What made you...

[coollikeme]

decide to change from an employee, to a full or part time business owner. One of the hardest realizations, is the thought, of losing your 'so called' security. Tell me your story, I would like to hear from you? Mine was, I was working for Hilton hotel and we were busy for 4 days straight, and they basically force me to work the graveyard shift one night. Someone got fired and I was one of the few people that knew how to do that shift. I told them during the interview I did not want to do that any more, but I got stuck doing it and they did not really care (not that I was surprised). So I am killing myself working my a** off on Sunday and my boss calls from Atlantic City. My boss and the owner were having a great time and I was stuck at work. That was the day I knew I could not be an employee anymore. That is when I started my part-time business, I wanted the freedom to control what I did. I mean, half the time I could not even go to the bathroom because we were either too busy or noone was around to take my place. When something as simple as going to the bathroom becomes a chore. you need to do something else. I will bet you that all of you employee's out there can't even go to the restroom without permission or someone criticizing you for going to the bathroom too much. Anyway, thanks for listening. Tell me your stories?

[Natasha]

It was more of a process for me: I actually still have my day job. It is not too bad, about 15-20 hours a week babysitting and housecleaning, and the kids are old enough now to not be too much work. I am not yet bringing in enough money with my business to be able to quit, but I am making more money with my business than with my day job, so I figure I am on the right track.

Anyway, I did not really intend to be self-employed. Last August, I was at a yearly performing arts workshop, and we all set goals. At the time I was a hobbyist. I did these things for fun, only. So, for example, I would bring down people to teach a hooping workshop, and end up losing a bit of money in expenses. Or we would do a small show for fun, and not even get gas money. I decided to set a goal of MAKING rather than LOSING money with my hobbies.

The first steps weren't too hard. I already had some people/places that wanted me to teach. I just had to say "yes." I LOVED what I was doing! Once I realized that I could make money doing something that I would do for free, I decided to expand.

The more I expanded, the more stress came on. My new goal was to make a living off of this. A bit more ambitious, huh? I discussed this with my husband, and we agreed that I had to be making enough to give X dollars towards household expenses within 6 months, which will be over in June. Otherwise, I will go and get a full-time job.

I am BARELY making enough right now to cover that. And it is only because I quit school, so I do not have to cover tuition. So that is sort of my version of "quitting the day job." It was me symbolically leaving the life I was expected to follow. If I ever have enough money, I will probably go back and finish up. I only have two quarters left, so it wouldn't be too hard. But at this point there is no purpose. A BA in History really wouldnt help me in what I am trying to do right now.

I really need just one or two more gigs or classes, and I will be reasonably secure. I am so stressed out about it! lol

[PMcDonald]

For me, it was hearing my son cry one too many times when I left for work in the morning. For that entire day, I didn't really do much at work besides reflect on how horrible I felt for having to leave my son behind every morning and how much I missed spending time with him. At that moment, I simply made a decision that I was going to find a better way and I meant it. There was no "trying" to find a better way, I made the decision that I was going to find a way. I didn't really get that when I made the decision, but having since become a serious student of personal development - I get goose bumps just thinking about how powerful a moment in my life that was.

I made a decision. It seems so simple yet it is so profound and knowing what I know now, I know how powerful it is to make decisions. Think about it, when you make a decision, your results are guaranteed right? For example, instead of saying "I'll try to be on time," you instead say "I will be on time" - you have made the decision to be on time. It may seem subtle but it truly is life changing when you finally get that. I know it was for me.

Another thing I want to hit on is security. I had another paradigm shift when I realized that my job provided zero security for me - absolutely none whatsoever. Security is more about who we are rather than what job we hold. I don't believe security involves being at the mercy of someone else, having your pay decided by someone else, and having the possibility of your income being cut off by someone else at any given moment. Security is knowing that if someone took away everything I had, all my money, all my assets, basically everything I owned - and dropped me off in some remote place that was completely unfamiliar to me, that I would be able to get myself right back to same place I was because I have a belief in myself and my abilities that no one can ever take away from me.

[Isis Kali]

1) I was fired for serving jury duty, then assaulted. Let me also add that I was being backstabbed by someone trying to get my job. The co's clients adored me, I worked my arse off, and my coworkers thought the world of me. Yeah. About that security thing...?

2) I applied for several ballroom dance teaching jobs and none of them worked out. This is with a favorite teacher in the system recommending me with flying colors, a performance resume since I was 6, and fun interviews where the studio owners said that they thought I was the bee's knees. They all vanished within the ether. No one else was hired. They just...poof.

3) Alright, make it three. I've also been physically assaulted on other jobs, and sexually harrassed several times on one. I had to whistleblow a racist manager once. One boss went psycho and said nasty things about my severely disabled mother.

I'm so NOT becoming an employee again. Yargh. I think I may have had, perhaps, one good job during my HS years.

[JiriNovotny]

I never had a job. Not even part-time. I just realized that I do not want one when I was still in in grade school, and here I am

It's probably too late for most of you guys, but if you are still in school, launching a business is the best thing you can do, IMHO.

[Isis Kali]

Originally Posted by JiriNovotny

I never had a job. Not even part-time. I just realized that I do not want one when I was still in in grade school, and here I am

It's probably too late for most of you guys, but if you are still in school, launching a business is the best thing you can do, IMHO.

Lazy bum! Go get a job! LOL!

[BelleEnchanted]

Originally Posted by PMcDonald

Another thing I want to hit on is security. I had another paradigm shift when I realized that my job provided zero security for me - absolutely none whatsoever. Security is more about who we are rather than what job we hold. I don't believe security involves being at the mercy of someone else, having your pay decided by someone else, and having the possibility of your income being cut off by someone else at any given moment. Security is knowing that if someone took away everything I had, all my money, all my assets, basically everything I owned - and dropped me off in some remote place that was completely unfamiliar to me, that I would be able to get myself right back to same place I was because I have a belief in myself and my abilities that no one can ever take away from me.

Paul, this is so true. I love the way you describe it.

For me, going out on my own was very much a mix of things. Like Paul, it was very hard for me to leave my son early in the morning and get back just in time to put him to bed. I also worked in an industry where "face time" was more important than the actual work that you did - if you were good at schmoozing and getting to know the senior partners, you were on the right track. And I've always been very independent, so the corporate life just wasn't a good fit for me.

Not to mention that creativity wasn't a big part of what I did, and I need an environment where I can be creative.

As for security, before I quit, I got as large a line of credit as I could. I found that having this financial back-up available if I needed it gave me the time I needed to get my business up and running.

Belle

[coollikeme]

lazy bum Don't get a job. Get a business. Unfortunately Isis Kali we all heard that go get a job crap lol.