Admit it. You’ve fantasized about firing your boss and gaining the personal freedom to do what you want.
You may have a great boss. Constructive. Encouraging. He may even pay you well.
He’s still your boss though. You’re working for him, on his terms and for his benefit.
So if the thought of returning to work after the holidays — or even after a weekend! — is causing you stress, we have the answer.
A different path — a path many people just like you have taken.
To personal freedom. The path where you work for yourself as a solopreneur — if you’re ready to take that direction.
Personal Freedom: a Definition
In free societies, we’re guaranteed certain things by law: the freedom to come and go, the right to security and freedom of expression. Personal freedom in the “official” sense is closely tied to civil liberties.
But we don’t always feel free. If you’re trapped in a job that’s unfulfilling, your freedom is limited. You can’t come and go as you please, your financial security is in the hands of your employer — and you say what you feel you want to say at your peril!
It doesn’t have to be that way, though.
If “taking the path to personal freedom” sounds idealistic, let’s look at what it could mean for you.
- No more dragging yourself out of bed to go to work that bores you. You leap out of bed before your alarm, because you’re passionate about your subject and you can’t wait to tell the world.
- No more rush hour. You commute to your home-based office — your sofa, next to your co-worker pooch. Or your kitchen table, or front porch, or wherever you choose.
- No more 9 to 5. You work when you want to. You fit your time around your kids, or your mom, or your trips to the spa.
- No more working for someone else’s benefit. Everything you earn, minus taxes, is yours.
Still sound too good to be true? Maybe it is. On the other hand, maybe you could follow in the footsteps of Oprah Winfrey’s Success Story. What’s stopping you?
Is It Too Good to Be True?
Think of personal freedom and perhaps you picture sleeping till mid-day, or binge-watching Downton Abbey.
Life’s not like that. Nor is building a successful online business.
You’ll swap the 9 to 5 for often longer hours of work, because as a solopreneur you do everything.
No more full-time job with benefits and a monthly paycheck.
No working with colleagues on the next big project. You’re on your own, and it can get lonely.
On the other hand…
Your long hours result in a product you’re proud of. Sharing passion for your niche brings huge satisfaction:
“It completely makes my day when a reader sends me a message to thank me for something I’ve shared or offers insights to help others who visit my site.” Lisa McGrimmon, craftprofessional.com
Once established, and given the quality content you’ll share with your visitors, your website can earn money while you sleep:
“I still get such a huge sense of satisfaction whenever I publish a new page. And I know that I will earn an income from that page over and over and over.” Antoinette Sawyer, free-legal-document.com
Your decisions are your own, and can be made quickly, based on your values, your principles, your knowledge and experience:
“It’s one of the highest forms of creativity. I get an idea, and I can make plans to implement it. I have complete control over all aspects of my website.” Patty “Sassy” Knutson, vegancoach.com
Is that enough for you to want to fire your boss? Perhaps you’re not ready to take that path yet.
The path, though, has been trodden before — by real life solopreneurs who have already made the transition to life with an online business.
Let’s look at how other solopreneurs view personal freedom.
Personal Freedom Quotes From Successful Solopreneurs
What does personal freedom mean to people already down that path?
We asked this question of some of SBI!’s most successful solopreneurs: “What do you enjoy most about being a solopreneur?”
We discovered that personal freedom is just that: personal. It means different things to different people.
For someone previously caught in the “get-rich-quick” trap, it means “having permission to thoroughly explore something that fascinates me because It’s my business.” Nancy Ulrich, polymerclayer.com
For a new mom, personal freedom means working around a busy family life, “to raise a baby (who is now a busy toddler), and everything else that comes with the craziness of life.” Rachel Bruner: lovemyfire.com
For a growing family, “being able to do what we want, when we want, and where we want.” Stephanie and Tobias Locsei, homemade-gifts-made-easy.com
For a counsellor, “the fact that I can reach out and help so many more people than I ever could have by seeing one or two in my counselling room at any time.” Elly Prior, professional-counselling.com
And for someone wanting to supplement a retirement income, personal freedom is “an absolute joy knowing that I have the peace of mind that my retirement will be well funded with my income from ShedKing.” John Shank, shedking.net
Could one of these success stories be you?
Reaching for Personal Freedom: What Does it Mean for You?
Wanting to fire your boss is probably not the best reason to start your own online business.
So ask yourself instead whether any of those quotes about personal freedom resonate with you.
Because one of the great advantages about becoming a solopreneur is that you decide for yourself what you want. Not many jobs feature that kind of freedom!
What could personal freedom mean for you? Here are some possibilities:
- The income to help you take open-ended trips when you work part-time and vacation part-time.
- Being able to spend more quality time with your children or grandchildren.
- Knowing you can change your schedule to fit around times when your family or friends need you.
- Being able to decide what projects and initiatives you’re going to work on.
- The pleasure of knowing that your knowledge can help others.
The payoff for the solopreneur’s hours of work is freedom. What does your freedom look like?
A Path to Help You Get There
Is it enough for you to dream about personal freedom, or are you ready to do something?
The difference between dreaming about it and having a personal freedom mindset comes down to attitude and action.
We’ve looked at attitude. Now let’s look at action — the steps that start you along that path to a lifestyle you’ll love.
You’ll need practical tools:
- A secure, reliable platform to build a site or blog — whether or not you have technical know-how.
- A keyword brainstorming tool to determine interest and potential.
- A guide to take you, step-by-step, through the process of writing high quality content that your ideal audience will find, leading them to trust you enough to buy what you offer.
- Friendly forums of experienced people who genuinely want to share their knowledge to help you succeed – and even learn how to promote your website!
You’ll bring to the table:
- Enthusiasm for learning a new skill.
- A passion for your subject — and for learning more about it as you develop your website and online business.
- A positive attitude, accepting there will be times when you’ll be frustrated, tired, even overwhelmed. And knowing you’ll keep on building your business anyway, because you have a goal in mind.
The goal? Personal freedom.
The final thing you’ll need? Belief that you’re going to achieve it.
Are You a Dreamer or a Do-er?
Will today be the day you take control over your future and start your online business? The day you begin the walk down that road to freedom?
It’s fine to dream: to imagine doing what you love, to think about working when and where it suits you, to see yourself spending time with family and friends.
But dreams are just that – failure stories – without action.
Which do you choose? The grinding road back to the 9 to 5, or the path to personal freedom?
The choice is yours, and we’re here to help.
Cath Andrews
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