Six months ago today, I walked out of the highest paying yet most dysfunctional job I’ve ever had.
It’s bad when you don’t trust your boss; it’s worse when you see signs that they might actually try to frame you for financial improprieties.
There’s still a lot of anger in these fingers tapping out those words. But on June 10th, I channeled that energy into starting my own online writing and social media business.
What on earth made me think I could succeed?
RECOGNIZE YOUR STRENGTHS
When I decided to start a freelancer–soloprenuer career, I knew it would be difficult, but I did have a couple things going for me.
This wasn’t the first time I’d worked for myself. For four years I suffered through teaching piano lessons in less than ideal conditions. I could name everything that had gone wrong with that venture: autonomy over price, the clientele, even my own schedule. But I did learn how to persevere, to keep records, to deal with clients, and to set boundaries.
I had experience, samples, and results. Writing for a number jobs, I had amassed a modest number of published pieces, brochures, and letters. Despite the dysfunction of my last job, I had planned and launched an intensive social media campaign that was successful in spite of the circumstances.
IF THAT GUY CAN DO IT, WHY CAN’T I?
I’d been around long enough to see behind the mask of business leaders. These guys weren’t necessarily the smartest or the most talented or even the most experienced. Hearing stories from friends working at other small companies, even a severe lack of smarts, talent, or experience usually still wasn’t enough to sink a company. I’d be lying if I told you the phrase “How hard could it be?” hadn’t been part of my process.
And I’m tired of working for those people. It’s really a luxury these days to be paid well, to have a safety net, doing interesting work for the same company or boss for more than a few years.
But I don’t think you have to accept that.
DECIDE TO MAKE A CHANGE
Successful people are not smarter than or more talented than you.
This has been a rocky six months, I would not recommend you do exactly what I did. Instead, I think you should learn from what I did and didn’t do well so that your freelancing and solopreneur venture can be even more successful.
Read why I decided to write this blog and how you too can decide to make a change here.
