Before I dramatically stuck it to The Man by quitting my job back in 2008, my view on life was
quite different. In short, I assumed that to make a living you had to play by the rules. You had to go to school, get a degree, get another degree that made you more employable, and then climb the ladder to success...slowly and steadily.
Once I became an entrepreneur, that all changed. Suddenly, I made the rules. I controlled my destiny. Self-employment taught me a lot about myself and the concept of work -- and I continually fantasize about the day when I can convey these life lessons to my daughter.
Since that day is at least ten years away, here are a few of them so I don't forget:
1. The possibilities are endless.
I know it's cliche, but this saying helps me get through the down times, so I'm standing by it. When I was working for The Man, it was so easy to get down about stuff -- about my pay, or my boss, or how long it was taking to get a promotion. It was so easy to feel stuck. Entrepreneurialism taught me that there are always opportunities out there -- you just have to be creative enough to see them. Your life is what you make of it -- and there are always several prongs attached to every fork in the road.
2. Don't be afraid to toot your own horn.
I'm no longer just a writer -- I'm also a business owner. This means I have to market my business -- and brag about myself from time to time. For some reason, when I'm wearing my business hat this just comes naturally whereas before it was something I loathed. I realize now there's nothing shameful about selling yourself (hmmm...maybe I'll phrase that a little differently when conveying this point to my daughter).
3. Believe in yourself.
Ugh -- I actually hate this saying too, but bare with me.
When I interviewed for my first journalism job, I was terrified. I had so much difficulty answering the questions confidently, because I felt like I was lying the whole time.
"Do you feel comfortable writing about complicated manufacturing processes?"
While I meekly answered "yes" to this question, my inner voice was saying "HELL NO!!!" And the interviewer knew it.
If I could go back and give that 20-something a pep talk, I'd assure her that no one with a background in journalism is able to write about manufacturing right off the bat. I didn't have to be confident about my manufacturing knowledge, but I did have to be confident in the fact that I would work hard, ask questions, and figure it out. I'd also tell her that she was up against just one other person, and he didn't like to fly. It was a high-travel job.
4. You will succeed if you want it bad enough.
I think this is true for anything -- whether it be a career or a marriage. If you're willing to work at something, you'll succeed. You'll obviously come to bumps in the road, but if you're able to foresee them, think creatively and explore every solution to overcome them, you'll get past them. If you want to.
5. Plan.
I've seen a lot of businesses fail, mainly because they didn't have a feasible plan. Most notably: The summer smoothie place that opened on the waterfront last August. I mean, really?? Isn't that something you should open at the beginning of the summer?
Whether you're starting a business or planning your education, it's best to do the legwork and figure out what potential path you'd like to take ahead of time. If opportunities arise along the way that force you to deviate from said plan, so be it.
Hopefully by the time my daughter is able to digest these life lessons, I'll be successful enough that she'll actually listen. Something tells me, though, that I'll probably be faced with an annoyed eye-roll instead. I can't wait!!