There are a few things in life (if any) that are rewarding, yet not difficult to achieve. Self-employment definitely tops this list. While I have been fortunate to experience an inspirational sense of accomplishment, my endeavours have been met with great challenges.
Here are what I have found to be some of my biggest challenges being self-employed:
1. Finding Myself
When I first got into real estate, I sought out fellow realtors who had achieved a certain level of success. I wanted to be just like these realtors. I also quickly got into coaching and endeavoured to do everything my coach told me I should do. One thing, and the most important thing I hadn’t done, was to determine my true passion and purpose.
I had to take a step back and remind myself that these realtors I admire all had to start somewhere, and where they currently are, is not where they started. I worked on my mission statement, allowed myself to be vulnerable and became a sponge, all the while remaining coachable. I learned to listen to everything, and found value in what best matched my core belief and my own inner strengths. While some things are standard, I had to learn to hone in on my own unique gifts.
1. Staying Motivated
Working for the boss, we know that if we do not perform, we will face disciplinary action, with the possibility of termination. This keeps us motivated to perform at our best, even if we do not enjoy the job. At the end, we are rewarded with a pay cheque.
As a self-employed person, and especially loving what I do, I am easily motivated to add value to my clients. Where I lack motivation is to complete the necessary paperwork, which is an integral part of the entire process. In real estate world, the paperwork seems endless! Here, I have to work hard to find the self-motivation to do this task I find mundane.
I solve this issue by leveraging my time by finding someone much more capable than myself to perform these tasks. This frees up my time to focus on what I love to do, which is to work one-on-one with my clients.
3. Procrastination
This by far can be a tough challenge, if I allow it, and it’s linked to point number 1. As much as I can outsource certain parts of my work, there are still important parts of my work that though unpleasant, I have to deal with. As a realtor, this includes activities such as cold calling and door knocking.
Procrastination, if I allow it, can rob me of my freedom and the ability to choose. Rather, I am being run by my circumstances and constantly in a reactive mode. I quickly learn that while I absolutely love what I do, I have to accept that there are certain parts I am not going to enjoy, and I just need to get through them and deal with it.
I learn to build daily good habits which compound over time and allow me to cultivate a discipline that makes it hard to fall back on bad habits. These habits include working with a daily schedule, setting daily goals and taking mindset breaks.
4. Money
Let’s not forget the almighty dollar! This is the downfall of many start-up businesses. Gaining momentum can take time. We have to make sure we jump in first with one foot, have some savings, or another source of income to rely on while we are build our business. The bills will continue to come and we must eat!
In Closing…
The toughest part of self-employment is to start. It is overcoming the self-limitation of the mind and commit to the commitment. It is reaching for greatness and never giving up!
Being your own boss is definitely rewarding, but does have its challenges. Self-employment is not for everyone. In real estate, the statistics on failure is staggering. Statistics show that at least 75% of new registrants quit in the first two years. If you have a determined spirit, a never give up attitude, and learn to establish good habits from the start-up, you will achieve success. Dealing with the not-so-pleasant parts of self-employment pales in comparison to the abundant rewards that come with it, such as the freedom of choice!
Remember, whether you are self-employed or not, our mind is conditioned, and tells us what we can, and cannot do. Train the mind to rid it of any self-limiting beliefs, and become the best YOU that you are meant to become.
Many of us face work challenges, or have found effective ways to overcome these challenges. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.