Being Self-employed

Imagine a world where everyone did work that they love. Work that lit them up. A world where people did things that they were passionate about.

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My eldest son has recently started his own business. At the ripe old age of 23, he is self-employed. He has always had ‘self-employed energy’. He has always had confidence and ideas. He has always wanted to be the master of his own destiny.

The advice I have given him is very simple:

1. 1. Do work you love. One of the benefits of being self-employed is being able to do work you want to do rather than work you have to do. Get clear on the work you enjoy and the work you don’t. Take the time to reflect on each piece of work you do – what you loved about it and what you didn’t enjoy. Get very clear on your ‘preferences’.
   2. Follow your instincts. Our instincts are the greatest asset we have as humans. Follow your ‘inner ding’ – notice when things feel ‘off’. Respond to the energy in front of you. Work with people you like. Do work that feels right. Following your instincts will help you to run a business that is in alignment with your values.
   3. Be organised. The only person who will be penalised by your lack of systems is you. Don’t make life harder than it needs to be. Create simple solutions and use them. Take care of the little things and the big things take care of themselves. What you do with your receipts matters. The records you keep on clients could be the difference between more work and not.
   4. Underpromise and overdeliver.
      I bought my son a keyring for his new work van that says you can have it fast, good, or cheap – pick two. Fast and good won’t be cheap. Good and cheap won’t be fast. Fast and cheap won’t be good! Being clear about what you will deliver. Delivering excellence is a wonderful way to be in business. Unsatisfied people talk! Delivering excellence should always be the goal.
   5. Get help with the hard stuff. It is not your job to be amazing at everything. Get help with the stuff that challenges you. Find solutions to simplify things you find tricky. Be very intentional about the bits you do and the bits that are best done by others!

Being self-employed can be tough. Doing work you love, with people you like, the way you want is the reward! Getting well paid to make the difference you are born to make is way better than being anaesthetised with wages!

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Lisa O’Neill
CEO