder.
In whatever industry you choose to pursue your own business, using these strategies can help to ensure successful ventures.
Set boundaries:
One of the biggest advantages of being your own boss is the ability to be flexible. While this can be enticing, it does come with its negatives as boundaries are not as clearly defined. You can fall into the trap of becoming easily distracted and procrastinating. The key to avoiding this is to set clear boundaries and organise your time effectively. These could include not taking phone calls when working on a specific task, blocking out time to ‘switch off’ from social media and emails, or setting your own defined working hours. Having good time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple conflicting priorities are essential skills for anyone who is successfully self-employed.
Invest in yourself:
When working for yourself, taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing is crucial. This can be forgotten in the daily stress of running your own business, when it seems that upcoming deadlines and important tasks take priority over your health. Find something that makes you feel happy and healthy, and take time out of your week to ensure that you do these activities. For example, you may try meditating, going for a run/walk, or even taking a relaxing bath to mentally unwind. Investing in your own state of mind will translate into your work, and it will be of a higher quality.
Recognise your strengths:
It will benefit your business to understand your greatest skills and talents, and utilising these in your work. As well as demonstrating your strengths, being aware of your weaknesses will also help you to know the best way to operate. For example, you could consider outsourcing the parts of your business that you find challenging. This will free up your time to focus on the tasks that you excel in. Outsourcing can also increase a sense of accountability, as having other people rely on you can force you to streamline your processes.
