This was mentioned in another thread, and I thought it warranted its own conversation. So here are some prompts to start, but anyone who does it knows the chaos, so ignore/add to whatever you feel like.
1.) What was your motivation to be self-employed?
2.) When did you decide it was an appropriate time?
3.) What is your business?
4.) What training methods do you use, for yourself and possibly employees?
5.) What are the benefits? What are the negatives?
6.) Anything financially related (within reason.)
7.) Goals going forward.
8.) Anything like a website or social media.
I’ll play.
Background: I was self-employed for about 10 years and still do some consulting on the side of my day job.
I started delving into the consulting business between jobs. It was right during the time that Paleo was coming on to the scene and I had connected with Robb Wolf around the time he was writing his book. He asked me to write some blog posts and started referring people to me. I really liked taking on clients and it payed well. I also really enjoyed writing - so blogging was super fun for me too.
I quit my day job (in food service management) when my “on the side” stuff started making me more money than my salary.
Nutrition consulting, meal planning, writing nutrition related articles, giving nutrition seminars, presenting at conferences.
I read and research like mad. I also have taken several online business and social media courses. No employees - but I’ve taken on interns.
Benefits: freedom to work from anywhere and when I want to (sort of…); great $$ when the getting is good; so many cool opportunities and experiences; meeting and being able to work with and for lots of “famous” people in the nutrition/paleo/keto world; helping people and working with some pretty awesome clients.
Negatives: Inconsistent income; no benefits (health insurance, vacation, etc.); working ALL the time - weekends, evenings, ALWAYS being on; working alone from home - isolating (I’m a social butterfly, lol); burnout.
The money is really good, but the hustle is constant and exhausting. There are also a lot of expenses (health insurance is the biggest) and the government really bends you over on the taxes…
I’m back in the working world and the stress is so much lower. I work for the government, have great health insurance and benefits. Also, a consistent paycheck and when I go home at the end of the day, I can “turn off” and leave work at work. I still do some consulting on the side and sometimes think about jumping back into the self-employment arena - but when I really start thinking about it, it exhausts me. Maybe someday, but probably with a partner and not alone again.
I had a website and still own the domain name, but it’s defunct right now. I also have Instagram and Twitter accounts - which I really need to be better about posting on. My FB account is personal and really devoted to memes. Lol.
Paradigm shift in how we address PTS and disabilities… and bring back old school gym culture… destroy broccoli heads and phone zombie cunts ruining our gyms
I realized I got distracted and didn’t answer my own questions.
1.) Multiple reasons - being able to create my own products, set my own schedule, being able to travel, meeting other people who felt the same way.
2.) I reached what I thought was the pinnacle and saw how shitty the people were and how it sucked everything from you.
3.) Currently private chef, estate manager, but with a few other side hustles.
4.) I can take anyone off the street and have them become a line cook in two weeks. But I can’t teach character. I tell them upfront that there are three things they can do to get fired - safety issues, lying, and theft. I like to keep people engaged with higher than average pay, flexibility, transparency to the larger vision, and not being an abusive fuckhead.
5.) Positives - Control over the entire process. Developing a much wider range of skills than if I was repeating the same thing over and over. Learning every step of the process to make me a better teacher. Networking upwards. Being able to take a mini-retirement every now and then to recover, relax, and do research.
Negatives - Fuck me running. You work 8 days a week, 25 hours a day.
6.) A good accountant is a crucial move. Also a pass-through corp and a solo 401(k) are nice to have.
7.) Partnering with a local college to train new graduates to work for me.
There’s not really someone hiring content creators lol. Also, no matter where I worked, be in coaching for gyms or other stuff, with strangers, aquaintances, or even friends, they all want to fuck you over money. I grew tired of empty promises and working with people that don’t reward workers properly. Now, I have no one else to blame but myself, and I can do what I want, when I want.
A year ago? My affinites shifted more towards content creation and online coaching than 1 on 1 coaching, and after an experience working for a friend that went very bad, I decided to do my thing. I stopped this as wall as writing articles and stuff to free time for content creation
Online coaching/ Content Creation/ Influencer (yeah… I have to admit I became one)
I tried to structure things, but I never worked. Even if I was a billionaire I’d still create content. I don’t want to burn myself, so I follow energy/drive. I work a bit everyday. Some days more than others, but I don’t want to bug my mind with these kinds of things.
The benefits are that I’m very flexible and can create a video the same day to bounce on stuff happening and create more traction. Also, I enjoy the process. Negatives is that sometimes I can procrastinate, and have a very hard time taking a break and not work/think about work.
Money is getting better. I know my weakness has always been advertising. I promote a bit more my activities so I have more clients.
It’s probably something wrong but I don’t really set specific goal. I’d say the next one is 10K on YouTube.