13 characteristics that will tell you if you should be your own boss

Should you be your own boss? We help you discover it. Your boss is driving you crazy because of his lack of vision. You don’t get along well with the other employees, because you are the one who has control of the team projects and you give orders to everyone around you. You’re tired of your great ideas being ignored. You feel frustrated with the status quo and the lack of innovation in your area. Maybe you have been discriminated against, fired, restructured, demoted and undervalued. You’re fed up and ready for a change. Does this sound familiar to you? Then maybe you’re ready to go out on your own and join the growing ranks of the self-employed! I have discovered that there are 13 important characteristics that predispose people to strike out on their own, and I have listed them here. If this list sounds like something you would do, then seriously consider starting from scratch and being your own boss. I have never regretted it! 13 Signs We Are Destined to Be Freelancers 1) You Want Flexibility in Your Schedule Yes, everyone wants that. However, to be successful on your own, you have to understand that being self-employed does not mean a shorter work week. In fact, it usually means long days and weeks. I have been self-employed for two years and it is almost impossible to go on vacation for more than a weekend or 3 days. However, if it’s a really nice afternoon and I’m not on deadline, I can’t go to the beach or sit outside or take my daughter to the park. With self-employment, you set your schedule rules. But the time not worked is the same time not paid. This dilemma is what d You must appreciate and be willing to embrace. 2) You want more control over your ideas, your projects and the work you do. Are you controlling and your own micro-manager? Is your personality type A? (I know I am.) I can’t imagine having to pass things past a coworker or boss. My work and my ideas are mine alone and the only criticism I have is from my clients (positive or negative). 3) You don’t get along with others People in general consider me kind, sociable, outgoing and humble. However, in a work environment that involves a team project, I become bossy and controlling. Being self-employed, I have made the decision to be conscious and not grow my business to more than one full-time employee. I work with other freelancers and contractors as needed, but I don’t manage or supervise anyone, and I love it that way. 4) You are passionate about what you do Whatever you decide to do with your one-person business, you need to have the ability to convey your passion to your workers and clients. Freelancers thrive on unbridled enthusiasm for their work. Otherwise they will quickly get tired and discouraged. 5) You’re a good listener Being self-employed doesn’t mean talking about yourself all the time to everyone who will listen – quite the opposite. You have to listen to the conversations in your industry, listen carefully to your workers and your customers, and become a fantastic analytical thinker. Being able to repeat back to people what they are telling you and offer solutions to their problems. 6) You are comfortable being “the one who decides” When you are your own boss, you can’t pass the buck. It’s you own brand and business, and if something goes wrong or if there is a complaint, you have to embrace the criticism, make improvements and move on. 7) You have a support system Working alone (and often from home) you can isolate yourself and feel alone. Without coworkers, there are no stress-relieving jokes and a group willing to throw you an office party on your birthday. This can be lonely for some people, so it helps to have friends who understand this situation and are willing to help. Your support system should embrace your lifestyle and be fully on board, especially when you start to doubt yourself. My husband has been an integral part of my business since day one and has always supported my decision to self-employed, through the good and the bad. 8) You are a person with good initiative You don’t need anyone to tell you what to do and always take the initiative. To work for yourself and be your own boss successfully, you have to be much more proactive than normal. This requires the ability to effectively manage your time. People may think I spend all day in my robe and slippers watching episodes of “Real Housewives,” but I get up at the same time every day and work hard during normal work hours (and at night and on weekends). If I make everything wrong and waste my time, I don’t get paid. As simple as that. 9) You are able and willing to attend events alone This is the hardest part for most. It must act as a protection shield for a group. When starting our own business, you have to be willing to walk into a room where you don’t know anyone and have the attitude to make it happen. Attend conferences, workshops, class sessions, seminars, fundraisers, even networking events – by yourself. If you attend a lot of these types of events, circulate and show up regularly, then you will be able to see some of the same people and build relationships for business. 10) You are able to separate work and private life This is something I struggle with constantly. Being self-employed and being your own boss means setting your own schedule, so you need to be able to do just that – set work hours and family hours/personal time hours. I want to be available to my clients 24/7, but I also want to spend time focused on my family at the end of the day. I rarely don’t answer emails after picking up my daughter from daycare until she goes to bed. I want to be fully present for my work and fully present for my family – definitely easier said than done, but something that is vital for personal and professional stability. 11) You have the ability to overcome. Don’t take things personally and don’t dwell on things you can’t change. If something about the work day is bothering me and I know I can’t have any impact on the outcome, I’ll have a glass of wine, write an angry post or email (and then delete it, obviously) and that’s it, I’m over it. 12) You know how to flow Understand this about self-employment, sometimes it rains, and then there are the periods of drought. Five great clients will call you at once, and then no one will call you for weeks. You must be able to adapt and have the ability to balance stressful work periods, with shorter, slower times. 13) You are resourceful. To be your own boss and only employee, you are responsible for e sales, finance, taxes, legal issues, accounting, technology issues, and everything else. The ability to juggle multiple demands on your time is key to a bootstrap. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think everyone should go and work for themselves or quit their jobs. Some people are going to work for someone else, others are going to flourish, prosper and work for themselves, and some others are going to do a little bit of both. That said, if the list above speaks to you, don’t wait for the “perfect moment.” Find out the easiest way to start a business for yourself, and if you like the idea, you should be your own boss. I do not guarantee you success, but I do guarantee you a trip full of adventures that many of you will not regret.