I remember about a year ago a friend of mine asked me what I did during the day.
I thought it was a curious question until I found out she was just starting a home business and wasn't quite sure of what a self-employed day looked like! She wanted to know what time I got started in the morning.
What I did on an hourly basis.
If I stopped to eat lunch, how I ended my day.
She was making the transition from a W2 to a 1099 mindset.
And could not find the rule book! Most people that are "employed" by someone else have their days fairly well structured.
They know what time to start work, tasks to accomplish, meetings that are scheduled, and they always have someone to report to.
If you think about it corporate America is a giant pyramid! Or at the very least a hierarchical structure.
And pretty much anyone that has gone through our school system knows what a systematic day looks like.
Sit still, be quiet, stand in line, finish your assignment, etc..
I have come to believe that a lot of people romanticize being in business for themselves.
I hear things like "I can get up when I want", "do what I want", things like that.
What many folks don't realize is that having a home business can be ass kicking work! Being self-employed requires self-discipline, structure, organizational skills, time management and the ultimate ability to be intrinsically motivated.
I know because it has taken me quite some time to be able to set schedules for myself and to literally be my own boss.
I have to ask myself constantly if I am engaging in income producing activities, or just "activities".
What I found is that I can schedule both.
Just as long as the majority of my time is centered on IPA's.
In actuality I had to work with mentors for a while in order to learn self-discipline.
My entrepreneurial nature always wants to buck the system - even if it's mine! So I have a daily schedule that I fill out the night before.
It includes the time I wake up, time for a walk or a trip to the gym.
How much phone time, internet time, lunch etc.
The joy of all of this is that I get to schedule in play time, nap time, fun time, family time, etc.
It is my own schedule, and yes I need one! I talked to my friend about what she was doing when she quit work.
She told me she was watching t.
v.
, visiting with friends, working out.
But mostly not getting any work done.
I helped her set up a schedule and also suggested she find an accountability partner.
Someone else in a similar field.
We all need someone to keep us honest.
And our own spouses or partners are not the ones to rely on to do this.
Especially if they are still in a W2 job.
They don't want to know we are scheduling nap time! The unfair banner gets unfurled each and every time with that one! So bottom line, find something you love, develop it, cherish it - and work it.
You may find that you are actually spending more hours working for yourself than you did for someone else.
But let's face it.
Self-employment is so worth it.
After all, no one every got rich working for someone else.
That's an idea we can all stand behind!