Actually, this post is not for everybody – it’s for some group of courageous guys that have been contemplating leaving their 8-6 work. The red and the blue pill have been placed in front of them and their heart is consciously leaning towards the red pill. I am actually having these disturbing feelings that after you finish reading through this article, you may decide NOT to go with it (lol). Ok, let’s get to the crux of the matter; a friend who willingly left his job 9 months ago to try out his hands on his dreams of becoming self employed, decided to go back to being employed.
The reason he gave for returning; “Bros. it’s not easy out there and I wonder how you do it?” Seriously, I had to ask myself the same question but I quickly realized after listening to his story that there really is no band-aid quick fix formula to this “leave work, go on your own” attitude. Instead, I gathered three distinct questions one should ask oneself before taking this adventurous path in life. This isn’t the Matrix movie, bro; this is real life altering decision that can ruin your marriage, your children, your friendships, and your career if not handled with caution (I hope I have not scared you; well, let’s see):
Before I delve into the questions, I would like to reiterate the fact that freedom is the ultimate purpose for every human heart. We yearn for it; we dream of it; we fight for it; we work for it; we cry for it and the list goes on. BUT we have a definition of freedom that totally is amiss with what true freedom really is. When you hear the word; “freedom”; tell me, what comes to mind? It is the first thing that comes to your mind that paints your world view of the concept of freedom. Please, do not tell me to define it; because I cannot.
What I can tell you is that freedom equates to more responsibility. When, you tell someone that you want to be free, what you are telling the person is that you want to be more responsible. Though, it’s kind of ironical because the word as it is commonly used connotes some sense of irresponsibility: lazying in the beach of Bahamas, experiencing a Chinese massage in your Burj al arab Suite in Dubai, shooting crap at Macau Island famous cockpit, exploring the coliseum at Rome, rooting for your favorite premiership team at the stadiums in England, etc. (Please, bury these thoughts!)
Freedom can also be conceptualize subjectively; a guy that works 8-5 daily may see freedom as not having to report himself to any boss while an unemployed guy may see freedom as having to work 8-5 daily. Another very funny statement I hear from ladies about to get married is that when they get married, they would be free from their parents. I guess their meaning of freedom is no external restraint whatsoever. They (the ladies) fail to understand that the restraint becomes tighter because they are married; definitely, the parents would be more understanding than their husband to the lady’s shortcomings and with the introduction of children, the lady is definitely in a leach.
Any gig you find yourself without a certain level of restraint is total calamity; freedom thus comes with its restraint and responsibility. After God made Adam and placed him in the Garden; his first assignment was to work while his restraint was based on not eating a particular tree of “good and evil”. It’s important to note that freedom comes with certain level of restraint and responsibility and if you want more freedom, you are seeking for more responsibility and restraint. So before, you leave that job; ask yourself the question; “do I want more responsibility and more restraint?”
This is the first question you need to ask yourself; please, do not be fooled into believing that there is less restraint or the responsibility is less. Those who want to be successful going on their own know the enormous restraint they face; you do not just spend cash any how or you develop cash flow problems; your decisions are more scrutinized and analyzed or you end up in your parents house; say bye-bye to family holidays in London for start-ups or you want your children’s school fees pilling up. Now concerning responsibility: If you are the kind that complain about how tedious and stressful your work is, please don’t bother going on your own; if you are the kind that patiently waits for 5pm, so you can run home, don’t bother about going on your own.
Going on your own requires you have more bosses (your customers), your time is totally restricted though you can choose your time to work, you have to make more friends and network to sink your products or service, you have to smile more not because you are required to but you must, you have to solve the issues that confront you because you cannot pass the buck and your level of success is tied to issues solved, your time management must be on point or you would be like the Nigerian artisan group that promise to deliver a service but fail, the sentence “I am sorry” should be in your dictionary because you cannot please everybody, having employees working for you is another issue all together.
I hope I have not scared you yet because there are two other questions I have not mentioned. Well, I have to do something about that in the next post. The Number One question: “do I want more responsibility and more restraint?” If yes! Then wait to answer the next two questions in the posts to come. What can I say dear? Except if you work smart, you can then play hard. Have a wonderful week!
Loading ...
11 comments
3 pings
November 22, 2009 at 7:10 pm (UTC 1)
@ peter….well said!
November 14, 2009 at 6:12 pm (UTC 1)
Nice perspective. Been meaning to highlight these thoughts on my blog for a while. As a business owner u actually work twice as much, most times you cannot afford to close as early. Most of your weekends are spent preparing for a better weekend ahead. This post is very good for all those who are at that threshold.
November 14, 2009 at 10:21 am (UTC 1)
True talk Dipo, very , very, very true. That’s one of the reasons we do tell people not develop the language or mentality ” i want to work for myself”, it’s a wrong or perverse mindset to become self employed or running your own business. Because such people approach to business will somehow be wrong and success is not sure.
People must have a solid principle that is guiding their approach, they must set goals for the right reasons, i will recommend anyone who is still contemplating or not sure of how to get on this journey of freedom to go and read Robert Kiyosaki “Cash Flow Quadrant” and again play cashflow 101 game well enough especially with friends who have taken a sucessful journey to freedom, make sure you understand all the principles that comes up during the game, develop your strong strategies from that sound understand, i believe a lot of solutions will come up from there. If you desire is freedom, you need to clarify freedom from what? Financial freedom or freedom from responsibility, i have seen businesses that is worst than jobs, it is more slavery than anything, people need to be careful about self employment in quote, you must get your strategies right otherwise one might end with more bondage than you set out for. PASSIVE INCOME, RESIDUAL INCOME are keywords for anyone who truly desires financial freedom to understand very well and identify vechicles that can produce such income after a few period of work and match it up with his/her personality and abilities. There are more than enough genuine and reliable opportunities available today, it couldn’t be much easier for any wise person.
Basically i have just shared some of the inputs that has influenced my own successful journey so far. God bless everyone.
November 10, 2009 at 7:47 pm (UTC 1)
nice one dipo.freedom is comes with a great price.the post isnt for everyone.either way financial freedom means you work because u want to and not because u have to.u are not a wage slave.u make money work for you and u dont have to work for money…there are 5 freedoms in life-money freedom,time freedom,relatonships freedom,spiritual freedom and physical freedom..money freedom means u work becase u want to not because u have to..time freedom doesnt mean u dont work,it means that your work is your play.u savour it,u own it as in work and work doesnt own u.u feel calm and comfy taking it off as in free time here and there until u can totally forget work while your income expands and multilplies…with time and money u can pursue relationship freedom.u and your loved ones will have one of ife’s precious gifts-love and ime to explore it(life).u have what others dream about-the freedom to make your commitment to your girlfriend,fiance,wife or husband,famlly and friends deep,poignant,meaningful,intimate and lastigly cherishable….now u can invest in spiritual freedom by discovering who u r in God and who God is in you…then physical freedomhealth is wealth.with time to exercise and money to buy the finest nutition supplement and healthcare,u can maintain you health for as long as possible…
all this comes with a price..i’m not there yet,i’m still working it out and i’ll get there.
November 9, 2009 at 6:46 pm (UTC 1)
I understand you brother, i would have wished you narrated your own personal experience in this issue.
November 9, 2009 at 5:25 pm (UTC 1)
You’ve said it all, the idea of leaving your 9-5 job to Start up a business may look so fantastic and glamorous from the outside but in practical terms, it’s not easy, especially when the person in question doesn’t have the needed experience required for the business. Experience is required in every business
nice blog by the way
November 6, 2009 at 3:10 pm (UTC 1)
Solid piece… you definitely have more responsibility with freedom… talking from experience
November 5, 2009 at 2:48 pm (UTC 1)
Hello Dipo,
You definitely hit the nail on the head. Obviously you speak from expereinece so I trust that as this post develops you will give some helpful advice.
I am trying to go it on my own but the challenge I face now is getting financiers who are not asking for an arm and a leg in return.
Tell me, how did you handle funding for your business? I would appreciate your insight
November 4, 2009 at 11:26 am (UTC 1)
dear dipo,
is there really an alternative to working for oneself?
me thinks that hardship is a product of the fall of man in the garden of eden. how can one experience the pains when many seek perpetual happiness, it is a mirage.
if one fails to appreciate that hardship is a necessary ingredient of success, then that person will forever be tied to the apron strings of those who can reason that out.
please dipo, we need to commit more people to enterpreneurship for the benefit of the nation but while it is very painful but with the proper mindset, it is achievable.
i see you as an example of success with minimal hardship but ask yourself, would you trade it for retaining your job in glo even with an enhanced salary? certainly not.
for those who fail to understand the import of the garden of eden experience,they are condemned to slave for those who do.
awaiting your concluding post.
balogun
November 3, 2009 at 8:59 am (UTC 1)
just thinking about leaving my job before i got ur mail.if ur boss job cant make u leave ur job,a bastardise economy like ours could.
Thanks dipo
November 3, 2009 at 7:31 am (UTC 1)
True talk my brother, hiding behind the logo of a big company feeling its gonna be that easy to start your own is a mirage. Also I totally agree with the fact that its not for everybody, waking up 4am to prepare for work may seem stressful, how about loosing sleep because you have to close a deal the next day….. It takes more of everything from the boss. Great thoughts
What is our greatest fear? | Dipo Tepede
November 1, 2011 at 4:05 am (UTC 1)
[...] higher level of freedom than someone who is self-employed. You may read my earlier article; “Before you leave that job“ to get a good grasp of what I am saying. One of the major words associated with freedom is [...]
The POWER Within: Dipo Tepede.POeT
February 8, 2010 at 7:30 am (UTC 1)
[...] higher level of freedom than someone who is self-employed. You may read my earlier article; «Before you leave that job» to get a good grasp of what I am saying. One of the major words associated with freedom is [...]
Chasing Waterfalls...: Dipo Tepede.POeT
November 30, 2009 at 7:55 pm (UTC 1)
[...] powerful meditations: «do I want more responsibility and restrictions?» You may click HERE to read more on this. «What is my net worth?» You may click HERE to read more on this. [...]