After all, there are so many reasons not to fly solo.
1. Cashflow
The thought that lingers in the back of your mind: if you lived on what you made as a solo business owner, however well business was going, one bad month could wipe you out.
2. Boredom
Come on admit it, how sparkling is your own company after a while?
3. Opportunity cost
Every year you are a solo business owner is one year you didn’t drive a corporate BMW, earn nine per cent superannuation or twelve monthly pays, fly business class on the company and create another impressive line on the corporate resume.
4. Stagnating
Without a corporate expense account to pay for studying, seminars, training and other personal and professional development, the risk is you are trading on decade-old knowledge. And every year you lose some more currency.
5. Status
You have none.
6. Paid holidays
Well, lack of them really.
7. Business networking
The constant need to think of the future of the business and network, promote and attend finger-food functions.
8. Vendor mode
Always feeling like you’re ‘the help’ can get you down.
9. Lack of intellectual stimulation
When you start the business, do all the work and only take on new work you know you can do it, your brain is in danger of withering and dying.
10. Insecurity
You can’t really plan because you don’t really know if you will have work and whether the business, and you, will be secure.
11. Settling
You may enjoy your work to an extent, but what if it prevents you from finding your true calling? You know, really doing something with your life.
12. Multi-tasking
Having to do everything, every day. 41% of survey respondents agree that wearing too many hats is a big issue.
13. Customers
Some of them drive you crazy, but you always have to be nice to them.
No wonder I threw in the towel and got a Proper Job.
Why haven’t you?
Karen Morath of M Power consults, trains, speaks and coaches in public relations, personal effectiveness, life balance and all things empowering.