The Myths About Free Time and Freedom

The Myths about Free Time and Freedom

There is a common misconception by those working as employees of companies (both big and small). They believe that self-employed individuals have constant free time and regularly jet off to hotter climes, whilst all the employees knuckle-down and do their JOB. However, this is a misconception. Although there may be many business owners out there who are able to go on holiday frequently, this doesn’t mean to say that they don’t work hard. If you were to ask an entrepreneur if this misconception was true, you will find most respond exclaiming that their business is their life and they’ve worked incredibly hard to make it a success. In hindsight, being self-employed is not about lazing around, drinking cosmopolitans by the beach, it’s about something far more important…

Freedom

You’ll never want to go back, once you have tasted the freedom that running your own business brings you. Even when you consider the pros and cons of associated with being an entrepreneur and the daily stresses and strains of being ‘the boss’, once you have the taste of freedom that goes along with being your own boss – there’ll be no turning back.

So, what type of Freedom is it that the self-employed enjoy so much? Here are a few examples:

• You are the boss, which means you have no boss breathing down your neck or telling you what to do. By having no boss, it means you can take control – which is a very liberating feeling. You no longer need to look upon a superior for advice. In other words, you have complete freedom.
• You can do what you want, this doesn’t mean to say that after an hour of work you can go home and put your feet up in front of the T.V. Instead, what is meant is that you get to choose which jobs you do in which order. You can prioritise your work and complete it in terms of importance, rather than being told what to do. Additionally, if you need to attend an appointment; be in the doctors, dentist or taking your dog to the vet – you can do this without having to gain permission. You no longer have a boss that tells you what to do, so you can you your time constructively as well as running personal errands if need be.
• Take Control, you are now the one that makes those vital decisions crucial to the success of your company. Sometimes it can feel a little scary having this much responsibility, yet the majority of the time, you should feel liberated rather than petrified.

On average, a self-employed person works far more hours than a person who works 9 to 5 Monday to Friday. To most entrepreneurs, the idea of a day off or a holiday is practically a foreign concept to them. As a business owner, you need to be available pretty much all of the time. If you do plan to go on holiday, you will need to leave someone capable and someone you trust, in charge of your business. Leaving someone else in charge however, does not mean to say that you can forget about your business for a week or two. It means that you need to be easily contactable – either by phone, email or online chat. So, expect to be contacted if any problems arise while you are away. Remember that being your own boss is all consuming and hard work.

We’re not trying to put you off nor are we trying to paint a grim picture. We’re just trying to remind you that working for yourself is not about having free time. It’s about having the freedom that one gets from being their own boss. In order to gain this type of freedom, you will need to learn to make sacrifices, including giving up some of your free time. It will be worth it in the end, so keep reminding yourself of this whenever in doubt.

When it comes to owning a small business, any entrepreneur will tell you that things don’t always go to plan and sometimes things can be tough, but despite this, but most wouldn’t give it up for anything. Throwing in the towel after dedicating so much time and effort is enough to make a grown entrepreneur cry, unless it’s in exchange for a multi-million pound deal or something equally as plush.

If you wish to find out more about exploring all that small businesses have to offer, take a look at the website ‘Talking Small Biz’ run by Marshall Davis. It enables you realise the dream of being free from working as an employee.