Some people have a hard time thinking of their work as a business. Many struggle with the leap from working at a job to running a business. They’ve been in a job so long, that trying to envision working for themselves is difficult.
It’s pretty common.
Know what? That’s okay, since in reality working for your self is still a job.
I hate using the “J”-word, but it’s true.
So What If You Have a Job Mentality?
I talk to people all the time who feel they have a problem because they’re “stuck” in a job mentality. They’re used to going to a job, doing their work, and then coming home. They often work after hours and think about work even on the weekends. Some of these folks like their work. They enjoy a good portion of what their job entails, but want more freedom and a better chance of making money on their own terms. So they set off on their own.
I’m going to tell you a secret – having a job mentality isn’t a bad thing for some people.
Many people thrive on routine. Those people tend to be much more successful as a home-based entrepreneur if they take the same approach to their business.
The difference is you’re now the boss. You have to set your own schedule and workflow. Many are doing this already in their day jobs.
There’s nothing wrong with working a “regular” work-week schedule as a self-employed home-based business person.
Don’t feel like you have to have some odd schedule to feel free. This is a common misconception among the newly self-employed.
It’s perfectly reasonable to think of your business as your job. You walk into your office at 9. Take an hour for lunch at 12. Work until 6, and maybe check email in the late evening.
You don’t fail some unwritten entrepreneur test if you like treating your home business as a job.
Just think of it as your dream job, with the perfect boss, with lots more fun and lots more hours.
Because contrary to what some may say, that’s exactly what it is…
Although I’m employed by someone other than myself, I agree that you would have to approach your own business with the same discipline. If you didn’t, I would imagine it would wither away. I think having a set routine would be my best chance of being successful.
As far as the J word goes I don’t like to use it either. Some people have a difficult time converting from employee to boss because they’re doing it for the first time. It gets better with time.
I have been doing the self-employed thing for about seven years now, and I think you have touched on some very good advice. Many people crash and burn when they first take the leap because they are overwhelmed by the “freedom.” I’ve had many people wonder how in the heck I don’t sit around watching TV all day…
When starting out, I totally embraced the normal routine thing. Maybe I needed to justify that I really was “professional”, maybe I was afraid I’d sit around and watch TV all day 😉 but I found it to be really helpful in staying focused.
Only within the past year have we started to break from a more traditional routine and embraced a more flexible and ideal and appealing (for us) schedule. But keeping the “job” mentality was helpful in getting us to where we are today.
For a brief stint, I did eBay on my own and managed myself. I made a point to get to the warehouse just after rush hour and work my tail off until lunchtime.
I took care of myself at lunch and went to a nice, cheap, all-you-can-eat buffet most days and spent at least an hour cooling off and filling up.
Those were my most relaxing days of my life. It was like a vacation.
Anthony – You’re not alone. Most find that is the easiest way to transition into working for yourself.
Priscilla – Some tend to fluctuate back and forth, too. I agree. It does get easier with time.
Jason – That sounds a lot like I how did it. I also find that when I’m launching a new project or venture, going back to a “regular” routine helps me stay focused. I’m actually working more regular-type hours than I have in a couple of years, readying the launch of my new project.
Jesse – It sounds like you found your optimum schedule there. It’s hard to do, but once you hit on it, everything flows so much easier.
Thanks for this post. I must admit that I have a j-o-b mentality and that is mainly because I still work at my day job. I feel a little less abnormal because of the fact that I feel like I need to have a set time to start and a set time to finish.
This brings me to a question: How do you balance your day job with your start up? A few tips on staying motivated and conserving energy, working smarter not harder, would be great 🙂
Having made the leap into running my own internet based business I can relate to your comments above. The one key issue I have found is self projection hence the area of my web site on law of Attraction and our mental processeswhich I try to write about in my blogs. The recently released report/interview between Stephen Pierce and Bob Proctor available for free off the site is a good example of self projection even if a bit to money focussed.
For those still thinking about it just take the plunge and do it you will never look back
I like the philosophy.
When I started being self-employed, the greatest problem is having to discipline yourself like when you’re employed by others.
I think your way of thinking is right. I guess it’s about time I change mine.
Tony, you are so on the money. This is how I describe it. It has to be a passion, not a job. If its a passion you will be great!
By the way, I submitted this one to stumble. Its that good.
I have a dream boss! Yeah, I work for myself.
Actually, I think my real boss is my girlfriend 😉 She is the one
pushing me aroundmotivating me so I get work done. 😛I have been reading your blog for about 6 months now and the information that you give for people that want to work from home and be entrepreneurs is great. Partly because of your blogs I have started blogging and even started a online radio show 🙂 so, I am on my way, one day at a time. Thank you for the knowledge.