Imagine clocking in on your own terms, working at your own pace, and not answering to anybody. Those are all signs that you’re your own boss. There are a lot of advantages to becoming your own boss,something only 6.6% of Americans were able to do in 2014. However, there are a lot of challenges ahead before you make the transition.
Punching In
One of the best ways to determine if you’re your own boss is if you take initiative. Are you one of those people who likes to jump right into getting things done without outside direction? Then being your own boss is right up your alley. You need to be the first one in to set an example, which is a trait of good leadership.
The Motivating Factor
Motivating factors vary from person to person. Some employees go to work just to collect a paycheck. Others desire to be an authority in their field. What will define your ability to be your own boss will also depend on how much you want to succeed. You should know what drives successful executives and seek to emulate them.
Organizational Structure
Does your desk look the same at the end of the day as it did in the morning? If you want to be your own boss, it should look the same. Keeping your workspace organized shows that you are meticulous and pay close attention to even the smallest details.
Back To The Future
A good leader thinks long-term. This applies to both the business world and everything outside of it. One must be prepared to deal with issues that might arise in the next five minutes or the next five years. You should make sure that you stay in charge not only for today, but also for the long run. You’ll want to develop a winning strategy that you can show to investors if you choose to be your own boss.
Money For Nothing
What exactly do you spend your paycheck on? Food, clothing, and shelter should be at the top of your list. The latest gadget or tickets to your favorite band’s concert are things you can enjoy if you have money left over. In a sense, you need to be the boss of your finances. If you find yourself making frivolous expenses, it will show a lack of self-control.
I Know A Guy
If you’re your own boss, you also need to look for people who need your products and services, or at least people who can connect you to those people. Along with using social media, you’ll need to talk with these people on the phoneand even face-to-face if possible. Building business relationships isn’t just an exchange of money for goods and services anymore. It’s also building trust with people.
Selling Yourself
You’ll have to self-promote on social media too. Show people why your products and/or services are better than the competition. Always have something insightful to say. If you do that, you can be mentioned by others as an influential figure in your industry. You could even become a household name like Mark Zuckerberg is in social media or Martha Stewart is in interior design.
Customer Service
You don’t have to answer to a higher power within a company anymore, but you still have to answer to the customers. Interacting with your customers on a personal level and understanding their needs is extremely vital when you’re your own boss. Thinking of them as merely numbers doesn’t cut it anymore, think of them as people.
Meet The New Boss: You
Although being your own boss is one of the most rewarding things for your career, staying your own boss is tough. Your mastery of what has been discussed in the article, such as getting up in the morning, organizing your work space, and maintaining a healthy relationship with your customers will show whether you’re cut out to be your own boss or still need to work on it.
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