I have no qualms about being a small business owner. Nope, not even in today’s economy.
You see…I used to work for the government. And as much as I like a steady paycheck, I like my sanity more.
This was my office. And no, I’m not normally a messer. I just had so much crap to do and not enough time to do it in. Add to that supervising employees with personalities bigger than Mount Rushmore and you’ve got a stress case. And I’m talking 24/7.
I refuse to let the fear of the failing economy get to me. You know why? Because 1) fear is freakin’ contagious. It’s like a plague. It spreads from one person to another like wildfire. And I won’t spread it to anyone else. I refuse.
Because 2) fear paralyzes you. It makes you too afraid to do anything. So then you sit there and just wait. Wait for things to get better? Wait for something to happen? I’m not quite sure. But people tend to wait instead of act. And I decided a while back that I wanted to be an action person, not someone paralyzed with fear.
I’ve been writing for years…either part-time or as a moonlighter. And now that I am working from home full-time and building my writing business and a few other ventures (soon to be announced) there is no turning back.
I left a government job where I was loved. Where I knew I could stay forever and build a decent retirement. And where I would be taken back in a second…if it weren’t for the pesky hiring freeze the state has going on, and probably will have going on for another year or so.
But I wouldn’t go back. Even if I could.
Because the stress I felt there was a kazillion times more than the stress I feel as a small business owner in this economy. I have nothing but positivity and hope and I sure would like to spread that…dang, I wish hope was as contagious as fear…
Because I am never again going back to a job that sucks the very life out of me and forces me to literally tiptoe through my office in order to sit down due to paperwork overload.
Hell, no!
So…why doesn’t the current economy scare me? Because the thought of going back to that mess (^) scares me a heck of a lot more.
Tina
Loved the post! I blogged about it here, http://www.justindriscoll.net/blog/2008/10/01/one-persons-reason-to-be-self-employed/
Thanks
Justin
http://www.justindriscoll.net
Very cool, Justin!! Thanks for the blog mention AND the comment! I appreciate it!
It’s always better to work for yourself than for others. I used to write for a magazine and it pissed me off every time my editor in chief changed something at my articles. Nice blog post!
Hey, Nice to see you are following my on twitter. I don’t know if you have checked out my blog yet, but as a writer you may enjoy it.
Hi Tina –
Got your follow on Twitter! Thanks.
I enjoyed reading today’s blog post. I love your attitude! You come across as a small business owner, who is 100% accountable for her own destiny and is absolutely focused on defining and creating it!
Every ‘recession proof’ email that I’ve received gets deleted or a quick unsubscribe if I read it and it feeds off people’s fear of uncertainty and change.
All the Best! Marian
@ ro patel – thanks for stopping by! I’ll make sure to check out your blog!
@ marian – Thank you for the wonderful comment!! Love your biz name: Spark Action Now. Very cool. I’ve favorited your site because those topics that you are writing on are of interest to me…great stuff!!
hey tina
i found you on twitter and i like your work by your blog. Impressive post & nice work. Keep it up Good going.
Hi Tina-
Excellent post Tina. I couldn’t have said it better myself. You have hit the nail on the head with this one. You are following me at Twitter and found you website.
Have a great day,
Tim Largent
http://www.timlargent.com
@ Dev – thanks for popping in! Glad you liked the post!
@ Tim – I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment – thanks!!
Great for you and I wish more people were like you at least in terms of their attitude and mood and yes I agree with you that hope should be more if not as contagious as fear. You either win or lose in your mind, the results that follow already have a foregone conclusion in your mind. Great to see that you have already emerged victorious in your mind and that’s what really matters…
Thanks, moserw!
Tina,
A great post and one that needed to be said. It’s good to read of someone keeping a cool head out there and not panicking. I received an email from a friend with a link to an article claiming Congress is on the brink of declaring marshal law – that’s just ridiculous, but because it’s on the internet there are people who will believe it.
I can totally relate with your motivations. Even though I’m looking for a job, I’m not thrilled about the prospect of going back even though it’s needed. In the meantime, I’m writing as much as I can.
Thanks
@ CK – Thanks for stopping by! Yep, the power of the internet is awe-inspiring and a bit scary. I met a guy once who tattoed his arm with a Native American symbol. I asked him what it meant. And he said (with a complete straight face): “I found it on the internet and it means _______” (whatever the heck he said because by this time I was freaked out that someone would permanently mark their body without more back-up info on something they got off the ‘net)
That’s so funny – I’ve been thinking along the same lines. I’m building my freelance business back up after nearly 2 years hiatus, and for whatever bizarre reason, it feels like the right time – even though I still have one child at home and the economy sucks. Still, things are falling into place at the same rate and intensity they did when I first started my business; I have a great network of people, and I just feel really positive about the whole thing. Well, best of luck to us both!
Hi Christa – i think positivity goes a long way. You attract what you put out there. I see a lot of opportunity in this economy. So I am sure not only will I survive, but actually thrive! But talk to my mom (and others like her) and you’d think the world was coming to an end.