nine-to-fives, loyalty and fear
If I had a pound for every time I saw a social post talking about the importance of getting away from a 9-5 and building a digital business, I'd have enough pounds to show my authority and sell a course.
I never dismissed the idea of a digital business, but it always felt like these people were part of a ridiculous circle who only made money by teaching others how to make money online.
My thinking around the 9-5 was always that it's security for money (other than being paid less than what you're worth which is always going to be the case, whether that's fair or not).
Problems around the 9-5, things such as: fulfilment, motivation, enjoyment, and boundaries are all things that come into question when you start to compare the 9-5 against the online businesses.
In fact, it reminds me of this:
These are problems that I'm dealing with currently but my biggest issue around the 9-5 is loyalty.
You could work for a company for 20/30/40+ years and then be let go in the space of a few weeks because the business has decided to go in a new direction.
No warning, no discussion... Just gone.
It's always been fear that's held me back from moving away from a 9-5, the security of steady pay was always the most alluring thing and it kept me comfortable.
I'd always held a fascination with building something of my own, but that fear demon on my shoulder always put me right back in my place, but the monster that would mean I was unemployed is beginning to become much bigger than the tiny fear monster whispering in my ear.
I'd heard about people being made redundant or getting fired but you never think it'll happen to you. I've been quite lucky in that (so far) it never has, but recently it's felt like it's been creeping up on me, waiting for a moment to pounce and send my world spiralling.
Maybe it's time I started having some faith in myself and making a choice on something better before the choice is taken out of my hands.