💡 New Business Owners Often Make this Mistake (Issue 130)
A false assumption that will hold you back
I want you to avoid the mistake I made many years ago.
I copied and pasted my job description to launch my first solopreneur business. It was a design agency of one. And I made the mistake many new business owners in that situation make.
Do you know what it was?
I treated my business like a job.
I thought I had to work at least 8 hours/day with a typical 9-5 schedule.
I worked the same way my past employers forced me to work.
I worked in the same places I had been required to work.
I thought I could only sell one thing at a time.
I believed money = time worked.
However, a solopreneur lifestyle business is most enjoyable and successful when you throw away the rules of a traditional 9-5 job. You must change your mindset from worker to owner — from doer to creator.
You don’t need to work 40+ hours every week.
You don’t have to work a 9-5 schedule.
You don’t need to work in one location.
You don’t need to be productive 24x7.
You don’t need to sell your time.
You don’t need to limit yourself.
Set yourself free from it all!
I call myself a “Freedom Coach” because that’s the most valuable thing a solopreneur lifestyle business gives you: Freedom.
At first, it’s hard to understand that the shackles have been removed. You don’t realize you’ve been set free from a cage.
You can do anything you want!
If you could make a good living working only 5 hours/week, would you do that? Why not? Imagine how you could use your free time to invest in your health, take care of yourself, spend more time with friends and family, travel more often, volunteer for meaningful causes, and accomplish things you’ve always put on the back burner.
If you could create something once that sells forever and generates revenue for you 24x7, would you want that? Of course, so-called passive income isn’t really “passive” since you do need to invest some time upfront to set it all up. But it sure is sweet to have that investment generate revenue forever and free up your time.
If you could travel the world and work where you want, would you take advantage of that benefit? Below, I included a photo of where I worked for a few weeks last year in Alaska. I had a room and wifi, which was all I required to do what I do. So, this allowed me to join my daughter, the scientist, at a remote research station in Alaska, where I volunteered. After finishing my volunteer work every day, I worked on my solopreneur business or went on hikes and fishing adventures with my daughter in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
If you could completely control your calendar and decide when you work and when you play, why wouldn’t you lean into that freedom? I’ve talked about using day theming and time blocking to manage my time. This lets me fully control my working days and hours, how I work on those days, and when I enjoy personal time, recreation, weekly adventures, and “date days” with my wife.
Don’t make the same mistake I made years ago, and so many new business owners still make. You no longer need to live and work within the ridiculous constraints of a 9-5 job under a controlling employer.
You are your own boss!
Design your business to give you the life you wish you always had. Take advantage of that incredible benefit as you build and operate your lifestyle business.
What will you do with your freedom?
Larry Cornett is a Freedom Coach who works with ambitious professionals to help them reclaim their power, become invincible, and create new opportunities for their work and lives. Do more of what you love and less of what you hate! Check out his Invincible Solopreneurs Daily Journal!
