What I Learned My First Year of Self-Employment

It’s been just over a year since I went out on my own, became self-employed starting up Taurus Media Inc., a Digital Marketing Agency and took my blog full-time. I can hardly believe it, it feels like I was making the decision just yesterday. The last year of self-employment has gone by so quickly!

I dove into self-employment, being pushed that way from other circumstances. Really, they were enough motivation for myself to do so. I’ve always envisioned myself to work for myself and now that has become true. I would set up my own agency and risk everything on myself, my drive and my skill set. I put things into motion like my getting my company formally established, budgeting accordingly (and making lifestyle changes to do so), putting out the word to everyone I knew and continuing to network like crazy to soak up as much information as possible.

After being bullied at work, not having enough stimulating responsibilities or feeling fulfilled, I decided to go out and start up my own business. Yes, I did mention bullied. I won’t get into much more details, but I wasn’t sleeping, worried about my next day at work, how I looked, and my anxiety was through the roof. I had to get out. When our health and wellness and happiness are being negatively affected by our jobs, something big needs to change.

Curtis flat out told me to leave and start my own thing and also to take the blog full-time. He knows what my passions are and supported me from DAY ONE. Without him and my family’s support, I don’t think I could have done it on such a whim. 

I’m not going to come on here and say it’s all easy, work hard to play hard and all that jazz. Because it’s not. Believe me, it’s NOT. You have to put in those hours, you need to learn stuff as you go along, mistakes will come and those are ok.

Everyone started somewhere, trust me, those CEOs or founders of large companies screwed up somewhere along the way. I dealt with moments of severe self-doubt and fear.

You definitely want to look into registering your business with the government right away, open up a business bank account and get your website and social media accounts up. I didn’t have the budget initially to hire an accountant, but I have recently found one who I love.

And my hours are yes flexible, I can work remotely, but I also work lonnnnng hours. If I choose to go to the gym in the morning, I am working that hour after dinner. Some nights (most nights, let not kid ourselves) I am working till 11PM. This year I’ve been trying to keep to a normal 9-5 schedule, blocking out my time and working efficiently. Last year at first, I admiringly took it easy, slept in, worked till late and struggled to juggle both the agency and my blog. Now I lay out my week in advance, make daily to do lists, and carve out my time efficiently. And I also outsource as much as I can!

8 Things I’ve learned this past year of self-employment

1. Make sure you have a website and social presence

Set up a website, include your services, how to contact you and a bit about your business. Set up and add your social media channels which are a mini-resume of your business. I would recommend at least a Facebook and Instagram account.

2. Let everyone know you have a business

Tell everyone! Shout it from the rooftop! You never know who might be your next client, or that aunt Betty has a friend in need of your services.

3. Network, network, network

Go to events, I attend local female entrepreneur events, blog events, and anything else that relates. And don’t be afraid of approaching strangers, why do you think they’re also in attendance?

4. Be organized

Set up a calendar, block off your time, set daily and weekly tasks, use apps like Trello, make lists and don’t multi-task. Try to work on one thing at a time and finish it. That’s my opinion, otherwise you’ll end up with a dozen tabs open, half-done projects, and nothing completed.

5. Get an accountant

If you have the budget, find an accountant. They’re a lifesaver! I just recently found one, and feel so much better going into this year.

6. Ask for help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It can be small things like setting up Excel spreadsheets, taking your photos, research, tech support, whatever you can get off your plate so you can concentrate on more important tasks, do it.

7. Take in-person course or online course(s)

I’m a big believer in always learning. You can’t know everything and what’s the harm in taking a quick e-course, or signing up for a program to better your skillset? There’s so many option out there now, even including sites like Skillshare.

8. Don’t be afraid of no

Let me tell you how many rejection emails I’ve gotten for both Taurus Media and the blog over the years And let’s say out of 50 emails, you might only get one reply with a yes. Just send those pitches out, the worst thing you can hear is no.
Have some career words of wisdom to share with other readers? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!