The Truth About Being Your Own Boss

Like many of you, I’m working from home these days, as opposed to going into an office, like I used to.

The perks of working from home, as a business owner, is that I have a lot more free time, and no supervision. I can “make my own hours” and sit on a white sand beach drinking fruity cocktails like the cover of a Tim Ferris book.

Anyone that knows entrepreneurs in real life know that we work more than anybody, especially in the early days of getting a business off the ground. I have plenty to do, from writing here on Solitary Beast, to writing content for my other business, designing labels, ad copy, building a website, and more.

It’s easy to get distracted by Twitter, Reddit, and YouTube.

Today I started challenging myself to get my most important tasks done before I hop on Twitter or start swiping on dating apps.

It forces me to get things done in my business, keeping a roof over my head, and bread on the table, before I screw around with my mutuals on social media.

I get a lot of motivation, laughs, and interesting ideas from my social feeds, but I need to use my productive time BEING PRODUCTIVE. There’s no boss who will go easy on me, let me slack off, and still cut my paycheck at the end of the week.

That’s the truth behind “being your own boss”. You actually have to function as your own boss, managing yourself to get tasks done, on time, under budget, and meeting obligations.

A boss isn’t an easy job.

It’s stressful, it requires a level head, and the ability to think under pressure.

Just like in says in the Dhammapada,

One man conquers an army of ten thousand,

the other conquers himself.

The latter is the greatest of conquerors.

It’s Not Easy

Millions of people woke up this morning to a blaring alarm clock, fought traffic, stumbled into a job they hate, with a boss they can’t stand. And did all that in exchange for barely enough money to survive on.

I woke up when I felt like it (still before 0700, a vestige of my Air Force years), went for a leisurely walk, made a nice breakfast. Then I sat down to work when I was ready.

I’m not a multi-millionaire with a yacht, a mansion, or a private jet (yet). I’m just a regular man who was willing to do anything to live life on my own terms. No alarm clock, no HR department, no sensitivity trainings. Just balls and the ability to make a living on my own.

It’s not easy. It’s just worth it.