Me. . . Self-Employed?

No doubt most of us have given thought to becoming self-employed at one time or another.

Many disillusioned employees embraced country music legend Johnny Paycheck’s 1977 release of “Take This Job and Shove It” as sort of a national anthem for work-weary Americans, but it’s doubtful that it resulted in many new business start-ups. Acting on emotion alone has likely resulted in numerous start-ups and an equal number of failures.

But, at the same time, fear has prevented most would-be entrepreneurs from moving forward on their dreams. Most fear, I feel, results from a lack of information. The overwhelming majority of us have always worked for someone else. Because most of our parents and grandparents have also been employees, we have little insight into the world of self-employment. And because most of us know someone whose business has failed in the past, few of us have any real incentive of moving forward in our dreams.

I’ve seen the word fear expressed as an interesting acronym in the past. F.E.A.R. or False Evidence Appearing Real.

“Failure is the path of least persistence.”

There is no shortage of resources available to would-be entrepreneurs. Just a note of caution: ignore anybody, no matter how good their intentions, who hasn’t done what you propose doing.

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For now, let’s just say that mentoring is available and we’ll discuss that topic in next month’s column.

Let’s take just a moment to put F.E.A.R. into perspective. You have a choice. You can learn to control fear or it can control you. Again, while we all know people who have failed in business, chances are you know far more people who have heard the words “we’re letting you go.” How many of us in the past have wished we were in some other career field? I had always wished I had chosen to become a commercial airline pilot. What if I had? Just look at the conditions of the airline industry today. I learned on a recent Delta Connection flight out of Knoxville that the pilots started at under $20,000 a year and that turnover among pilots was at record levels. So much for my dreams. I’ve often wondered why employees of large companies fear self-employment more than the security of their own jobs. Which career path is more risky?

Just a quick note. I am not suggesting that people abandon their jobs in pursuit of self-employment opportunities. But I am suggesting the F.E.A.R. should not determine your choice.

I have worked for three Fortune 500 companies in my lifetime. I learned a great deal for which I will always be grateful. But, I have also been self-employed for over 25 years and I have experienced a level of freedom and unlimited potential that simply does not exist on the job. A sense that I controlled my own destiny. Granted, there were highs and lows, turns and unforeseen challenges, but I wouldn’t give up any of these experiences for a paycheck. The reward has truly been greater than the risk. In fact, the greatest risk in my life would have been the failure to discover my potential.

Next month we will continue this journey toward self-employment by examining how to move in the direction of your dreams by establishing a mentoring relationship with other entrepreneurs who have led the way for all of us dreamers. 

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Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved.