What it’s like branching out on my own as a consultant

I’ve had the goal of becoming a successful businesswoman for a long long time. I didn’t pursue it because I didn’t know what I wanted the business to be.

I wanted to have it all figured out before I started the business.

Then in 2020, I lost my job. In my job search, I got a call from an ex-coworker who offered the opportunity to consult for a company I previously worked for. I jumped at the opportunity and soon after formed an LLC. I like to call myself an accidental entrepreneur but in reality, it’s no accident at all.

I could have declined and continued to search for corporate jobs. But looking back, events in my life have led up to the decision to branch out on my own. I network with entrepreneurs (i.e #MTYRetreat), I look up to and admire entrepreneurs, AND my dad was a small business owner.

I’m a year in now and here’s where I’m at mentally:

1. I don’t feel like an “entrepreneur” yet. I’m just now starting to feel like a small business owner.

   Entrepreneur to me feels like someone who offers products or services to various clients. At the moment I am still working with the one client who was a previous employer. I have yet to stretch my sea legs so to speak. The fact that my LLC is generating income is what makes me feel like a small business owner.

2. It’s scary to be “on your own” and not have it all figured out.

   There are days when I freak out and think “I don’t know what I’m doing”. Not having my game plan all the way figured out terrifies me. I want to say it also excites me, but I haven’t gotten all the way there yet.

   However, I’m making the decision to bet on myself.

   I’m going to be a successful businesswoman. Better yet, I am a successful businesswoman.

3. The ability to set boundaries around the work you do is freeing AF.

   There are those jobs out there, you know the ones that don’t understand the meaning of boundaries. There was fine print in the job description that said “And any duties required to support the team”. This means damn near any and anything gets thrown your way, and if your anything like me it’s hard to say no.

   One beauty about being a consultant is that any work that’s not laid out and agreed on in the proposal will require an additional proposal and payment to continue.

   This has been one of the most liberating aspects of working as a consultant.

Are you a consultant or considering becoming one? I would love to hear about your thoughts or experiences in the comments.

Much Love,

Chearine