I've spent most of my life searching for what to do with my life. One black and white “career path” never made much sense, which is why I've probably tried a little of everything. But I'm grateful for my work experience because it taught me one CRUCIAL lesson:
What I really want to do is work for myself. Be my own boss. And make my own rules.
I despised being confined to a 9-5 box and only having a few hours of my own every day. I despised being micro-managed, having to check my work schedule before booking a vacation, and trying to “look busy” when I'd finished all my work before my shift was over. (HONESTLY IS THERE ANYTHING STUPIDER THAN THIS?!)
I'll step off my soapbox though, because I know you're with me. It's why you started your business in the first place – because you crave freedom. You want to be able to say “thanks, but no thanks” to projects that don't interest you. You want to call it a day and head to the garden when the sun hits the backyard. You want to offer products and services that actually change peoples' lives.
Which is why it's SO FRUSTRATING that your business isn't bringing you happiness! You're working in an industry you love. Your schedule is full. Your clients are nice. But in a weird way, you almost feel trapped in this business you've built.
You force yourself to sell products and services that don’t excite you anymore because that’s just how you’ve always made money. You avoid speaking up about current events and social issues online because you don’t want to offend your audience. You give into manipulative customers because you're terrified of a bad review.
There's a point in building a thriving business where we get stuck in a rhythm of busywork and completely lose sight of our bigger vision. A business that makes money is important, but entrepreneurs like you don't just want to make money. You want your work to make a real impact on the world.
The good news is feeling trapped within your business isn't a sign of failure - it's a sign that it's time to build a strong brand so you can level up!
