You’re not genius enough to be successfully self-employed

June 25th, 2009 by Agent Kevin Miller

That's not a catchy headline, it's truth. You're not. So you can take a deep breath, as this is probably where your greatest anxiety is regarding the thought of pursuing self-employment. It's a derailing myth that those who successfully 'did it' are benefiting from some rare brilliance.

So how do we explain folks who ARE successfully self-employed?

First, not all who are self-employed would I define as 'successful.' The plumber who started doing plumbing on his own and now has his own business but doesn't enjoy it, works 15 hour days, 7 days a week and is barely making ends meet…is not successfully self-employed. He just happens to own his crappy job.

Then what about the successfully self-employed people who own their work, love it so much they'd do it for free, and are making an above average income doing it?

They aren't genius either.

In my experience with scores of successfully self-employed people, they fall in to two categories:

1. The Endurance & Adrenaline Junkies - They pursued self-employment with passion and aggression and faith…and solely succeeded through mere desire, endurance and a high pain threshold. Many lost their shirts and families in the process. I fit this category. Things are pretty great now, but it took a long, long time and I wouldn't wish the journey on anyone. So grateful I didn't lose my family in the process. I did lose my shirt. All of them. Now I'm in the following category, but from the school of hard knocks. Avoiding this is why FreeAgentAcademy.com exists.

2. The Wise – These folks had similar traits, but were smart enough to get help, model what was succeeding, count the costs, and put the right pieces together. They became successfully self-employed faster and with far less pain. My partner Chuck Bowen fits this category. It's why together we make a great team for helping guide folks in self-employment at FreeAgentAcademy.

So you have three choices if you want to work for yourself, and I'll end with shameless promotion of a great offer, just to entice you:

1. Own a crappy job – like my plumber analogy (nothing against plumbing…it was just an example, hail to you if you are a plumber and love it). I'd rather you loved what you do, but if I was going to succumb to a crappy job, I'd still rather own it.

2. Get ready for pain – commit and go for it alone and make all the stupid mistakes I did and legions of well meaning folks are making every day. We keep the marriage and financial counselors, lenders and aspirin companies in business! You may make it like I have and we can tell war stories over a glass of wine. And, you'll be really good at counseling others on what NOT to do.

3. Seek counsel – Look around at the people you know. The folks struggling generally keep to themselves. Those succeeding utilize lots of people and resources. Again, you don't have to be genius to be successfully self-employed. You just need to seek counsel from…and model, those who are already succeeding.

If you desire number three, the best resource I can give you is…FreeAgentAcademy.com. I wish it existed back in 1997 when I began my first business start-up. We have a couple hundred members who are beating the norm for business start ups. You could possibly join them and save yourself much grief, while rapidly realizing your true calling.

Until June 30th, with your enrollment you'll receive a 30-minute consultation with me…or with Chuck! In our personal business consulting practices, this would cost you $150. But start out by visiting the Free Agent Academy website, and on the front page there is an Application Form. Fill that out and we can correspond a bit.

Here is to less pain and more success!
Kevin Miller

You’re not genius enough to be successfully self-employed

June 25th, 2009 by Agent Kevin Miller

That's not a catchy headline, it's truth. You're not. So you can take a deep breath, as this is probably where your greatest anxiety is regarding the thought of pursuing self-employment. It's a derailing myth that those who successfully 'did it' are benefiting from some rare brilliance.

So how do we explain folks who ARE successfully self-employed?

First, not all who are self-employed would I define as 'successful.' The plumber who started doing plumbing on his own and now has his own business but doesn't enjoy it, works 15 hour days, 7 days a week and is barely making ends meet…is not successfully self-employed. He just happens to own his crappy job.

Then what about the successfully self-employed people who own their work, love it so much they'd do it for free, and are making an above average income doing it?

They aren't genius either.

In my experience with scores of successfully self-employed people, they fall in to two categories:

1. The Endurance & Adrenaline Junkies - They pursued self-employment with passion and aggression and faith…and solely succeeded through mere desire, endurance and a high pain threshold. Many lost their shirts and families in the process. I fit this category. Things are pretty great now, but it took a long, long time and I wouldn't wish the journey on anyone. So grateful I didn't lose my family in the process. I did lose my shirt. All of them. Now I'm in the following category, but from the school of hard knocks. Avoiding this is why FreeAgentAcademy.com exists.

2. The Wise – These folks had similar traits, but were smart enough to get help, model what was succeeding, count the costs, and put the right pieces together. They became successfully self-employed faster and with far less pain. My partner Chuck Bowen fits this category. It's why together we make a great team for helping guide folks in self-employment at FreeAgentAcademy.

So you have three choices if you want to work for yourself, and I'll end with shameless promotion of a great offer, just to entice you:

1. Own a crappy job – like my plumber analogy (nothing against plumbing…it was just an example, hail to you if you are a plumber and love it). I'd rather you loved what you do, but if I was going to succumb to a crappy job, I'd still rather own it.

2. Get ready for pain – commit and go for it alone and make all the stupid mistakes I did and legions of well meaning folks are making every day. We keep the marriage and financial counselors, lenders and aspirin companies in business! You may make it like I have and we can tell war stories over a glass of wine. And, you'll be really good at counseling others on what NOT to do.

3. Seek counsel – Look around at the people you know. The folks struggling generally keep to themselves. Those succeeding utilize lots of people and resources. Again, you don't have to be genius to be successfully self-employed. You just need to seek counsel from…and model, those who are already succeeding.

If you desire number three, the best resource I can give you is…FreeAgentAcademy.com. I wish it existed back in 1997 when I began my first business start-up. We have a couple hundred members who are beating the norm for business start ups. You could possibly join them and save yourself much grief, while rapidly realizing your true calling.

Until June 30th, with your enrollment you'll receive a 30-minute consultation with me…or with Chuck! In our personal business consulting practices, this would cost you $150. But start out by visiting the Free Agent Academy website, and on the front page there is an Application Form. Fill that out and we can correspond a bit.

Here is to less pain and more success!
Kevin Miller

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