One of the most challenging things for people starting a new business is to learn how to be self-employed.
When you used to go to work, you were used to people telling you what to do. You walked in and, on most days, knew what you needed to do. But now, you may feel as if you don’t know what to do, don’t know how to do it, or are not sure where to start each day.
When you have all the time to yourself, deciding how to use that time effectively can feel overwhelming. When there’s no structure to your day, it’s hard to know where to begin! That’s why some people have a tendency to get less done with more time. So goes the saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.”
That’s why a trick many self-employed business owners use is to treat your business like a job.
Yes! That thing that you just left...that’s what I’m talking about.
Treating your own business like a job will help you to know exactly what you need to do each day. But this time, YOU get to choose what your day looks like.
There are certain things you expect from businesses you interact with — such as your hair salon, bank, grocery store, and so on — and your customers should expect certain things from you, as well.
To be successful, you must not only treat your business like a business, you must be consistent with it. Here are some things that are “musts” if you want to succeed as a self-employed business owner:
- Set office hours (and be true to them)
- Set a consistent work schedule (when are your client times, your focus times?)
- Put everything on your calendar (not on a to-do list) and respect that appointment
- Put most of your attention on income‐producing activities, not busy work
- Have proper business aids and supplies so that you’re ready for business when it comes
- Stay on top of your social media channels (for example, when someone visits a Facebook business page only to find the business hasn’t posted in days or weeks, it doesn’t look great. It looks like the business or individual is lazy or inconsistent — or worse, out of business entirely).
- Know your numbers (know what you’ve sold, what is on the horizon, are you hitting the targets and meeting the goals you’ve set.
- Time-block your day! (My Power Hour® program and planner are great for this!)
Whether you’re a consultant, speaker, coach, entrepreneur or have a side gig that you are wanting to grow, it’s a business — and you need to treat it like one.
People often joke that JOB stands for “just over broke.” Going forward, I encourage you to apply the advice above, and think of your JOB as Joyfully Operating your Business!
XOXO!
Belinda