Freedom and Self Employment
8 April, 2008, 3:25 pm
My passion is self employment. It always has been. I have worked in many of the world’s largest corporations, and I have worked for some small, local businesses. In both cases you are taken advantage of. The small guy really doesn’t have any choice if he is to make a decent living for his own family, and the large companies are usually ruthless killers without any heart who are built to earn a profit at whatever lengths they have to go. If you don’t believe me, take a trip to an Western owned corporation in Indonesia.
The point is simple. Self employment allows the individual to make their own rules and live by them. There is freedom in this, but as with all things, with great freedom comes great responsibility. (I believe that came from Thomas Jefferson, but I am happy to hear your corrections).
Too often I hear from people who think self employment means they get to sleep all day and watch TV all night and the checks just role in. Sorry to say, this is not the case. The people who make money from their own business work like mad. They will often be seen at 2 am checking email, and taking calls late into the night. They have to work hard to make sure that they are meeting the needs of their clients and keeping their brand in front of the people who matter most. Their customers.
They also need to be productive. It is difficult to maintain the kind of productivity levels that can compete in the post-modern marketplace, but it must be done. 
Don’t get me wrong, there are many great things about self employment. If you do the hard work of establishing your brand, and building your market, then you get to set your own hours. You can go to the park with your kids at 2 in the afternoon, but you better be ready to work later into the night if you make that decision.
I would love to have your thoughts on this. Are you self employed? What does your company do? How do you manage your own productivity and still live the lifestyle you desire to live?
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