Brave intent in the title, I know, I know. It includes the assumption too that your boss is terrible (most are though, in my experience) and that you’ve got the capacity, ability and motivation to go solo. It takes some balls. I only did it because there was no option to carry on in teaching as various “bosses” and people who should know better colluded to block and blacklist me. Thank God, too, with hindsight!
I was chatting with someone this weekend who admitted to fear and, without being blasé, it is fully understandable. You have the security of a regular wage, a pension, sick pay entitlement and you can live a life to those means. We’ve all though driven into company car parks, even academy ones, to see the Range Rovers, BMWs, Jaguars in allocated Director parking spots. They’re the ones making the big money – from you working for them.
Now don’t get me wrong I trundled through 27 years of teaching and leading English, happy to take home £2000 a month or £100 a day for 5 hours teaching, plus shitty meetings and marking. It’s only when you drop that addiction to a salary that you realise, with drive, determination and motivation, earnings are limitless.
Doesn’t happen overnight though.
I spent 2015 to 2016 building this business and earned, wait for it, £6900 in that one year. Thought about jacking it all in and going back to paid employment for a fixed sum, but persevered and made this company a massive success now.
It’s not been easy; I’m like a swan who appears to be all serene, surrounded by Apple products and fish and chips, but working furiously underneath at this business and on others who pay me. I am prolific on social media, having a laugh, poking gammon and selling marketing, copywriting and web design, and I work 6 or 7 days a week.
I wouldn’t have it any other way either.
So, this next week, when you’re called in for a minute (code for a bollocking) or receive a pissy email from a superior, smile and nod and pick up a spade. Not to hit them with, no, but to start digging a hole, an escape route covertly.
You can then work on this on the sidelines, without telling anyone, and then when you’re ready, when you’re called in or emailed again, you can say “Oh f— off, I’m going solo.”
You won’t regret it – I haven’t, even in year one.
Jobs and working for others is a mug’s game.
