As part of our Better Bloggers group end of term challenge, here are my five best things about working for myself. You can find the same article for others in the Better Bloggers group at the newly created website – Entrepreneur Soul.

1. Doing what I love! Finally, finally, I am doing what I love to earn my living.  Helping people grow, ostensibly business based, but always, always, it is about the individual themselves growing first then using their new found knowledge to develop the capabilities of themselves, their team or their business. And appreciating it all the more because for two or three years I was trying to squeeze this love in to little pockets of my life around other responsibilities, principally a job. Now I have all this time to indulge my passion………..and get paid.

2. Choosing who to spend time with. Meeting people at networking events and choosing who to spend time with, who interests you, who could you help, who might help you, is exciting. After four months of self employment, I have learned to ‘go with the flow’ and just do what feels right for that moment. Some have gone by the wayside but I am forging some really strong business relationships with people I have an affinity with. 

 

 

 

3. Being myself. No more having to toe the corporate line. Some of my former colleagues might be surprised by that one because I did have a bit of a reputation for expressing my views, and I did. But views always had to be tempered when talking to customers and now I am free to say what I want to who I want. Getting it wrong will only hurt one person, me.

4. Having control. Very important. I am working harder than I’ve ever done and the potential for pressure and stress is enormous, I am learning all the time and I know that I have definitely made mistakes that have cost me business, but I can forgive myself, learn from it and move on. I’ve realized that all the stress and pressure I had in my job was because I wasn’t in control. Now I live or die by my own strengths and weaknesses. And whilst there have been mistakes, there have been so many more victories and successes.

 5. Non work. The implications for my non working life have been enormous. I have moved to the coast, the sea is less than 100 yards from my front door. On days when I am working from home, I incorporate, rain or shine, a walk along the front to my favourite cafe for some fresh air and a read of the daily (free) newspaper.

I am free to explore new things which take my fancy. Up to now that has included a  meditation class, Pilates class and a Laughter Club.

I have rediscovered my love of cooking and love making meals from low cost ingredients.

I get to spend quality time with my Mum and extended family – I spend three days each month with them in Manchester where I am also building my business. Visiting my family on a regular basis means I am feeling more like part of the family again rather than an occasional visitor. My Mum also flies down once a month for a weekend. And talking business with different types of people ie northerners just adds a different dimension to my work.

But more than any of that, being free to spend time with my partner when he is home (he works offshore so is away as much as he is home) is lovely. The joy at taking a Tuesday or a Wednesday off to go for a long walk on the Sussex Downs then a well deserved rest and pub meal is difficult to put in to words.

What do you love about working for yourself?