Employed Versus Self-Employed & Christmas Launch

Being Self-Employed: Embracing the Christmas Season

The Joy of Being Self-Employed During Christmas

Being self-employed, Christmas is the greatest season of the year. This is when we experience the most work and, of course, an increased turnover. You watch your turnover closely, monitoring your results, creations, videos, promotions, and practically everything to ensure success during the festive season. Intensifying views of products, including those that sell all year round, can significantly drive results. Careful adjustments to customer behaviour can help the right products sell quickly. Christmas itself is huge.

The Motivation to Succeed

If you are self-employed, you might not have a traditional incentive, but you can double your income. Christmas alone should be motivating enough. A diverse range of products, including seasonal items, can enhance customer response and add to daily essentials, making for happier choices. This diversity can lead to the development of necessary skills. Interacting with businesses, working independently, solving problems, and networking often require more flexibility than being employed. Balancing workload and personal commitments is vital and must be prioritised. This integration is key to thriving as a self-employed individual.

Growth and Reflection

There is a time to grow your business and a time to reflect on it. Promotion is a path you create yourself. At every step, you make decisions, persevere, and promote yourself further. Your actions speak volumes. Essentially, you create your own promotion, which is a significant difference from being employed.

When you are self-employed, you practically create your own employment. You decide what you do, where your strengths lie, how you work, and ultimately what you will earn. For some, it’s about selling; for others, it’s about providing services—digital or non-digital. It is worth considering how much you want to fulfil deadlines, engage in contracts with others, or completely tailor your own workload, thus gaining flexibility.

Long-Term vs. Short-Term Commitment

The major question you should ask yourself is, "Do I want to be in this for the long term or the short term?" This decision will impact your final choice. Some opportunities thrive on long-term strategies, say four years or more. Short-term commitments can supplement income but may not cover expansion. Brand awareness is crucial, while turnover is a prominent solution. Building teams also requires a solid foundation, which takes time. These are essential questions to consider when becoming self-employed. Are you in for a long ride, or is this just a temporary gap in your life?

Self-Employment Versus Employment

The Importance of Job Satisfaction

Another hurdle is job satisfaction. Deciding how to run your office, respond to business associates, and manage your team can be very satisfying and empowering. Job satisfaction is crucial for productivity and staff retention. High turnover is costly and can lead to profit loss. Self-employment can alleviate this issue and is a viable option if dissatisfaction is affecting your personal and professional life.

Over time, ideas and refinements may not receive the attention they deserve at work. This can lead to resentment and poor outcomes. A backup business can provide the necessary fulfilment structure. From past experience, I can share that people often earn as much part-time from their business as they do full-time at their jobs. This is due to developing or applying skills that are not in demand at work. The business may grow faster than your full-time income, and the products or services offered may be in higher demand than your job allows. Job dissatisfaction requires drawing a line and making new arrangements—either with your boss or for yourself. This should not be postponed, as it can have serious consequences.

Finding Your Own Working Style

There are times when we feel we have little manoeuvre or are trapped in a team that merely follows someone else's working style. In your own business, you learn to work according to your abilities and beliefs. Some call it faith in yourself. I believe it is faith because you need to trust in yourself and in others. Mistakes will happen, but faith is an enduring attribute that encourages both you and everyone involved in your business. Someone with faith can carry the load through thick and thin when self-belief is not enough to sustain a team or business. Trust in others is crucial.

Continuous Learning and Skill Development

The amount of new skills a business brings is unwavering. Many new jobs, businesses, or careers are continuously available to you. Continuous learning and courses can introduce new concepts and career paths that may not be accessible in traditional employment. A team leader may not end up as the CEO of a business site, as some careers are simply not achievable under employment contracts, let alone zero-hour contracts.

Navigating Career Changes

Everyone's situation is different. There is a gap in specialists offering career guidance to those in jobs. Job offerings, hustles, and opportunities exist for those with specific skills, but counting down the years and making necessary changes is often in short supply. Unless you already have a business, very few coaches can help you navigate your work life effectively. If you manage that successfully, it is wise to offer your skills to others. It is not always about money; it is about the deep thoughts a person has and how they can best apply themselves to something exciting.

Tackling Financial Challenges

When struggling with your income, it is wise to sit down and explore every option to tackle the deficit. Should you work more hours? Take on another job? Start a business? Change jobs? The least and most destructive option is to squeeze your life into a smaller budget. Although there are many tips and tricks available, they often lead to lowered self-esteem and overall dissatisfaction. Fitting into a budget is generally despised. Instead, focus on charging forward and escaping this suffocating situation. Don’t allow anyone to bring you down to the lowest denominator. You can end up reducing your budget weekly as prices rise, which is detrimental.

Preparing for the New Year

Before Christmas, it is a good idea to reassess your financial situation and personal goals. The New Year should start with a revised plan and, most importantly, a better outlook. There is no limit to what you can achieve.

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In conclusion, being self-employed during the Christmas season can be incredibly rewarding. With the right mindset and strategies, you can thrive in your business and turn this festive period into a significant opportunity for growth and success.