Ugh, I’m Still Working For Someone Else….

Everyone has their limits. I had finally reached mine.

Have you ever felt that you were trading your life for money (paycheck)?  Wasting away in a rat race while the bosses grew wealthier because of your efforts? Feel like a number or judged based on the 'what have you done for me lately' mindset?

I felt this way for a long time.  Don’t get me wrong, I truly appreciate the opportunities afforded to me and the growth that manifested because of them. 

I gave working for others a chance, in fact I started at 11 and stopped at 47. I have worked in all kinds of businesses, doing everything from working on dairy farms, in restaurants, bartending, an analytical chemist, a salesperson, a sales & for the last 11 years, a successful Major Account Executive for a Fortune 500 Company. You name it, I’ve probably done it.

However…I just couldn’t do it anymore.

I am becoming the entrepreneur that I have always felt I was born to be.

I don’t write often, I am only doing it to share my experience and journey in hopes that it will be a benefit to others. My journey becoming an entrepreneur has been trying at times, but for the most part I have had the best experiences.  The growth that comes with the journey is scary, frustrating, & at times, emotionally draining. It is also rewarding, enlightening, and humbling...allowing you to build stamina for addressing challenges with a better mindset and a controlled ego.  

Why Should Anyone Get to Tell Me How to Live My Life?

I have always despised orders, whether it was my parents, teachers, or bosses. I longed for control of my life and I loved trying new things, because even when I failed, I learned something… usually more than when I succeeded. As an adult, I gravitated toward outside sales positions because of the freedom afforded when you did well.  I hated taking orders from my superiors so much that I became very successful so my interface time with the “brass” was minimal. Sadly, my appetite for orders continued to diminish, and it was completely obvious when COVID hit.  Everyone was trying to continue the ‘norm’ while accommodating drastic changes in, well, everything!  The stress fell firmly at the feet of the ‘brass’ and most of them turned into raging dicks, barking orders of busy work, demanding mandatory meetings at 4-6 every Friday afternoon and other demeaning chores as they came up. 

I am a firm believer in rules and putting forth an honest day’s work for an honest day's pay, because that’s what I promised. As the years went by, my 40-45 hour work weeks went to 60-80 hours per week, stealing me from my family, my goals and my health. I allowed this to happen instead of drawing a line in the sand. I should have learned that the only way to build my ‘big picture’ life was to actively pursue it myself and I could not do that while building someone else’s life.

Is Security a Myth? 

Let’s think about this for a minute, most people think that a steady income with benefits is the key to security in one’s life.  It pays the bills and provides some trivial luxuries that satiate that feeling of pride for all of 30 seconds as we dream up the next ‘must have’.  I also wanted that sense of security & assumed that as long as I remained a high performer, job security was a given.

I am grateful that I was able to live a lifestyle that most would envy, even in America.  I am not wealthy, but my family wanted for nothing ...except for my time.

The older I get, the more I realize that time is more valuable than money. The car(s) we drive are not fancy, but they are practical for our family.  Toys, like my motorcycle, are nice, but have lost the meaning they once gave me & none of them are worth foregoing my passions. I am finished wasting time.

How was I Supposed to Get Rich? 

I used to work more hours to close a big sale, or to juggle multiple projects at the same time, whatever it took to maximize my ever changing Comp Plan. My motivation was simple; make more money, invest more money and let the money work for me.  Seems simple right? The problem is, I was working for someone else, the more effort & time I put in, the more I found I was sacrificing my health.  As my health continually deteriorated, I would end up visiting the doctor multiple times a year, instead of once.  I was referred to specialists and put on multiple medications.  I spent a large amount of my extra money on this as opposed to investing it. My boss didn’t invest the same amount of time, but he did get the largest share of the profits.  They will always be one rung higher (or more) on the corporate ladder.

We seem to work the hardest and yet they get paid more.  As a business owner I understand the direct relationship between risk and reward.  As a former high performing employee, I also understand the sacrifices made to significantly impact the bottom line!

Can I take back my life? 

We all have various paths, each unfolding because of the decisions we make. I realized that the fear of failure kept me making the 'safe' decision. Please don't mistake what I am saying, I wasn't unfulfilled, I was proud to help organizations become more effective by leveraging their technology investments for the envisioned purposes and I was great at it. (Let's just say I was the Zapier of business services.) You may want to be an entrepreneur, it may scare you to death, or you may have found your passion already but no matter the situation live your life following your passion!

In addition to my passion I had to figure out what else was important for me, for my family. What do you need to add to your puzzle to make your journey successful? Security? Fulfillment? Respect? Joy? Figure out what's most important to you and embrace it... use it to fuel your success and motivation!  Don’t lose yourself for 20+ years in Corporate America if you need more! Choose the path you desire and start your new life off with the vigor and commitment you gave employers!

All of my best for your new journey and remember "Money Loves Speed"!