This week it is exactly one year since I quit my job. Actually I quit quite a few months before that, but yes, it has been exactly one year since I stopped working for someone else and started to work for myself. And it has certainly been a journey so far with many ups and many downs and I thought that this would be a good time to stop and look back at those last months.
About Motivation
So what made me made the decision to make this change? There are probably more than one reason for the change, but the main one was that I was very very tired of my job! My first option was to look for another job but honestly I couldn’t handle the idea of another office and another boss. Meanwhile Dear Husband had made the switch to self-employment the year before and I could see that he was just enjoying himself so much. So I wanted that too! So all in all maybe not the most ideological reason, but that’s what it is…
About Time
TO be totally honest, it took me almost half a year to really get focused on my new day job and it also took me quite a while to find a daily rhythm that worked for me. In the beginning I wasted a lot of time because I was simply not organized time wise (and sometimes still do).
The kids are in school until about one. We have decided not to pay for additional childcare expenses in the afternoons so this is the times that they come home. On one hand it is absolutely wonderful to eat lunch together (almost) everyday as a family, on the other hand it cuts down hours of productivity.
So now I work mornings until they come home and again in the evenings after they go to sleep and most of the time it works quite well.
About Money
There is no doubt about it; there is a huge difference in being self-employed when it comes to income. Being employed by someone else for a decade meant never having to worry about the paycheck coming in and when. This situation means much less security in the money department!
About Challenges
Challenges there a many of. As most self-employed, one of my biggest challenges marketing and letting the world know that I am here! While I know what I do and that I do it well, it is important that others know it as well What I have found out though, that although it is not easy, it does get easier with time…
About Advantages
So far I have found there to be more advantages than disadvantages as a self-employed. Yes, there are days when nothing is working out and all looks dark and I just want to go find myself a “normal” job. But still, there are even more of those days where I can honestly say that I love what I do, love being my own boss, love setting my own goals and plans and love spending more time with my family. At the end of the day I get to work with people and get to help them get to a better place financially. And that is priceless!
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