A wise person once said, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got,” providing philosophical gravitas to the dangers of staying within your comfort zone and going with the flow.
The quote itself has been attributed to a variety of sources over the years, ranging from Albert Einstein to Tony Robbins. Regardless of who said it, the fact remains: It’s wise beyond its word count and extremely applicable to the world of training as a whole.
From a professional standpoint, taking a training course can not only get you on the path to a better job, it can provide a portal to a new career. Better yet, it could even be the gateway to the professional nirvana of self-employment.
Being your own boss is a dream of many workers across the globe; however, it doesn’t have to remain a fantasy. With the right training and effort, that dream could well become a reality—but is it worth it?
Go Your Own Way
Providing unrivalled freedom, flexibility, and potential, the autonomy that comes with being your own boss can be the ultimate liberating experience for a professional. When you own your own business, you run the show. It’s a sink-or-swim scenario where your successes and failures are your own and, more importantly, so is the financial windfall.
What’s more, the sense of creative freedom associated with professional independence is a rarely duplicated attribute in traditional employment. As your own boss, you answer to no one and are free to take the business in your own direction, from the company name and logo to pricing structure and services.
While many may see self-employed status as a risky proposition that is largely uncertain, in many ways, the exact opposite can be true. As your own boss, you can’t be fired, you can’t be replaced, and no one is going to write you up for hitting the snooze button. With the weight of the business resting squarely on your shoulders, you really are the master of your fate.
The First Cut Is the Deepest
Of course, it would be naïve to think that running your own business is all plain sailing. As the old saying goes, “If it were that easy, everyone would do it.” Simply going it alone and starting your own business isn’t a going to award you a license to print money—so maybe hold off on ordering that new, high-spec Xerox.
While working for yourself can be rewarding, it’s not without its challenges. Expect long hours and significant investment in terms of both time and money, particularly in the early stages when you’re unestablished and in the embryonic stages of getting your business off the ground.
During these early days, costs can seemingly appear from any and all angles with frustrating frequency. Whether it’s ordering the necessary tools of the trade or conducting the mandatory admin needed to establish yourself as a legitimate business, fees can arrive in myriad ways and accumulate into a hefty chunk of change.
That said, many of these costs will be one-time-only, start-up purchases; once you’ve made these payments, they won’t be needed again for the foreseeable future. Think of it as tearing off a Band-Aid: short-term sting for a long-term win!
Don’t Stop Believin’
If you’re considering retraining for a solo career or looking to take your existing skills and go it alone, the uncertainty of making the jump without a safety net can be a daunting task. However, while it can be seen as a gamble, there’s something to be said for taking the road less traveled. After all, even an eagle has to take that first leap of faith before it can soar to unprecedented heights.
According to a job satisfaction survey published by The Conference Board prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, almost half of American workers are unhappy at work, with lack of financial reward, lack of appreciation, and a disproportionate work/life balance all common complaints. Starting your own business can effectively remedy all of these areas and literally change your working life as a result.
Ultimately, while there undoubtedly will be hurdles to overcome en route to professional independence, this is one scenario where you get out what you put in. If you really want it and are prepared to put in the work, there’s no reason running your own business can’t become a hugely rewarding endeavour.
Access Training is a leading provider of vocational courses in the UK. For more information, visit: Access Training UK.
