Sick of spending your career running around after other people? Deciding to become self-employed could be one of the most valuable things you’ll ever do. It’s an opportunity to pursue your passions and discover a new level of satisfaction in your job. Becoming self-employed also means that you can choose to work your own hours and decide which clients you want to take on.
In a world where it’s becoming much easier for virtually anyone to operate remotely, self-employment could be a great way to transform your lifestyle. You can work comfortably on the cloud while you travel around the world or look after your children. Before you can start making steps towards your self-employment goals, however, you need to have a plan. Today, we’re going to share some of the top tips you need to keep in mind when you’re starting out on this new path.
Have a Budget
Going self-employed is a lot like starting your own business. You’re moving from a position where you’ll earn a set income every month, to one where you can’t really know for sure how much you’re going to earn, or whether you’re going to be able to pay your bills. If you’re thinking of taking the self-employment route, you may need to start by checking your budget.
How much cash do you need to afford your current lifestyle? Can you reduce some of your monthly payments by shopping around for a different provider? If you’ve still got student loan debt that’s holding you back, consider looking up guides from this site online that can give you options about consolidation and reducing repayments that is right for you.
Learn to Market Yourself
One of the most challenging things you’ll need to do as a self-employed person, is learn how to market yourself. Unlike a traditional job, someone isn’t going to pay you a monthly wage to do a set number of tasks each week. Instead, you need to seek out work opportunities by making yourself stand out in the global marketplace. Make sure that you have a website where people can learn about the services you offer. It’s also helpful to network as often as you can. This means connecting with people on social media, as well as joining industry forums relevant to your new career. The more people you meet and work with, the more opportunities you’ll have for endorsements.
Do Something You’re Passionate About
When you’re going self-employed, it’s easy to get caught up looking for a career that will give you the highest income. However, the truth is that this isn’t nearly as important as doing something that you’re genuinely passionate about. There will be ups and downs in your self-employed routine when you question whether it’s all worth it. As fun as being self-employed can be, it’s also very stressful, and not always as easy as it seems. If you’re doing something that you genuinely love, then you’re far more likely to keep pushing through when things get difficult. You’ll also find that it’s much easier to manage working longer hours too.
Earn Experience
As you pursue your career as a freelancer, you might start off with a lot of relevant skills. However, most of the time, your clients won’t be looking for evidence of your certifications or degrees alone. They’ll also want to see that you’ve worked alongside other brands and you know what you’re doing. The more experience you can earn, the better. Even if you’re working on volunteer projects, or offering your service for a slightly lower price than you’d like to begin with, it’s going to be easier to sell yourself if you already have reviews from happy clients and customers. Make sure that you look for as many opportunities as possible to interact with brands in your industry.
Test the Waters First
Making the switch from normal employment to self-employment is more significant than you might think. It’s a complete change to how you live and work, and not everyone is cut out for the extra pressure. If you’re not sure whether this path is right for you, test the waters. Start freelancing as a side-gig when you’re not at your typical job. You might eventually decide to go part-time as a freelancer, and part-time working for a standard company.
Once you feel confident that you can make an income from your self-employment strategy, then you can dive in head-first. At least you won’t be left struggling if you discover that you preferred your traditional job. Take it at a pace that suits you and make sure that you have the right amount of cash-in-hand to protect yourself before you go ahead full-steam.
Manage Work-Life Balance
Finally, make sure that you have a healthy schedule you can stick to for your life as a self-employed professional. A lot of people find themselves either struggling to stay motivated or being unable to switch off at the end of the day when they’re supposed to be relaxing. Managing work/life balance means knowing how to turn your work phone off and relax when you need to. If you’re constantly “on” and checking your messages, then you’re quickly going to burn yourself out. This could mean that you end up getting sick of your new career before you’ve had a chance to really make the most out of it. Though you may need to work longer hours initially, don’t push yourself beyond what’s physically possible.
Good Luck with Your New Career
Becoming self-employed is an excellent way to take control of your career and spend more time doing the things that you’re really passionate about. Anyone can take this route these days, particularly at a time when you can access virtually any software online or through the cloud. Just make sure that you don’t jump in faster than necessary. You don’t need to go full-time self-employed straight away if you’re not sure. It’s up to you to figure out what works best for your profession, and your family.
