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Self Employment Is A Proper Job

6 February 2012

I was working with a client last week who was starting out on their self-employed life and they kept referring to ‘when they had a proper job’ and that being self employed ‘wasn’t like having a proper job.’

(I’ve heard this phrase used a lot by people who run their own business, or by possibly jealous friends who would probably like to work for themselves and who don’t yet have the motivation or need to do so).

I beg to differ and I gently corrected them that if that really was their attitude then they were in for a shock.

In our modern career it’s a fair chance that we will be involved in a variety of working patterns whether as an employee, a free-lance, a consultant, an intern or as manager of our own business. The one thing that all of these have in common is that they are all proper jobs, worthy of respect from ourselves and our peers. All of them involve risk and reward, we all have to account for stakeholder needs and we all have to work hard and deliver the goods in order to get paid.

So, therefore, if you’re thinking of working for yourself, or already do so, remember that this is a proper job and one to be proud of.

And, I would add, that if working a 7-week sometimes, having to manage 100% of the risk and reward, making time to win clients, deliver work, complete admin, raise invoices, collect money and have no paid holidays isn’t a proper job, then I don’t know what is.

Stand up and be proud. A modern career has many facets and they’re all worthwhile.

Tags: Modern Careers