The reality of going it alone
Being a gig worker isn’t the same as a startup, so be ready to meet and conquer your inner demons EXPERT VIEW
Being a gig worker is a different game. Though it’s the dream of many workers, the reality is part-time and self-employment do not pay the bills.
No one really tells you the truth. We humans are conditioned to put on a brave face and be polite. You say ‘Good!’ when a friend asks how we are, despite the worries that had kept you awake half the night. When it comes to starting your own business, you dream of a life of freedom, where you can call the shots, be challenged to be your best, and take the rewards for your hard graft. After all, no one seems to truly appreciate everything you do.
As Sir Winston Churchill said, “a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” Lies and halftruths are everywhere; I admit, I’ve done it myself. A little post on Facebook about my office for the day, working from a café in the sun, view of the harbour. That was in the very early days, I found a proper office was far more conducive to getting things done. Being a gig worker is not the same as a startup business. Data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development shows that while part-time selfemployment has increased sharply in recent years, many appear to be offering their services under similar contractual arrangements as a conventional employee, rather than an SME. The gig economy is many worker’s dream; the reality is part-time and self-employment do not pay the bills.
Established organisations are just that. They have already been organised, working to long-term plans and strategies for focus. They’ve already figured out procedures to become more efficient. Experts are hired to get functions and departments working effectively. When you dream of escaping the corporate world, realise that you will adopt structures and processes in order for your business to succeed. You will accept other people’s shortcomings, when you hire them on their expertise.
Be ready to meet and conquer your inner demons, and it will be worth it. Procrastination, fear, anger, anxiety, guilt, self-criticism — you will meet them all. Established organisations work to a rhythm and momentum. In the very early days of working alone, you have to take control of your emotional roller-coaster and learn to live without a safety net. Becoming intimate with each of those demons in the only way. Turning every negative emotion into a learning and an opportunity to improve. Without doubt, you will learn a lot about yourself. When to stop before you burn out and how you can muster up strength and courage at the most critical times. We’ve all read them. Those articles telling us about how to have successful habits. From Tony Robbin’s morning gratitude ritual to Anna Wintour’s hour of tennis before work. The reality is these habits are not what made them successful, and mimicking their routine will not make you successful either. Churchill reportedly stayed bed until 11am every day.
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Mental, physical and knowledge preparation is key.
Starting a business is like running a marathon. Take stock of your resources both internally in the way of skills and strengths, as well as externally, in the way of time, financial and other support.
An expert in delayed gratification. Tenacity is vital. During the establishment stage, it’s about maintaining a momentum and a stubbornness to keep going without looking back. You will learn the difference between what you want and what you need. You will learn that just when you feel you can’t keep going, you find you can dig deeper and go some more.
A jack-of-all-trades and a master of outsourced specialists. You will learn what to learn to do yourself and when to hire an expert. The wisest way is consider the cost of failing. Speak to credible specialists when it comes to accounting and tax, legal matters, marketing and leadership.
You will feel like a fraud. In the early days, you have a business idea and plan then when it’s time to go to market, the negative self-talk begins. You wonder why people will choose you over your established competitors. The only way to persist is to adopt the “fake it, ’til you make it” confidence-boosting mental position. Fraudster feelings diminish as you gain experience.
Define your own style to work to your optimum. Self-care is key for any activity requiring stamina for a long-distance goal. Avoid early burn-out by consciously looking at what replenishes your energy. Be it 4:30am early starts, gym before breakfast, meditation or late-night inspiration, follow your own success routine.
The media is full of success stories. However, according to the OECD’s ‘Entrepreneurship as a Glance’ survey as well as many other reports, many businesses do not survive their first year. If you are already an entrepreneur or considering starting your business, look past the gloss to really get to the nuts and bolts of what works. The writer is founder and managing partner of Your Neuro Coach. Views expressed are her own and do not reflect the newspaper’s policy.