From Employee To Solopreneur…Ah, The Journey! - By: Chris Makell

It’s just a few weeks into my new life and lifestyle as a FULL TIME solopreneur. Whoo hoo! I’m really enjoying the freedom and ability to create my own destiny! And already there have been some really good lessons as I begin this journey.

For instance, I’m still setting the alarm clock, every night. Sure, it’s not for 5am to get ready for a 7 o’clock conference call, now it’s 6am so that I can start my “work day” at 8am! And my schedule, working all day, taking a break for dinner and back at it until 11pm, continues.

One of the jokes I made while working in corporate was how the job was getting in the way of my business! I’d meet other solopreneurs and small business owners at networking events and they would suggest breakfast, coffee or lunch meetings and I couldn’t make many of them because of work. Now that I am full time in my business, I’m there!

But a funny thing happened. I would still feel like I should be in my home office – working! I still had “stuff” to do! Stuff like creating teleseminars, writing articles – marketing stuff! And now meetings with potential partners and clients were getting in the way!

So I can hear you shaking your head and probably laughing out loud while saying to yourself, she is still “being” an employee! And here SHE thought it would be an easier transition.

Yes, I finally woke up and decided to smell the coffee at 9am instead of 7am! And with the extra sleep, a few other things “occurred” to me and their lessons, I hope, will help you as well. ☺

Lesson #1 – Give ME a break!

Well, I took the first full day of “freedom” from corporate as a “vacation” day, and then I jumped mind, body and soul into my business. But I didn’t really “transition”. You’ve got to take the time to not only rest, recover, but “re-program” your mindset. So taking a “real” break, maybe a full week’s vacation, just to totally unplug from the old AND the new can do wonders! (yes, I’ve planned a full “down” week, soon).

Lesson #2 – Re-set your mind

Changing the mindset from employee to entrepreneur is not as easy as I thought! Since I was working on my business while working in corporate, I thought “well, this will be much easier for ME.” But when I was setting the clock and wanted to be at my “workspace” for those hours instead of out meeting with other solopreneurs, I hadn’t re-set my mindset. I realized that I had to “own” my new identity as a solopreneur and business owner, with ALL that that means.

Lesson #3 – The NEW work-life balance

“Once you recognize that the purpose of your life is not to serve your business, but that the primary purpose of your business is to serve your life, you can then go to work on your business, rather than in it, with a full understanding of why it is absolutely necessary for you to do so.” – The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber

Michael Gerber said this best in the E-Myth Revisited. I read the book a couple of years ago and I remember thinking – I get this. I’ll get the right team to support me and do the “in the business” work while I set up the right systems and get out and meet clients and business partners. Once again, it takes a shift in the mindset and the revenue to fund it. I also recognize that he’s not saying to completely abandon what needs to be done “in” the business. For me, this now becomes the model for the “new” work-life balance. Balancing working ‘on’ and working ‘in’ my business.

It is a journey for anyone making the transition. Every day is a new discovery; enjoy each new and rich experience.

About the Author

Chris Makell helps coaches, consultants, and other solopreneurs who want to live their life's purpose transition smoothly from unfulfilled full-time employees to successful full-time entrepreneurs. To learn how to make more money doing what you love, visit http://www.RadianceMarketing.com to claim your free special report, "7 Surefire Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Time and Marketing Dollar."

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