The highs and lows of working for yourself

Working for yourself from home is often glamorised as a life of freedom, leisure & balance. A world where shiny silver laptops roam free and hours are spent at the beach. But what’s the reality? And is it all worth it?

It’s Wednesday 11.30am and the sun is shining.

I’m perched on the grass covering the headland overlooking Curl Curl beach. In the distance I can see Manly. If I squint really hard and use my imagination I can even see inside the old cubicle I used to work in above Wynyard station,and I can almost taste the soggy lunch I used to eat on the train on the way home at 8pm.

I put the finishing touches on the website I’ve been writing, hit send, shut down my lightening fast wireless connection and snap shut my shiny new iMac – another happy client.

Having had an exceptionally productive morning, my clients are blissfully happy and the rest of the day is mine to do as I please – I might hit the beach. That's working for yourself!

Yeah right. I wish.

The life of a solo business owner, especially one working from home, can easily be glamorised into a life of freedom, leisure and balance. A world where silver laptops roam free, the sun is always at your back and children don’t answer the phone and tell your clients that “Daddy’s on the toilet.”

But the truth is that laptop screens are literally impossible to read with the sun at your back and trying to work on a headland is like playing bridge in a wind tunnel. As a soloist you certainly escape a whole bunch of problems, but you also inherit a few of your own, for example:

Will that landscaping business ever pay my invoice? It’s been months.
How much tax will I owe next quarter?
Will next month bring too little new business? Or too much?
How can I go on holiday when I get no holiday pay?
Is my major client looking for someone else?
Will technology/websites/blogs/robots put me out of business?

Many soloists are constantly swinging between ecstasy and stress. You’re excited that you’ve won a major new project, then despairing at how on earth you’ll meet the deadline. You’re swamped in work and desperate for a break, yet when you do get a bit of breathing space it’s only five minutes before you start wondering if the phone will never ring again!

Underneath it all there’s often that nagging desire to be able to leave the office at 5.30pm and not have to think about work every time you walk past the third bedroom. The desire for a job where keeping the business going is not your responsibility, and you know exactly how much money you’re getting.

With all this doom and gloom, perhaps it’s time I got a ‘real’ job. Where’s that employment section?

But, then I think back to the cubicle in the city and it’s not hard to remember why I can’t return. For me, being a solo business person is about freedom and possibility as opposed to security and predictability. And yes, despite all this self indulgent whinging, there’s nothing like having a swim after lunch on a Tuesday or sneaking in an afternoon snooze to make everything rosy.

While many of the realities may be similar to a ‘real’ job – it seems evident that hard work, occasional stress and uncertainty are part of any ambitious role – the difference is in the control and autonomy you have being your own boss.

If you’re going to put up with challenges anyway, you may as well do it on your own terms. You can decide your own deadlines, set your own prices, refuse unreasonable requests, select who you do/don’t work with and be free to pursue any opportunity that comes your way.

If you don’t believe me try a few of these lines on your traditional corporate boss:

“Unfortunately I’m fully booked for the next two weeks, but would be happy to talk then…”
“I’ve had a really productive week so I won’t be in on Friday…”
“I’ll be increasing my prices (pay) by 10% from 1 July…”
“FYI, I’ll be spending one day a week working at another business from now on…”
“Sorry, I don’t think we’re suited to work together, but I can recommend you to a competitor…”

What I’m getting at is that flying solo is not a way to escape problems but it is undoubtedly a way to find unlimited opportunities. You take the risks, but the rewards are all yours too.

What is a ‘real job’ anyway?

Peter Crocker is a director of Flying Solo responsible for the areas of marketing and advertising. He is a business copywriter specialising in websites, videos and marketing communications.

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Thanks Peter for your realistic view. I totally agree. Since working for myself (17 years) I've never worked so hard, but I wouldn't change one day of it. I thrive on the challenge and enjoy my own company. I'm always looking for opportunities even if my diary is full. Barb from Leschenault Western Australia
Thanks Peter for giving me a solo pick-me-up so I can remind myself that along with the bad comes the good too. It is a daily challenge to know that the buck stops at my desk on every project but so satisfying when it all goes ahead and my clients are smiling. Still looking for that afternoon nap though!! Jana from Greenwich Sydney Australia
As a solo for 10 years ...the key was to set goals..determine what works ...work with belief...
finally review your achievments at least weekly.
Acknowldge that some days you will make no money , but , if you are advancing your business 'value adding to your clients ' it will pay off.
You rarely need to talk to idiots ,because you choose your clients.
PS I sure dont miss the corpotate politics and ithe buck stops with me. Alan from Melbourne Australia
Oh yeah! This one gets the high five from me. And I agree - about once a quarter I get inspired by the sunshine outside, and transfer my laptop and work outside. Usually 30 minutes later, after my work has blown all over the back yard, or I've spilt my drink, or my neck is killing me, I relent and head back to the safety of the ktichen table (I can still see the sun, mind you...) Megan Tough from Sydney | Read my articles
I agree, Peter...........the sunshine is never further away than when viewed from a cubicle - even if the cubicle has an airconditioned view via tinted double glazing ! Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
Great way to wrap up a solo day! Thank you, Peter. I've gone solo before...in the 1980s in NYC. Now, I'm solo in the tiny town of Fairhope, Alabama USA on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. There are the highs, and, of course, the lows. As I struggle with the clients who nickel and dime me to death in the south, I question...even now...whether or not to fill out that job application. Sigh...your article really hit home. Lovelace Cook from Fairhope, Alabama USA

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