The Plight Of The Employee Turned Business Owner
Many of us find ourselves in the world of the entrepreneur because we got sick of working for someone else. We were doing what we loved, but no longer wanted someone else to tell us how or when. We ask family and friends their opinion, they say “you would be great, go for it!” so we quit our “JOB” and go home to open up shop.Everything seems great for a while. We are very busy working with clients, placing orders, making new contacts, and following up with prospects which brings us more clients. The cycle continues to grow as our time for other things shrinks.There are two common scenarios: (1) things taper off and we struggle to find clients or (2) most often what happens is we are so busy we can’t keep up with the demand for our services or the backlog of office work.As an employee, we didn’t have to worry about finding clients, following up, creating and selling products, bookkeeping, keeping track of client information or dealing with the mountain of paperwork, emails and office work that goes along with a business.How deep in are you? Are you just dipping your toes in? Maybe you’re up to your knees but still standing strong. Maybe you are treading water but are still ok, or are you in over your head and drowning in follow up, client files and tax information?No matter how deep in you are it’s important to stop thinking like an employee and start functioning like a business owner.Many of us started our businesses to make more money, own our time, have more time for family and friends and enjoy life more. Have you achieved this yet or are you stuck in a cycle of work that has no end?Here are some reasons to make the mindset change from “employee” to “business owner:”You will love your business againYou will make more moneyYou will have more time for the things you want to be doingSo how do you stop thinking like an employee and start living like a successful business owner?First, think about the business you used to work for (hopefully one you enjoyed working for) and put yourself in “boss mode:” what would they do first, what would they delegate, what was their process for assigning projects. Now that you know what goes into being a business owner, I bet their choices make more sense.Now take yourself out of the business and think of yourself as a customer. As a customer what could be improved, changed, eliminated or implemented? What would make you want to frequent this business, and continue to purchase their products and services?And finally the secret all successful business implementation, the 80/20 rule. This is truly a golden gem in your jewelry box of success for business and life.
