Bravo! You’ve broken free from the traditional 9-5 grind to embrace the role of a solopreneur! By stepping into the YouEconomy, you’re becoming part of a vibrant international movement of innovators who refuse to adhere to rigid work schedules dictated by a manager who themselves wonders about the relevance of this outdated, consumption-driven economy.
Will you craft clever marketing text for clients on Freelancer.com? Utilize your graphic design skills on Fiverr? Or perhaps you’re launching your own online shop featuring memorabilia from classic ‘80s video games.
What’s likely to be your greatest hurdle? Sourcing clients? Finding that ideal co-working spot with endless coffee options?
Ha-ha-ha, wouldn’t it be great if it were that straightforward? As you digest this advice, imagine it displayed in massive, fiery letters across a scenic mountainside. It’s… YOU!
The most significant obstacle to establishing your presence in the domain of self-employment isn’t external; it’s the ongoing struggle to gain mastery over the thoughts swirling in your mind.
Lego Frustration
After traveling through Africa for seven months, how could I possibly return to a government job? Instead, I chose to design eco-friendly homes with improved insulation and solar power—everything environmentally conscious.
My mom was ecstatic that I had moved into her basement. For a fortnight, I was incredibly productive, drafting a business plan, networking with builders, and working on a company logo. However, as the weeks rolled by, I found myself spending more and more time underground playing Fallout 3, procrastinating and tuning out the harsh critiques echoing in my mind.
One Friday morning, I stumbled upon my childhood Lego train set and thought it would be great fun to reconstruct it. I completed it, stepped back, and… was filled with despair. At 26, I felt like a child of 10. What was I doing with my life?
I was broke, living in my mom’s basement, and saw no light at the end of the tunnel for my business. Panic set in. I returned to government work.
Incredible Self-Doubts and Where to Confront Them
It took me five attempts, four different businesses, and a decade to finally break free into the YouEconomy. Along the way, I’ve come to terms with various forms of self-doubt and discovered how to navigate my own obstacles.
Here are the five key challenges you’ll face when making it alone and how to tackle them:
1. Self-Motivation
“The strongest motivation is self-motivation. If someone else needs to light your fire, what will happen if they don’t show up? You need to have a more robust plan for your existence.” —Jim Rohn
For those entering this new realm for the first time, the difficulty of self-motivation is often underestimated. Since birth, we’ve been told what to do and when to do it. In kindergarten, we’re guided with, “Now we will paint.” Catch the bus at 8 a.m. Take this examination and graduate. Progress through college, fulfilling the course requirements, then dive right into your first job with defined hours and tasks assigned from above.
As you take on the role of your own boss, the primary question becomes, “What should I do next?” For the first time, you’ll notice there’s no one around to direct you.
You’re now the CEO of a one-person enterprise. Beyond establishing a strategy, sourcing clients, and managing finances, you also have to maintain motivation and high morale within “the company.”
How to address this:
- It’s inevitable that you’ll lose motivation frequently in the YouEconomy. The best remedy is to create a vivid and emotional visualization of your why and revisit it consistently. This might be fueled by the memory of how dissatisfied you were in your previous job and your determination never to return.
- I suggest crafting a positive visualization, a clear one that encompasses how you’re utilizing your freedom, who you’re helping, the substantial income you’re earning, and the opportunities it creates for you. Then, get yourself emotionally charged to a level of 10 out of 10 about that desired life.
- Wear pants. Every day.
2. Money Anxieties
“Worrying equates to asking for things you don’t want.” —Jen Sincero
The day you resign from your job will feel liberating and thrilling. Your first Money Panic will arrive when you check your bank account three weeks later and mentally calculate how many months of groceries and rent you can afford.
If you’re not skilled at controlling your thoughts, this panic can evolve into a constant shadow of anxiety. It will hinder your capacity to produce quality work and make sound choices.
How to handle it:
- Before leaving your old job, jot down the amount you need monthly to get by. Determine how long you’ll need to replace your income, and then increase that figure (to account for surprises). Save this amount before making the leap.
- Make sure you have some consulting projects lined up to help pay your bills, even if it involves working a couple of bartending shifts weekly. During my last job, I arranged regular gig work that covered my rent and then some, which provided the security I needed to cast aside those Money Panics.
3. I’m Not Adequate
“Most individuals overrate what they can accomplish in a year while underestimating what they can achieve over decades.” —Tony Robbins
When starting out in the YouEconomy, you might find yourself struggling with whatever task you take on. Can you remember how long it took to feel competent in your previous role? Now, think about trying to manage every task in the office—everything from accounting to marketing, web design to customer support—all while being the CEO of your solitary venture.
Transitioning from a role you excel in to juggling various new responsibilities can easily lead to self-worth questions.
How to confront it:
- Disconnect your self-worth from your productivity or achievements. While I still grapple with this, I remind myself: Do you value your nieces and nephews any less because they are still learning? Would you love your spouse less if they were incapacitated and unable to work for months? Why should I hold myself in lower regard when I struggle?
- Cultivate patience. “Experiencing temporary setbacks is part and parcel of the road toward excellence,” says renowned coach Christopher Sommer. “Achieving high-quality results requires sustained focus. No emotions. No drama. No beating yourself up over minor setbacks. Enjoy and cherish the journey.” Show up. Commit to the process. Outcomes will come on their own schedule.
4. I Must Work Harder
“We live in a society where we take pride in our struggle to manage on minimal sleep as though it exemplifies work ethic or strength or some other virtue—but it’s ultimately a profound failure in prioritization and self-respect.” —Maria Popova
In the early days of my solopreneurship, I set a new desktop wallpaper: a dramatic image of D-Day in 1945, showing soldiers storming the beach under fire. The caption read, “Toughen Up.” I believed that this constant reminder would motivate me. If I aimed to succeed, I needed to be tougher.
However, forcing myself to endure this relentless push led me to depression and anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, frustration with my work, and ultimately burnout. I didn’t need to toughen up; I needed equilibrium! When exercising, you push yourself close to your limits, not so hard that you get injured. Adjust your tempo.
How to confront it:
- Protect your most valuable asset: yourself. If you owned a factory, you’d support and encourage your workers instead of berating them. You’d maintain your equipment rather than break it in frustration. When your mind and heart are balanced, you achieve peak performance. Creativity flourishes, leading to better relationships, both crucial in business.
- Leave some energy for another day. This actually boosts your productivity. Hemingway would often stop his writing mid-flow so that he would have an easy starting point the next day (enjoying a glass of wine by noon). He knew that quitting before writing became a chore was the key.
5. The Absence of an Off Switch
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” —Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
As your own boss, you might feel compelled to work every single moment you’re awake. In the initial phase of my journey, my “official” working hours spanned from 8 a.m. until approximately 6 p.m. Yet, I often found myself checking emails, adjusting my website, and reading marketing articles late into the night, all while glued to the television.
This sort of “part-time” engagement is counterproductive for two major reasons. First, anything you tackle while multitasking may suffer in quality. Second, downtime is crucial—you must unplug to maintain your sharpness and excel in your work.
How to face this:
- Designate relaxation time. There is a time for focused work and a time for rest. Use an “unschedule” to prioritize time for leisure, exercise, socializing, and simply doing nothing.
- Take a break from technology. Stow away your phone and turn off your laptop. If establishing discipline is challenging, consider using apps to restrict access to websites, apps, or the internet. I’ve heard positive feedback about services like Freedom.
Finally, keep in mind why you chose to work within the YouEconomy in the first place: to create your own schedule and focus on tasks that excite you; to cultivate a life filled with joy and satisfaction most of the time. Occasionally, let yourself step back from work to relish your freedom, and you might just find your rhythm in this new landscape.
