Tips for Being Your Own Boss

Launching your own business and becoming a boss can sound so freeing, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. Here are six tips for being your own boss.

1. Know yourself.

Take the time to really understand your strengths and weaknesses. You will also want to ensure you stay connected to your why and your long-term vision. There will be many times when you might want to give up on your dream, these are the times to go back to your vision and use that as fuel to push past the hard times. Knowing yourself also means being aware of your health, both mental and physically, and knowing when it might be time to take a step back and slow down to prioritize you as a person, not just you as an entrepreneur. ‍

2. Set clear goals.

Your goals provide you with direction, they are the stepping stones to get where you want to go as an entrepreneur. They give you accountability  and provide a way for you to measure how you are doing. Clear goals will also aid as you seek to make good long-term business decisions as they keep you focused and aligned with your purpose. Not to mention, goals provide accountability, which is essential for being your own boss. ‍‍‍

3. Become a lifelong learner.

As a business owner you will want to be aware of what's going on in the world, taking the time to learn and understanding the latest trends in your industry.  You will also need to get good at quickly learning from failure and pivoting; adapting your strategies based on what you are learning. Knowledge is key to staying competitive. ‍

4. Be mindful of your company.

Not your 'company' as in your business— we mean the company of the people you keep around you. Build a board of advisors: you will want to consider having a mentor, a future customer, another entrepreneur, and maybe even a lawyer and accountant. Entrepreneurship can get lonely at times but by having a good support system around you, you will have something to fall back on when times get tough. You will also want to be aware of your physical surroundings, try and create a workspace that allows you to thrive. Put up pictures or words that can help inspire you when you feel stuck.‍

5. Learn the art of time management.

Make a calendar and plan your day. Work backwards from your main goals and be very strategic in planning your days by highlighting what your main priorities are. Do not multitask; it actually leads to a decrease in your efficiency. We recommend to try to time block your calendar. This means you set specific time blocks to work on related activities; this limits the extra time it takes your brain to switch to different tasks.  ‍

6. Our last tip is to keep having fun.

Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the process; make time for fun along the way. Celebrate wins, even the small ones, and acknowledge all your hard work! We highly recommend setting time on your calendar for fun, or time with your family, and make sure you don’t miss those meetings!

Becoming your own boss can be hard but we hope these tips can help you set a solid foundation for becoming not only a great entrepreneur but also a great boss.