We all come to a
crossroads at some point in our life - a defining moment to choose one path
over another and accept where it leads us. After college I bumped around from
job to job trying to build up my experience, and my resume, looking for the
right opportunity to grow and be a part of something big. I hated it. I mean I
really couldn’t stand it. Everything about holding a job made me feel rotten
inside. It’s not that I’m averse to working hard, or that I think that having a
job is wrong for everybody, it was just that after a decade in the rat race I
discovered a few important things about myself.
Balance
The first thing that I
learned was that working for someone else made me really tired. The simple
expectation of adjusting my schedule to suit someone else left me lethargic and
with a distinct palpable malaise that made me angry at life, and it seeped into
my free time. Since starting my own business I actually work more than I ever
have, but because it’s on my own terms I seem to have a lighter step and am
able to walk between the raindrops which has helped me to enjoy my free time
even more. The positive impact this has had on my health and wellbeing has also
been noticeable as, because I no longer suffer from the same lethargy, I find
myself using my free time to be more active as well as making time to cook a
proper meal instead of settling for something quick and devoid of nutrition.
I Have Really Good Ideas
Within every company I
ever worked for there was a hierarchy. It seemed odd to me that all the people
higher up the chain of command were celebrated for having all of the best
ideas. All of my contributions were immediately scoffed at and dismissed –
until they were implemented and passed off as the boss’ big new idea. Now sure,
there’s an argument for stick-to-itiveness, and that if I bided my time I could
work myself up the ranks and start making the decisions. Maybe so, but I felt
more burdened by the idea of seeing myself forced to pawn off the brilliant
insight of an office lackey as my own because by the time it was my turn to get
all the credit I was out of ideas.
I Don’t Value Security
I’m a risk taker and I
always have been. I have gumption and believe that every time I get knocked
down that I reemerge stronger than before. I know that there’s something
comforting about having a job and knowing exactly where your next paycheck is
coming from but it’s overshadowed by my own sense of excitement at starting
something new and helping it grow. Having a steady job allows you to plan
everything in advance and keeps you looking forward to your two-week vacation
that was organized more than a year in advance, but being your own boss forces
you take each day one day at time and keep your mind on what’s important right
now.
Helping Others Grow
Within the hierarchy of
all the companies I worked for I felt alone. I know I was supposed to emulate
the work habits of those above me, but I felt like they kept their secrets of
how they got to where they were under lock and key. Since striking off on my
own, one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job has been mentoring and
learning from those that work for me. Sure, I sign the paychecks, but in my
efforts to build a successful small business it feels like it’s something we all
share. It’s also very rewarding to share my expertise with my colleagues who
might not have as much experience as myself.
I Did It My Way
Everyone is different,
and owning your own business is incredibly challenging. It’s certainly not for
the feint of heart, and before entering into something so profoundly life
altering one has to really have a clear picture of who they are. I was ready to
sink or swim, and learn the hard way, because I knew that if I was going to
feel fulfilled I had to put myself in a work environment where I felt that I
could operate under my own terms. The decision to choose the path that I did
has made all the difference in my life and I never thought twice about
retracing my steps.
