A realization usually arrives when a person least expects a shift in their daily routine. You probably remember a day when the walls of a cubicle felt just a little too close for comfort. That flash of clarity was likely the second you knew that working for someone else was no longer a viable option for your future.
Such a discovery acts as a catalyst for every major decision you will make from that point forward. Many people ignore that internal voice, yet you chose to listen to the call of independence and self-reliance. You decided to walk away from the predictable safety of a salary to build a life on your own terms.
That moment of "This is it" serves as the foundation for the business you will eventually lead. You will find that keeping this memory fresh will help you through the lean times that inevitably appear in every startup. A clear memory of your "why" will keep your motivation high when the initial excitement fades.
Contributors: TJ Salvatore, Mami Yamashita and Ray Alexander
A good day is a good day. A bad day is a good story.
If I look determined, that's because I am.
The First Spark of Independence
A person often feels a sudden sense of disconnect from their traditional career path long before they actually quit. You might find yourself staring at a computer screen while wondering if there is more to life than spreadsheets and meetings. That feeling of being a small gear in a giant machine starts to wear down your spirit over time. Your desire for autonomy grows until it becomes a physical weight you must carry through every workday. Eventually, the need to build something of your own outweighs the fear of losing a steady paycheck.
A new founder will often look back at this period as the time they truly woke up. You start to see opportunities where others see obstacles or mere inconveniences. Your brain begins to function differently as you analyze how to solve problems for a profit. You notice that your conversations with friends shift toward ideas and strategies instead of complaints about the boss. That shift in mindset is the actual birth of your enterprise, regardless of when you file the paperwork.
You should treasure the clarity that comes with this initial stage of your development. It provides the fuel required to stay awake late into the night while you plan your next moves. Most people never experience this level of focus because they remain comfortable in their current situations. Your willingness to be uncomfortable is exactly what will set you apart from the crowd in the long run. Success is often found by those who refuse to settle for a life that feels half-lived.
Record the exact feelings you had on the day you decided to leave your old job. You will need to read these notes when the pressure of management starts to feel heavy on your shoulders.
Identify the specific problem you were solving for yourself when you started this path. You will likely find that many other people have the exact same problem and will pay for your solution.
Write a letter to your future self about the freedom you hope to achieve. You should include details about how you want your daily schedule to look once the business is stable.
Be thankful for all the struggles you go through. They make you stronger, wiser, and humble. Don't let them break you. Let them make you.
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. [Dale Carnegie]
Dropping the Corporate Shield
Security is often an illusion that keeps people trapped in cycles of mediocrity for decades. You probably realized that a company could eliminate your position at any time without warning or remorse. Relying on a single source of income from an employer is actually riskier than betting on your own skills. Once you accept that you are the only person responsible for your financial health, your perspective changes forever. You no longer wait for a promotion to increase your worth in the marketplace.
A life without a corporate shield requires a high degree of self-discipline and mental fortitude. You are now the CEO, the marketing team, and the janitor all at the same time. This lack of a safety net is what forces you to grow faster than any training program ever could. You will discover strengths you never knew you possessed simply because you have no other choice but to succeed. Every failure becomes a lesson that you pay for with your own time and capital.
You must learn to appreciate the lack of boundaries that comes with this new lifestyle. You have the ability to change direction in an instant without waiting for approval from a board of directors. Your agility is your greatest asset in a world where large corporations move like slow-moving ships. Use this speed to test new ideas and discard the ones that do not produce results quickly. Your survival depends on your ability to adapt to the feedback the market gives you every single day.
Audit your current skills to see which ones are most valuable to a paying customer. You should focus on the things you do better than anyone else in your immediate circle.
Set up a basic financial reserve to cover your personal expenses for several months. You will think more clearly when you are not worried about how to pay for your rent or groceries.
Cancel any subscriptions or services that do not contribute to your new business objectives. You need to minimize your overhead costs so that every dollar you earn goes toward growth.
Running is about finding your inner peace, and so is a life well lived. [Dean Karnazes]
Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind.
Defining Personal Liberty
Freedom is a word that many people use but few truly understand in a practical sense. You likely discovered that liberty means having the right to say no to projects that do not align with your values. It means you choose who you work with and what kind of impact you want to have on the world. You are no longer forced to participate in office politics or perform tasks that feel meaningless to your core. This type of autonomy is the highest form of wealth a person can achieve in their lifetime.
A business owner must define what success looks like on a personal level before they can scale. You might want to spend more time with your family or travel while you handle your operations remotely. Perhaps your goal is to build a massive organization that employs hundreds of people in your local area. Whatever your vision is, you must be the one to draft the blueprints for that reality. You should never let the expectations of others dictate how you run your daily life.
You will find that true liberty comes with a significant amount of responsibility toward yourself. You must hold yourself accountable for the hours you spend working and the quality of your output. No one will tell you to get out of bed or remind you to follow up with a potential client. Your success is entirely dependent on your ability to manage your time and energy effectively. You are the master of your fate, which is both a wonderful and a sobering realization.
Draft a mock schedule for your perfect workday from morning until night. You should aim to slowly move your current reality closer to this ideal version every single week.
List the types of clients or customers you refuse to work with under any circumstances. You will protect your peace of mind by setting these boundaries early in your career.
Create a list of activities that make you feel like you are actually in control of your time. You should perform at least one of these tasks every day to remind yourself why you started.
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Everything changes. So do you.
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Handling Internal Resistance
Doubt is a constant companion for anyone who tries to build something from nothing. You will likely experience moments where you wonder if you made a massive mistake by leaving your old life. These thoughts are a natural part of the process and do not mean that you are failing. Your brain is simply trying to protect you from the discomfort of the unknown and the risk of loss. You must learn to acknowledge these feelings without letting them dictate your actions.
A person who succeeds in business is someone who can act in spite of their fear. You will find that the most growth occurs when you are pushed right to the edge of your comfort zone. Each time you face a difficult situation and survive, your confidence will grow a little bit more. You should treat these moments as a form of mental weightlifting that makes you stronger for future hurdles. Resilience is a muscle that only develops through repeated use in difficult environments.
You must surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and your ability to execute it. You should avoid those who try to project their own insecurities onto your path. Many people will tell you that your ideas are too risky or that you should go back to a safe job. These individuals are often just afraid to admit that they lack the courage to do what you are doing. Your commitment to your "This is it" moment will be your shield against their negativity.
Practice a daily routine that centers your mind before you start your work. You could try a simple walk or some quiet reflection to clear out the noise of the world.
Keep a log of every small win you achieve throughout the work week. You will find that seeing a list of your accomplishments helps quiet the voice of doubt in your head.
Find a mentor who has already achieved the level of success you desire. You should listen to their stories of failure to realize that everyone struggles at some point.
Know your worth, stay humble, and be proud.
Silence is the best reply to a fool.
Acquiring New Skills
Entrepreneurship will demand that you become a student of many different disciplines at once. You will likely need to learn about marketing, sales, accounting, and operations within a very short timeframe. This process is often overwhelming, but it is also one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. You are essentially building a brand new version of yourself that is more capable and versatile than before. Every new skill you master adds another layer of value to your personal brand and your company.
A successful founder knows that they do not need to be an expert in everything to get started. You should focus on learning enough to get the job done and then delegate tasks as you grow. Your ability to pick up new information quickly is far more valuable than a static set of historical data. The world is changing rapidly, and your business must change along with it to remain relevant. You must be willing to unlearn old habits that no longer serve your current objectives.
You will discover that some of the best lessons come from your biggest blunders. You should not be afraid to make mistakes as long as you do not repeat them. Each error provides a specific piece of data that you can use to refine your strategy moving forward. A person who never fails is a person who is not trying anything new or innovative. You should wear your failures as badges of honor that show you are in the game.
Dedicate at least one hour every day to learning a skill that will help your business. You could read a book, watch a tutorial, or listen to a talk by an industry leader.
Identify the one task you hate doing the most and learn how to automate it. You will free up a massive amount of mental energy when you remove repetitive chores from your plate.
Attend a local event or a digital gathering to talk with people in your industry. You should ask questions about the hurdles they faced and how they overcame them.
Life is easier when you don't concern yourself with what everybody else is doing.
You are what you repeatedly do when things get hard. [Jamie Foxx]
The Reality of Risk
Risk is a mandatory part of any venture that has the potential for a high reward. You likely understood this on a basic level when you decided to start your own operation. However, the reality of risk feels much different when your own money is on the line. You must learn to differentiate between a reckless gamble and a calculated strategic move. A calculated risk is one where you have analyzed the potential outcomes and have a plan for the worst-case scenario.
A business owner must be comfortable with the fact that nothing is ever truly guaranteed. You could do everything right and still face a market downturn or a change in consumer behavior. This uncertainty is why so many people prefer the comfort of a standard job with a fixed salary. Your ability to stay calm in the face of uncertainty is what makes you a leader. You must provide a sense of stability for your clients and your team even when you feel unsure.
You will find that your tolerance for risk increases as you gain more experience in the field. What seemed terrifying a year ago will feel like a routine decision today. This growth allows you to take on larger projects and bigger opportunities as your company matures. You should always keep a small portion of your resources in reserve to handle unexpected shocks. A well-prepared entrepreneur is one who can weather a storm without losing their footing.
Evaluate the potential downside of every major decision before you commit your resources. You should ask yourself if you can survive if the project fails completely.
Diversify your income streams as soon as you have the capacity to do so. You will feel much safer when you are not relying on a single client for all of your revenue.
Review your insurance policies and legal documents to ensure your personal assets are protected. You need to have a clear separation between your business liabilities and your personal wealth.
I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. [Maya Angelou]
No matter how many times I get knocked down, I rise back up and push harder.
Building Your System
Systems are the hidden bones that keep a successful company standing through years of growth. You will eventually realize that you cannot do everything yourself if you want to scale your operations. A system is a repeatable process that produces a consistent result without your constant direct intervention. When you build good systems, you are essentially buying back your future time. You are moving from being a person who does the work to a person who owns the work.
A disorganized business will eventually crumble under the weight of its own success. You might be able to handle five clients with a messy desk, but you will fail with fifty. You should start documenting your processes as soon as you find a method that works. This documentation will make it much easier to train new people when the time comes to expand. Your goal should be to make yourself redundant in the daily operations of the company.
You must be willing to invest in the right software and infrastructure to support your vision. These costs might seem high at first, but they pay for themselves in efficiency and peace of mind. A good CRM or project management utility will save you hundreds of hours over the course of a year. You should always be looking for ways to streamline your workflow and remove friction from your day. Your business should be a machine that runs smoothly even when you are not looking at it.
Map out the steps for your most common task on a piece of paper. You should look for ways to eliminate any steps that do not add direct value to the final product.
Create a standard operating procedure for how you handle new customer inquiries. You will find that having a template saves you time and ensures you never forget a detail.
Set up a digital filing system that allows you to find any document in under ten seconds. You should organize your folders by project or by year to keep things easy to find.
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
You are remembered for the rules you break.
Finding Your Pace
Burnout is a real threat to anyone who is deeply invested in their own success. You likely feel a strong urge to work around the clock to get your business off the ground. While hard work is required, you must also find a pace that you can maintain for years. A business is more like a long-distance run than a short burst of speed. If you exhaust yourself in the first six months, you will not have the energy to cross the finish line.
A person must learn to recognize the signs that they are pushing themselves too hard. You might notice that your creativity drops or that you become irritable with the people you love. These symptoms are a signal that you need to step back and recharge your mental batteries. Taking a day off is not a sign of weakness or a lack of commitment to your goals. It is a necessary part of maintaining the high level of performance required for leadership.
You will discover that your best ideas often come when you are not actually working. A walk in the woods or a quiet dinner can provide the mental space needed for a breakthrough. You should protect your sleep and your physical health as if they were business assets. Your brain is your primary resource, and it needs proper care to function at its peak. Finding your pace is about working smarter rather than just working longer hours.
Schedule non-negotiable breaks into your calendar every single day. You should treat these times with the same level of respect as a meeting with a high-paying client.
Set a hard stop time for your workday to prevent work from bleeding into your personal life. You need time to disconnect so that you can return with fresh eyes the next morning.
Engage in a hobby that has absolutely nothing to do with your business or making money. You will find that doing something just for fun helps prevent your identity from being tied only to your work.
Think positive, speak positive, and stay positive. Do it every day and do it BIG.
The smallest step in the right direction can end up being the biggest step of your life.
Ignoring the Skeptics
People will often have a lot of opinions about your decision to run your own show. You will likely encounter friends or family members who suggest that you are being unrealistic. These individuals usually mean well, but they are speaking from their own limited perspective of what is possible. They might be uncomfortable with your growth because it highlights their own stagnation. You must learn to filter out the noise and stay focused on your own internal compass.
A leader must have the thick skin required to handle criticism and doubt from the outside world. You should listen to constructive feedback from people you respect, but ignore the rest. Your vision is yours alone, and most people will not see it until it is already a reality. Success is the best way to quiet the skeptics, but you cannot wait for their approval to move forward. You must be your own biggest fan and your own most consistent supporter.
You will find that your circle of friends will likely change as you move deeper into the world of business. You will naturally gravitate toward other entrepreneurs who understand the unique stresses you face. These relationships are incredibly valuable because they provide a sense of normalcy for your unconventional lifestyle. Surround yourself with people who are also trying to build something great. Their energy will help keep you motivated when you feel like the world is against you.
Limit the amount of time you spend discussing your business with people who do not support you. You should protect your energy and only share your wins with those who will truly celebrate them.
Read biographies of successful people to see how they handled the critics in their own lives. You will see that almost every great achiever was once told that their ideas would never work.
Develop a short "elevator pitch" that explains what you do without inviting a debate. You should be able to describe your business in two sentences and then change the subject if needed.
Securing Long Term Growth
Growth is the lifeblood of any company that wants to stay in business for more than a few years. You must always be looking for ways to expand your reach and improve your offerings. However, you should avoid the trap of growing too fast without the proper foundation in place. Scaling should be a deliberate process that is supported by your systems and your cash flow. A company that grows too quickly often loses the quality that made it successful in the first place.
A business owner must keep an eye on the future while they handle the tasks of today. You should spend time every week thinking about where you want to be in five or ten years. This long-term perspective will help you make better decisions about which opportunities to pursue. You might decide to turn down a lucrative contract today because it does not fit your long-term vision. Staying true to your original "This is it" moment will prevent you from chasing every shiny object that comes your way.
You will find that the most sustainable growth comes from building deep relationships with your customers. You should focus on providing so much value that they would never dream of going to a competitor. Word-of-mouth marketing is still the most effective way to grow a business in the modern world. When your customers become your advocates, your growth becomes much easier to manage. Your reputation is your most valuable asset, so you must protect it at all costs.
Review your long-term objectives at the start of every new quarter. You should adjust your tactics if the market has shifted, but keep your ultimate destination the same.
Survey your existing customers to find out what other problems you could solve for them. You will find that it is much cheaper to sell to an existing client than to find a brand new one.
Invest a percentage of your profits back into the business every single month. You should use these funds to upgrade your equipment, hire help, or expand your marketing efforts.
On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope
by DeRay Mckesson
A meditation on resistance and freedom, and a portrait of a racial justice movement from the front lines. Written by the internationally recognized civil rights activist who has stood with hundreds of others on the streets of America, which resulted in the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement.
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You don't stop riding when you get old. You get old when you stop riding.
Stop complaining about things you're not willing to change.
Maintaining Mental Clarity
Clarity is the ultimate advantage in a crowded and noisy marketplace. You will find that your ability to think clearly is often the difference between success and failure. As a business owner, you are faced with a thousand small decisions every day that can drain your mental energy. You must learn how to protect your focus and eliminate distractions that do not matter. A clear mind allows you to see patterns and opportunities that others will miss.
A person who is constantly reactive will never be able to lead a company effectively. You should try to spend the first hour of your day without checking your email or your phone. This quiet time allows you to set your own agenda before the world starts making demands on your time. You must be the one who decides what is a priority and what can wait until later. Managing your attention is just as important as managing your money or your team.
You will discover that your mental health is the foundation of your entire operation. If you are stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, your business will eventually reflect that state of mind. You must be willing to do the work required to stay mentally sharp and emotionally balanced. This might involve exercise, meditation, or simply taking a walk outside to clear your head. Your business will only be as healthy as you are, so take care of yourself first.
Unsubscribe from any newsletters or social media accounts that make you feel inadequate. You should only consume content that educates you or moves you closer to your objectives.
Write down your top three priorities for the next day before you go to sleep. You will wake up with a clear plan of action instead of wondering where to start.
Practice saying no to requests for your time that do not align with your current focus. You will find that people respect your time more when you show that you value it yourself.
A successful business is the result of a thousand small decisions made with a clear purpose in mind. You have the power to create a reality that most people only dream about while they are at their desks. That original moment of clarity where you realized that "This is it" was the start of a whole new way of living. You have already done the hardest part by deciding to take the first step toward your independence.
Every day after that is just a matter of showing up and doing the work with a consistent level of effort. You will face hurdles and setbacks, but you now have the tools required to handle them with grace. Your path is your own, and the rewards for your bravery will be seen in the legacy you build. Stay focused on your vision and never forget why you started this road in the first place.
How I "Finally" Make Over $7,000 Monthly Income
"The most valuable thing I've ever done!"
