How to Know if Self Employment is for You

Do you find yourself gazing off towards the horizon and have dreams of what it could be like if you had your own business? Or maybe you're unsure of what exactly you'd like to do business-wise, but you know you'd like to have more control of your time and your life.

Deciding to become one's own boss and to be responsible for one's own income is a HUGE step. It will take a leap of faith (if you don't have a trust fund to fall back on) and some planning so that you have enough to pay your bills as you start out. 

Plenty has been written in academic and business circles about the personality traits that comprise a potentially successful self-starter. Inc. Magazine reports that highly successful entrepreneurs are creative, passionate, motivated, optimistic, future-oriented, persuasive, flexible, resourceful, adventurous and decisive. I agree with all of these things but I believe that above them all is belief in one's self. If you don't think you can have a rocking self-guided career, then it doesn't matter how creative or persuasive you are. 

Sure, there are times where we all feel self doubt, or may going through LinkedIn's or Indeed's job listings "just to see what's out there. Especially at times where we aren't making the sales we'd like and may feel a bit frustrated or down. But truth is, these feelings pass if one believes in his or her own vision and the benefits of what you're contributing to the world. 

So ask yourself these questions today:
1) Do I believe I have something special to offer?
2) Do I believe that I am the one to do this (whatever this is)?
3) Am I passionate, motivated, creative and optimistic?
4) Do I know where to go for the support I may need? 

If you aren't quite sure of the answer to the last one, many online groups and organizations offer free support to people with big ideas or a big audacious goal. I run a Facebook group that does that called Creating the Freelance Career. Others can be found on LinkedIn (if you don't like Facebook) or through local chapters of national organizations. Google search what's available in your area, or check out Alignable (it's like an extremely localized version of LinkedIn). Or, send me an e-mail or a shout out on social media that says you want to talk about your idea and need some support. I'm always happy to lend an ear and to help so that people can stop dreaming and start doing.