Many people would leap at the opportunity to be their own boss. The benefits seem too good to be true. However, those of us who have actually gone down this path can tell you that these dreams are mostly misconceptions. In reality, being your own boss can actually be a lot harder than having one you don’t like. After all, you no longer have a disciplinarian keeping you on task. Instead, it’s up to you to make sure everything gets done.
Know Your Field
Some obstacles related to being your own boss will crop up no matter what industry you’re in. For example, whether you’re a freelance writer or a gardener, it’s up to you to bill your clients and keep accurate records.
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That being said, a gardener is obviously going to face some unique challenges that could derail their day. What if it rains? A writer can keep working. A gardener will have to make up those billable hours at another time.
Every field is going to have its own challenges. Before going into one, research what they are so you can anticipate them as best as possible.
Keep a Schedule
This one should be fairly obvious. You need to create a schedule of when you’ll be working. It should go without saying that this schedule will need to take into consideration your market and customers.
However, you also need to keep track of how well you actually follow this schedule. If you’re leaving early for lunch, taking extended breaks or checking out early, make note of this. Sometimes, you can adjust your schedule to better fit your personality. Other times, you’ll need to have an honest conversation with yourself about your behavior.
Set Exciting Goals
Most business owners have goals. Ideally, these goals should help keep those business owners on track. You might have a hard time staying on task, but if you know that you could have your biggest month so far if you do, that will become much easier.
The important thing is to make sure your goals are exciting. If you regularly make $3,000 a month with your business, it’s not going to be very inspiring to keep focusing on that number. On the other hand, if you aim for something unrealistic, like $30,000, you’ll quickly give up. Find a goal that gets you out of bed every morning ready to take on the world.
Don’t Be Afraid to Brag
When you do pull in a record month, let people know. When a customer gives you a glowing testimonial, advertise it. Show your work or the results of your services on your website and social media.
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You don’t need to be full of yourself, but be proud of your work. That sense of pride can help drive you forward and make it easier to stay on task when distractions are everywhere.
Staying on task when you’re the boss is never easy. However, when you understand how important this trait is for your overall success, using this advice to get better at it should help.
