I was walking back from karate on Sunday and there was a sign in the window advertising for franchisees. It stated, “Give up the 9-5 to be your own boss“. I kept on walking an thought to myself, “Yeah, give up the 9-5…….for the 24/7!”. I posted this thought on Twitter and it got retweeted many many times.
It is true, that when you start your own business, you are not “stuck with the 9-5” like a standard job. Many of us think that the good news of having our own business is that we don’t have certain hours when you need to be there and when you can go home. We remember- we are the boss. You can come and go when you want. This is all true but your customers and employees may think otherwise.
When you have your own business, you actually need to be there more than the typically 9-5. Some would say, it becomes 24/7 because that is probably what it will require. This is why I always say that in order to be successful in your own business, you need to figure out how to merge your business and personal life.
With all the connectivity these days, servicing customers is a 24/7 job. For most of us, e in this world on commodity and no barriers, providing immediate service is one of our only competitive advantages. It almost requires 24/7.
I make a commitment to get back to my clients within 60 minutes (unless I am sleeping or on an airplane). They can always reach me. Having your own business means you do not work 9-5. You can take off in the middle of the day, but you may also be working that night at 9:00PM.
What do you think? Do you work more or less having your own business? Do you measure things in hours or by task?
[…] This post was Twitted by markjeee […]
tweet, tweet, tweet, I don’t really know
how to twitter, but I know owning your own business is taking it to bed and your dreams with you…and when your on vacation, you don’t get paid, and you don’t get maternity leave and you don’t get 401k matching or eye or dental insurance (unless you plan to pay pretty pennys for it) and you don’t get car allowance or expense reimbursement….you get tax write offs, but you also have to be an accountant before you go to your accountant…whaa whaa, whaa…
Everybody underestimates all that must me done to start and run a business. The real challenge is having an appreciation for all the non-revenue generating activities that must be done which compete for the time needed on revenue generating activities. Because of this lack of appreciation, forecasts are often too optimistic regarding how quickly a new business will begin to cash flow.
Here’s to working 9-5.
@Jeff Agreed- revenue forecasts should be cut in half and expenses doubled. I only wish I could be happy with a 9-5 job!
Hi, I kind of agree with the hours.
I am starting to delegate more though.
The trick is to find reliable and reasonable people to delegate to.
I have heard about virtual assistants but have not looked into this yet.
Somebody also emailed me a pdf book about the “4 hour work week” which I’ve looked over a little bit.
nsatodomeosictted August 26, 2011 Aww I love that we have the same anniversary! I loved having my wedding close to Christmas!
You are right, Barry … As I like to say, “sure I get to choose my work hours … I can choose any 16 of the 24 I want to work each day!”
I agree that this may be the case in the early years of a business. But as a business grows and matures, I believe that you can have more control over your hours and your life. We create our own stress. For most of us, immediate contact is not required. Is everything truely an emergency? Probably not – unless you make it so. I’m a CPA and while I work hard during tax season, I basically work 3 days a week the rest of the year. I have not checked work email from home for two years or ever on my phone. I do not check voice mail when I am out of the office. I have NEVER lost a client because of this. In fact given my committment to life balance, I’ve taught my clients the same. Granted, I’ve been in businss for 25 years. And the balanace things has been a 15 year quest. But it is a quest with success.
You have the opportunity to create your own life. It’s how and whether you do it that matters. As you try to grow a business (which I did in the first 10 years and have downsized 3 times since – making more money and adding to my happiness) yes you will work more. But it doesn’t always have to be that way. And if it is – it’s because YOU have made it so.
Sometimes less is more. Too much connectively is not always a good thing. I know my work deadlines and take vacations on weeks I know are slow. I’ve tracked my time and hours over the years and can predict my schedule. Granted much has to do with what I do.
You must have the committment to create your own business. But you can use that business to create a better life.
@Debbie- so well said!