Being your own boss is not, however, without significant challenges. Potential concerns include, but are not limited to:

• Lack of financial security or predictability
• Isolation from peers or co-workers
• Lack of clarity about job demands and expectations.

Related social and emotional challenges include:

• Tolerating financial uncertainty
• Finding the right balance between business and leisure
• Obtaining much-needed support and encouragement from friends, family and peers
• Combating those feelings of loneliness and isolation that can lead to depression and anxiety.

The following can help maximize your chances for success and satisfaction:

• Look to your support network for encouragement, constructive feedback and companionship.
• Have a financial backup plan.
• Have a well-thought-out, written business plan. The more planning you do with respect to short- and long-term goals and tasks, financial expectations and daily work routines, the less vulnerable you are to stress, anxiety and depression.
• Implement your plans. Be flexible where needed. Successful self-employment requires openness to learning, growing and adapting to changing needs and conditions.
• Make it a priority to strike a healthy work/life balance. Regularly set aside time for social activities, your family and yourself. Each day should leave some room for non-work related activities.
• Don't ignore the basics! Sit down to a healthy breakfast and lunch. Get dressed for work every morning. Don't lounge around in your pajamas, as that can easily detract from viewing yourself as a vibrant, productive, su
  How to Build Good Client Relationships and Really Mean It (Part1)
  Attracting and keeping long-term clients is a prevailing approach for your growing business. Long-term clients who are pleased with consistent on-going good service, are likely to refer others to your business, and are more likely to buy further services from you. The confident professional, sm
  eing your own boss is not, however, without significant challenges. Potential concerns include, but are not limited to:

  • Lack of financial security or predictability
  • Isolation from peers or co-workers
  • Lack of clarity about job demands and expectations.

  Related social and emotional challenges include:

  • Tolerating financial uncertainty
  • Finding the right balance between business and leisure
  • Obtaining much-needed support and encouragement from friends, family and peers
  • Combating those feelings of loneliness and isolation that can lead to depression and anxiety.

  The following can help maximize your chances for success and satisfaction:

  • Look to your support network for encouragement, constructive feedback and companionship.
  • Have a financial backup plan.
  • Have a well-thought-out, written business plan. The more planning you do with respect to short- and long-term goals and tasks, financial expectations and daily work routines, the less vulnerable you are to stress, anxiety and depression.
  • Implement your plans. Be flexible where needed. Successful self-employment requires openness to learning, growing and adapting to changing needs and conditions.
  • Make it a priority to strike a healthy work/life balance. Regularly set aside time for social activities, your family and yourself. Each day should leave some room for non-work related activities.
  • Don't ignore the basics! Sit down to a healthy breakfast and lunch. Get dressed for work every morning. Don't lounge around in your pajamas, as that can easily detract from viewing yourself as a vibrant, productive, s
    Tips for Maintaining the Integrity of Important Files in a Modern Workplace
    One day at the office I was taken quite aback when I attempted to open an Excel spreadsheet I'd created and was prompted with the message: File in Use. Open as a read-only file? File in use? What was that all about? It was, after all, my file. Who else would be using it?The an
    ance between business and leisure
  • Obtaining much-needed support and encouragement from friends, family and peers
  • Combating those feelings of loneliness and isolation that can lead to depression and anxiety.

  The following can help maximize your chances for success and satisfaction:

  • Look to your support network for encouragement, constructive feedback and companionship.
  • Have a financial backup plan.
  • Have a well-thought-out, written business plan. The more planning you do with respect to short- and long-term goals and tasks, financial expectations and daily work routines, the less vulnerable you are to stress, anxiety and depression.
  • Implement your plans. Be flexible where needed. Successful self-employment requires openness to learning, growing and adapting to changing needs and conditions.
  • Make it a priority to strike a healthy work/life balance. Regularly set aside time for social activities, your family and yourself. Each day should leave some room for non-work related activities.
  • Don't ignore the basics! Sit down to a healthy breakfast and lunch. Get dressed for work every morning. Don't lounge around in your pajamas, as that can easily detract from viewing yourself as a vibrant, productive, s
    Dealing With Office Distractions, Part Two - Unnecessary Work
    Dealing with Office Distractions, Part TwoUnnecessary WorkUnnecessary work is a silent productivity killer in the office environment. By unnecessary I don't mean that the work should never be done, but rather more important work should take precedent. These tasks are
    ave a financial backup plan.
  • Have a well-thought-out, written business plan. The more planning you do with respect to short- and long-term goals and tasks, financial expectations and daily work routines, the less vulnerable you are to stress, anxiety and depression.
  • Implement your plans. Be flexible where needed. Successful self-employment requires openness to learning, growing and adapting to changing needs and conditions.
  • Make it a priority to strike a healthy work/life balance. Regularly set aside time for social activities, your family and yourself. Each day should leave some room for non-work related activities.
  • Don't ignore the basics! Sit down to a healthy breakfast and lunch. Get dressed for work every morning. Don't lounge around in your pajamas, as that can easily detract from viewing yourself as a vibrant, productive, s
    Are You Branded Yet?
    One of the best ways to increase your chances of success, whether you work for someone else or have your own small business, is to find an effective way to tell people what you have to offer.You can do this by creating your own brand, according to author, consultant, movie producer and di
    tions.
  • Make it a priority to strike a healthy work/life balance. Regularly set aside time for social activities, your family and yourself. Each day should leave some room for non-work related activities.
  • Don't ignore the basics! Sit down to a healthy breakfast and lunch. Get dressed for work every morning. Don't lounge around in your pajamas, as that can easily detract from viewing yourself as a vibrant, productive, successful business owner.

  c2006 Bywater Consulting Group, LLC, Liz Bywater, PhD. All Rights Reserved.