Entrepreneurial Holiday Guilt For Creative Professionals ...

Guilt, guilt, guilt. Guilt is a terrible feeling and is often self-inflicted by creative entrepreneurs, especially during the holidays. 

Most people who work for themselves say they chose to do so because they wanted to “control their time.” People who value time over money, recognize that time is a precious commodity that cannot be created, bought, or borrowed. You have to use it wisely or else it is gone.

Having the luxury to control how, with whom, and where you spend your time is one of the bonuses of working for yourself. So, why is it that an overwhelming number of entrepreneurs also say they feel guilty when they are not working on their businesses or with a client between the hours of 9 to 5 ? 

To be truly happy and successful as an entrepreneur, you must break the corporate-created walls of time and learn how to set your day according to your needs and the needs of your clients. There is no law chaining you to your desk eight hours a day between 9am and 5pm. 

Here’s my advice: stop feeling guilty about when you are working and when you are not, and ditch the idea of playing by rules set up by other organizations. Make sure you benefit from the freedom of entrepreneurship and maximize your time by performing regular activities such as food shopping at off times like 10am on a Tuesday or having your teeth cleaned at 2pm on a Monday ! You will spend less time waiting in line, you will be less stressed, and actually have more time to devote to your clients and other activities, then if you did those things at the weekend or during a busier time.

And be sure to take a day or two off during the holidays to go gift shopping, ice-skating, or to decorate your home! Give yourself permission to enjoy your life and do something for yourself, even if it is on a week day between nine and five. You deserve it.

http://plrplr.com/5342/entrepreneurial-holiday-guilt-for-creative-professionals/

What's It Like Being Self Employed ?

Interesting item on Radio 4 today about the fact that self employment is booming.  In fact, research published last week showed that we are becoming the work-for-yourself capital of Western Europe - more people are their own boss here than in France, Germany or any of the Nordic or Baltic states. 

You can listen here ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04dm5qn

Half Of Us Think We Are In The Wrong Career

Interesting piece in The Daily Mail last week, saying that half of Britons hate their jobs so much that they think they're in the wrong career.

Research has revealed that a quarter of us would even describe ourselves as 'poor employees' because we are so unhappy and 49% are thinking seriously about finding a new role.

One in five of the 2,000 workers surveyed blame their misery on their job being 'meaningless' and too stressful. Half feel they have gone as far as they can in their profession and 15% think their hours are too long.

The study also found that 70% of us would now considering working for ourselves.  Owning a cafe or a B&B, or writing a novel, were the most popular alternatives. 

Colin Swain of small business banking firm Kalixa Pro, which commissioned the study, said "It's shocking to see so many people are unhappy in their jobs, but great to see some are turning their dreams into a reality". 

Is it time to move on from just thinking or dreaming about starting your own business, to actually taking some action ?  What is the first step you need to take to turn that dream into a reality ? What needs to happen ... and what could you do TODAY to take that first step ? 

Make it a great day !