I have been working for myself for one week now and I have not yet met all the goals that I have set for my business. While that is certainly understandable there were moments this last week I was ready to panic about that… like Tuesday. Tuesday morning I woke up and thought “maybe this whole adventure won’t work”. What? In one day of working for myself I did not conquer the world? Perhaps I should wait, it occurred to me, until I had worked full-time on the business for more than one day.
I have my long term goals and I have a plan. I also have a whole lot of work ahead of me.
Let’s see how the first week turned out:
Worse than hoped for
- I will probably pass up a consulting project I was considering because of some issues that have come up
- the Vietnam trip I was trying to pull off looks like it will not happen
Better than expected
- On my last day of the day job a client called about some consulting work
- I helped someone on their social media strategy and they in turn are trying to figure out how to include the Amateur Traveler in a pitch to a major airline
- One of my joint ventures may be getting some traction so I spent some time brainstorming logos and URLs
All in all that sounds like a pretty typical week for an entrepreneur. Only one thing to do. Work the plan.
January 25th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Chris – don’t get discouraged…it’s a huge change you are making – going from corporate to entrepreneur! One thing I have learned is that you don’t always accmplish much on a day to day basis…but you have to realize that every one of those posts, conversations, comments, tweets – can lead to something in the future that will surprise you. It often doesn’t feel like real work…but it is – just less tangible than office work many times.
Good luck on week 2!
January 25th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
….some times it can take up to two or three weeks to completely conquer the world.
January 25th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
ah, that’s good to know… I will give it another week
January 25th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Planning is overrated.
Have a direction, work in that direction, and adapt with what comes your way.
Things you planned wont pan out, think you never expected will pop up.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
The key is to COMMIT! You have to be all in. No thinking ‘what if this doesn’t work.’ The correct response is ‘how do i make this work.’ It’s all in the attitude. Your worst of this week is not bad. Take want went ‘wrong’ and learn from it. How will you do it differently next week? When I first started my business nothing went according to plan – and still doesn’t. But you have to keep trying and throwing yourself back out there. Livin’ the dream is not always easy – but it sure beats working! (Editor’s note: I wrote this as much for my benefit as for yours)
January 25th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Aye Aye, Captain Neil! p-)
January 26th, 2010 at 12:13 am
You don’t want to conquer the whole world anyway — too much paperwork when you own it.
Just conquer your niche and you’ll be very happy.
good luck Chris
January 26th, 2010 at 7:02 am
sorry, too preachy? Again, more for my benefit than yours – And I needed that!