There are more than just a few reasons why so many dream about leaving the rat race to pursue their own passions. Being your own boss and being in charge of your own destiny usually means a much more fulfilling day-to-day routine, without many of the typical stresses of the 9 to 5 lifestyle. That’s not to say there aren’t things to consider and challenges for entrepreneurs, but here are some of the best benefits those who are looking to work on their own terms have to look forward to.
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Set Your Own Hours
Being your own boss means you can structure your day exactly as you see fit. This flexibility can be golden. Ultimately, it’s all on you, so if there are appointments, errands or other things you need to do during the day, you’ve got the freedom to schedule these however suits you best. This is also a great perk for people who don’t like mornings; they can sleep in and make up for it in the evenings.
Increase Your Earnings
Being your own boss at first might mean less financial security with smaller pay cheques but, as you establish yourself, the sky really is the limit and your earning potential is linked to you, rather than a boss who dangles the ‘pay review’ carrot. It can be daunting, but it’s also extremely empowering. If you’re keen to grow your pay packet, there are always new revenue streams worth investigating that can grow your business too. For example, an IT professional may want to expand their offerings into telecommunications services, which they could do through a company like Telcoinabox by acting as a reseller of phone and internet services.
Always a New Challenge
Forget being bored and feeling like your workday is perpetually stuck on repeat. When you work for yourself, you’ve always got a challenge and, if things feel like they are slowing down or repeating themselves, you can always set yourself a new challenge. Usually this has an added benefit of extra business or another incentive. No doubt this is a stark difference from your boss setting you a new ‘challenge’ (i.e. extra work for no extra money).
No Office Politics
Colleagues stepping on your toes and petty workplace rivalries can be one of the most frustrating aspects about life in the rat race. Everyone’s got something to prove and workplace hierarchies can quickly turn toxic with everyone trying to get ahead. Sometimes it’s not that dire, but daily gossip can become old fast. Plus, when you work for yourself, no one car fire you or threaten to do so.
Cancel the Commute
One of the most draining aspects of the daily grind is the long commute in traffic-choked streets. Starting your own business and being your own boss means you’ll be almost guaranteed to work closer to home, if not from home. And, if you do have to drive, you can schedule much of the drive outside of peak hour. When you cancel the commute you also gain an extra hour of sleep or have extra time to get other things done. What’s not to love about that?
Working on your own terms can be extremely liberating and empowering. Just ask the people who’ve already made the change. If you’ve long thought about being your own boss and leaving the rat race, there are definitely more than just a few good reasons to do so. What are you waiting for?