Want to work for yourself? – 5 reasons why you should “just do it!”

Working for yourself can be daunting, after all it does have risks and requires a high level of self-discipline which many people may struggle with. However, working for yourself does have its benefits. This week we explore 5 reasons why maybe you should – “just do it!”

1. Work on your terms – Working for yourself offers you more freedom in when and where you work. For example, some people find that they are more productive at night, but this is rarely a possibility if you are employed. Working for yourself creates freedom to decide what works best for you and manage your work around that.
2. Focus on self-development – Working for yourself does require improved skills in organisation and self-discipline. Beyond this, being your own boss means that you can choose to specialise in an area of interest or broaden your horizons and increase your skills. This can also be a positive contribution your career, as you will likely develop your skills at a significantly faster rate than you might do whilst working for someone else.
3. Do work you enjoy – In every job, there are tasks that we may not really enjoy, however when working for yourself this is less likely the case. When you are your own boss, you can choose to focus your work on areas that you do enjoy, which in turn leads to increased job satisfaction.
4. Find your true purpose – Many people find that their jobs define them, rather than the other way around. This is why the concept of working for yourself can feel as scary as it is exciting- but can be a destabilising shift. If you feel like you have a particular skill or calling in life, working for yourself can help you to recenter yourself and live out your true purpose.
5. Be more memorable – Nothing drives us more than the desire to create legacy. Many of the businesses that have become household names, or products that we use daily, have been created by people who have created a legacy. The comfort blanket of working within a larger company commonly results in anonymity, and it can be more difficult to form a legacy of your own.

Many of us have imagined a life where we call the shots and can work on our own terms. For many, this idea remains as an idea, as few people are willing to take the leap of faith to working for themselves. Taking the early actions to working for yourself can be scary, but if you are considering working for yourself, you may be met with the question: do you settle or face your fears?

"Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great."

– John D. Rockefeller