This is part two of six in a series covering the most common five disappointments I’ve encountered in my own agency and in working with other agency owners. For the original post click here.
The “Be Your Own Boss” Fantasy Works Something Like This:
That darn boss of mine.
I could do a better job than him.
I’m sick of doing his grunt work.
Sick of jumping up and down every time he gets a strange tickle in his side.
I’m sick of seeing him bend over like a wet noodle to the CEO.
I know how to deliver projects.
I know how to bring the creativity.
And I could do this a lot better on my own.
I’m over this.
I am going to be my own boss.
The Reality of Being Your Own Boss Is More Like This:
It’s actually a lot easier to have a boss.
Especially when it’s just one boss.
As you’ve found out by now, you’ve left one boss and now you have lots of “mini-bosses”.
From clients to employees to contractors to the IRS, everyone wants a piece of you.
Instead of one boss you have lots of “mini-bosses”.
These are your clients.
They rule your world.
The bigger the client, the higher you jump when they say jump.
If it’s design revision number 77.5 regarding the small font in the footer you do it.
But there’s more than just your clients who are the “mini-bosses”.
You have people to look after. They’re your contractors and employees.
And they need constant care and feeding.
They look to you.
You sign their paycheck.
You set the tone, vision, and direction for them.
And all the sudden, if you are not careful, you can become that very boss that you so despised.
Oh, the irony!
But it gets worse.
There are extraneous things like the IRS, legal issues, accountants, landlords, and other random pressing matters.
All these demand a piece of your time and energy too.
There are accounting issues, taxes, economic changes, industry shifts, competitors, angry clients, technology meltdowns, and so much more.
And while you can put them off, every last one of them eventually will need attention.
And if you really put them off, you’ll give them plenty of attention as you go into superhero fire extinguisher mode.
The reality is you went out on your own to have the freedom of being your own boss, setting your own rules.
After some time you realize you are constantly being pulled away from important work like strategy, marketing, and other elements to grease all these other noisy wheels.
The final truth is, you have lots of “mini bosses” that keep you tied to your work with a ball and chain.
Being the boss, especially the owner/soloprenuer/CEO of your own agency, is no easy task.
All the sudden that old jerk boss of yours on Monday morning doesn’t seem so bad, does he?
And you realize the corporate world, with all its hang ups, is much easier than being “the boss”.