Self-employment is for…when a j-o-b will never be enough

February 12th, 2013 by Agent Kevin Miller

Sometimes we forget what the point of self-employment is. Even I get caught up in the pursuit of ‘work that is purposeful’ and glorifying having a business which is the ultimate culmination of someone’s calling and great service to humanity!

But at the core, we primarily pursue self-employment…simply when a traditional j-o-b will never be enough:

• Not enough flexibility
• Not enough meaning
• Not enough joy
• Not enough wealth
• Not enough challenge
• Not enough security
• Not enough sanity
• Not enough efficiency
• Not enough satisfaction
• Not enough control
• Not enough ____________ [you fill in some blanks]

Due to all those ‘not enoughs’, I would be self-employed doing just about anything as long as it keeps me from a regular j-o-b. I’d even clean toilets! Which…is exactly what my friend and Free Agent Academy member Wendy Staas is doing. She left the corporate world because it was killing her soul with a bevy of ‘not enoughs’, joined FAA to pursue self-employment, and ended up starting a cleaning business. She admittedly hates cleaning toilets. But, it’s better than the fancy corporate gig that came with all the ‘not enoughs’. Not only is she able to be full-time Mommy to her baby girl, but it wasn’t until she became self-employed that she even entertained HAVING a child in the first place.

The combo of becoming self-employed and having a child is what led her to discovering what she really desires to pursue, and in the last year she’s launched:

1. www.naturalbirthevangelist.com
2. www.empoweredmothers.net

As these two parallel endeavors grow, she’s seeing light at the end of the potty tunnel and will ultimately relinquish her cleaning biz.

If I was banned from running a school for self-employment, I’d just jump to the next lowest hanging fruit opportunity that would enable me to remain self-employed and avoid all the ‘not enoughs’ for my life. I’d revive my Small Business Marketing Consulting business, or get serious about turning out Aspen wood furniture (pictured are a couple beds I’ve made for our family). I own a portable wood mill and could make a go of it milling and selling natural lumber. My wife has birthed 7 children (3 home births), home schools them and cooks gluten/dairy/soy/meat/corn free meals. She’s also gorgeous. I’m sure I could create a business around all of that! Then there are the weekly ideas I have for unfulfilled needs in the marketplace I could follow up on…

I’m grateful I’ve found work I’m passionate about and is wrapped around my personal calling, and at the core I desire the same for others. But my point here is…it’s secondary to just being self-employed in order to combat the ‘not enoughs’.

Don’t get stalled out looking for the perfect idea and business and ‘embodiment of my passions’. Sure, let’s find as good a fit as possible, as quick as possible, for your talents, skills, abilities, giftings, cares and experience. But if your primary need is to escape the shackles of the j-o-b, FAST…then let’s just get you doing SOMETHING you can get paid for.

Anyone up for cleaning toilets? What would you/could you do to make a buck on your own and address the ‘not enoughs’ in your life?

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If you’d rather hear the show where I expanded on this topic:Right-click to download / Listen or subscribe via iTunes