It's a big, daunting word to many people. Some are ashamed to admit they are desiring it:
"I want to be self-employed"
"I want to be my own boss"
"I'm pursuing free agency"
Bucking the norm of employeedom and j-o-b is a big deal in our current society, and being FULL TIME SELF-EMPLOYED is like a 500 lb gorilla (I said "elephant in the Free Agent Underground show - posted below - cause I couldn't remember 'gorilla').
So, forget about it.
Erase 'self-employment' from your mind and vernacular. At least for now.
Replace it with this:
"I'm gonna generate some income on the side doing something I really enjoy."
That's it. Take the pressure off. You're not quitting your job, planning an escape plan, trying to take over the world or risking the farm. You're just having fun and inspiring and using your time more wisely than TV watching. Nobody will give you grief over this, most will think it's cool. You have your regular day job, so you'll be deemed "responsible and secure" by society, shameful as that is. What you do in your free time is your own business.
In reality, most successful free agents started just like this. Working on something part time that they enjoyed and cared about. Often it was fairly low key. But they were diligent and consistent and low-and-behold, started making income! Little by little it grew to where it was getting mighty hard to keep it rolling AND keep the day job. How much easier though, to make the transition from j-o-b to free agency, when you're already half way there!
Now, you still need to be diligent. No sense wasting your part-time efforts doing something with no future or growth potential, or doing it poorly so your efforts are in vain. Understand yourself. Find what fits you. Put a reasonable plan in place. Get counsel!
NOTE: This still won't happen without you being fully committed. Everyday I see the truth in this - people who 'try' generating their own income, might as well never bother. It's like 'trying' marriage. Guaranteed recipe for failure. Success only comes as a result of determined perseverance.
So even in your "part-time, no pressure to overturn your life right away" endeavor, there still must be commitment.
Pictured at the top is our newest member to Free Agent Academy. Jeff Jones joined today. He's the drummer (http://www.jeffdrummer.com) for Christian rock band Big Daddy Weave. He loves drumming, and it's his primary source of income. On the side, he started a business creating and selling custom drum sticks (http://www.customstix.com). Last year he generated an impressive amount of income on this 'fun side business.' And unlike many of you reading here, he digs his 'regular job' of drumming in a rock band! But how cool to have multiple streams of income…especially those you can't be fired from!
So how about you. Ready?
Free Agent Underground Show - Forget 'self-employment'
