Although working a regular job has its share of problems, most people seem to cope with them without a major crisis. They find comfort in the repetition. Although their work may be difficult, they don’t have the weight of the company on their shoulders. Their compensation is predictable.
Then, there are those who are miserable. Some people think they’re smarter than their boss. Some actually are. They watch their boss make the same mistakes day after day while collecting twice the salary. Those who are genuinely innovative can find themselves being criticized for ideas that would actually work, but aren’t fully understood. Some see benefits in their commutes while others lose their minds wondering why everyone on the planet needs to jump in their car for the morning commute at exactly the same time when they can become remote entrepreneurs and make good money.
There is a host of reasons why people take an entrepreneurial or freelance route in their careers. The ones mentioned above are only a small sample. One of the most compelling arguments for self-employment is the opportunity to have your limits tested and to be compensated for your accomplishments in a way that you (mostly) control. This doesn’t come without risks. Here are some ways to limit your risks, cope with adversity, and survive the occasional pitfall.
Get a Routine
Some tasks, if scribbled on a calendar, would occupy every space in every day. Although it seems contradictory, entrepreneurs benefit from a certain amount of routine or ritual. They may change with the season and you need to take a week or so to become acclimated again. Nevertheless, they have value. They can be done on “autopilot”. It’s analogous to being a farmer, where certain tasks need to be done every day and preferably at the same time. Get your morning chores out of the way and clear your mind for the tasks that require your “A” game.
Know your strengths and weaknesses
You need to understand yourself better than anyone. This is an ongoing activity which can also be one of the most difficult. An honest assessment of your strengths and vulnerabilities is an asset for planning strategies. It can be quite humbling at times. At no point should it become an opportunity to beat on yourself. Remember those dreaded employee reviews? Don’t be your old boss! Use it as a tool for understanding what resources need to be gathered for the near future.
Know Your Objectives In Advance
You should have some minimum expectations, whether it’s some kind of collaboration, a vendor negotiation, new clients, or maybe you want to set-up a new system for tracking customers. Get them in your schedule. Do it with high visibility, whether it’s a calendar in a high traffic area or an app which sends notifications. Abide by them, as if these tasks were given to you by well…your boss (a good boss).
There are also going to be tasks that will never get you excited. In fact, they’re pretty mundane. Paying bills, collecting payments, even a trip to the dentist needs to fit into a schedule. If you fail to plan for these events, they’re likely to be delayed, then delayed again.
Make a Plan
The best Tactics and strategies in business include a plan, one which lays out a view from 30,000 feet as well as tactics employed along the way. It may not have every detail but, it will expect contingencies and ways to deal with them. It identifies your strengths (see above) and how to use them. It identifies when/where to recruit help when your skillset just doesn’t cut the mustard.
Gather and Maintain Your Contacts
For every hundred business cards you hand out, you may discover one which gets the attention of a highly valued collaborator, vendor, or service provider. If it leads to a good rapport, the relationship needs to be maintained.
We fall out of touch with people all the time – even with those close to us. However, this is your livelihood we’re talking about. Stay in touch with anyone who you consider an ally in your business. This is especially true if that person exhibits honest and ethical character traits. We all want that…right?
Taking those first steps toward entrepreneurship can be intense, exhausting, and sometimes brutal. Persistence is the key. It’s the lack of experience which make those first steps so difficult (that, and a lack of capital). The more you learn, the more tools you’ll have at your disposal.