Working for yourself, choosing your own hours, and being your own boss. It’s a dream many people would like to achieve. If you’re thinking about working for yourself, or you’ve just begun, you may be wondering if you’ve made a mistake. There are so many things to think about when it comes to working for yourself that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, pack it in, and go back to working for the man.
Obviously you don’t want that to happen, so here are some top tips for working for yourself:
Set a schedule
As soon as people find out you work for yourself they treat your time as if it’s not quite so important. The fact that you don’t have a boss checking up on you means you’re often invited to long lunches, asked for a ride to the airport, or called for a lengthy brainstorming session.
The fact is, these things take time away from your business, and money out of your product. It’s crucial that you lay down the law when it comes down to your schedule and rarely deviate. Consider having a red-yellow-green sign on your door, so family members know when they can knock, and let your friends know well in advance that you’re busy from 9-5.
Don’t overwork
Just as it can sometimes be hard to stay productive, it can be hard not to burn the midnight oil every day. Of course you want your business to be successful, but it’s also important to work smarter, not harder. Give yourself an official end to your workday and make a commitment to never go past this time. You’ll need to learn to remain organised and focused throughout the day and prioritise important tasks, but you’ll also find yourself more clearheaded and less likely to burn out.
Have a meeting
Just because you work for yourself doesn’t mean you don’t need to regularly check in with yourself and your business. Hold a weekly meeting with yourself and take 20 minutes to look at your business as a whole. Include things like marketing, writing, social media, consultations, design, and ordering. You should quickly build up a picture in your head of how the next week should be structured and plan your schedule accordingly.
Invest in your business
Anyone can work for themselves, but if you’re going to be successful you need to invest in that success. Choose materials which show you’re a professional and “wow” your clients. Check out Precision Printing which has the best in flyers, business cards, and everything you need to stand out from the competition
Know your “triggers”
One minute you have a quick look on social media, and an hour later you realise you’ve been completely unproductive. Know what triggers this un-productivity so you’ll know how to stop it in its tracks. Social media is a huge one, as are news sites, online shopping, Buzzfeed, and even articles which are dedicated to productivity like Lifehack.
