AN INTRODUCTION TO GOING SOLO
You may have thought about being a self-employed from time to time, it may even be one of your long-term goals. Some reach a stage where corporate life no longer offers a big enough challenge, others become weary of the politics and resent the creative energy that is wasted in corporate game-playing. Whatever the reason, the pull of being your own boss is strong and more and more frequently you find yourself wondering what it would be like to go solo and be your own boss.
Going solo conjures up images of adventure and people like Ellen MacArthur the lone yachtswoman, or Ranulph Fiennes the explorer. Heroic people, who continuously face their fears, test their limits and achieve extraordinary results. I made the choice to leave a successful training career with a large organisation and go solo almost eight years ago. I never imagined that working for myself would be anything like sailing around the world single handedly. After all, I was an experienced trainer and coach, I had worked in large organisations for most of my adult life, and I knew the territory, what was there to fear?
I was soon to find out!
Most of us start thinking about running our own businesses when we reach a level of professional and technical expertise that is acknowledged by others and which gives us a great deal of self-confidence and self-esteem. However it is important to recognise that these factors alone do not equal an aptitude for successful self-employment. Understanding the technical and professional aspects of a job does not mean that you know how to run and grow a successful business.
In future postings I will offer suggestions so that you can thoughtfully plan for your journey to a rewarding and successful career as a solo entrepreneur.
You may have thought about being a self-employed from time to time, it may even be one of your long-term goals. Some reach a stage where corporate life no longer offers a big enough challenge, others become weary of the politics and resent the creative energy that is wasted in corporate game-playing. Whatever the reason, the pull of being your own boss is strong and more and more frequently you find yourself wondering what it would be like to go solo and be your own boss.
Going solo conjures up images of adventure and people like Ellen MacArthur the lone yachtswoman, or Ranulph Fiennes the explorer. Heroic people, who continuously face their fears, test their limits and achieve extraordinary results. I made the choice to leave a successful training career with a large organisation and go solo almost eight years ago. I never imagined that working for myself would be anything like sailing around the world single handedly. After all, I was an experienced trainer and coach, I had worked in large organisations for most of my adult life, and I knew the territory, what was there to fear?
I was soon to find out!
Most of us start thinking about running our own businesses when we reach a level of professional and technical expertise that is acknowledged by others and which gives us a great deal of self-confidence and self-esteem. However it is important to recognise that these factors alone do not equal an aptitude for successful self-employment. Understanding the technical and professional aspects of a job does not mean that you know how to run and grow a successful business.
In future postings I will offer suggestions so that you can thoughtfully plan for your journey to a rewarding and successful career as a solo entrepreneur.
