Will "Solopreneur" Ever Lose its 'Risky Choice' reputation?
Conventional wisdom claims working for a company is safer and more stable than freelancing or being a solopreneur, as it's the responsible choice. However, Mary Contrary questions this assumption. While company jobs offer benefits, isn't there more to consider? A steady job promises security, but what about the unseen stability from learning to rely on yourself?
We dream about it on the weekend. About how we stand in our campervan-turned-café, chatting with customers, ready to travel to other countries. We like the idea of freedom, adventure, and control over our hours that comes with working for ourselves and freelancing. But then the week starts and 'we go back to reality.' Which means working for someone else. Which means security, stability.
Solopreneur: We Just Don't Have What it Takes?
We might have heard those famous entrepreneur success stories about those who have persevered on their own, against all odds. There was Colonel Sanders, who was 62 years old when he founded the world-famous KFC. Then there was the young Steve Jobs who created his Apple in the garage of his parental home. Then there were the 'under-educated' such as Dave Thomas of fast-food empire Wendy’s, Dell Computers’ Michael Dells, and of course Richard Branson.
But that was different, we say. They were lucky. We lack their quality and capability. We're too old, too inexperienced, or too young. They weren't women. It's too risky. Ultimately, we also say, working for someone else just offers more security and fewer sleepless nights than pursuing our own ventures.
For many of us, particularly as we spend more time in the same job, the fear of losing our job becomes a significant barrier, simply because it's so terrifying. It can even feel life-threatening. We lack experience with navigating this part of life on our own and wouldn't know what to do if that safety net were removed.
But how many of these barriers are true for us, is a question we could ask.
Job For Life Versus Freelancing
When it comes to working for ourselves or someone else: Which option is better for every individual? There is no one definitive answer to that. But there are people who approach things a little differently. They might say that in some cases, working for ourselves or freelancing works out well. That in some cases, it might even be a more reliable option. For example, by learning to rely on ourselves rather than one someone else.
They might point out that things have started changing, such as that 'a job for life is now 'a thing of the past,' and a career is now more and more seen as an illusion. They might even remind us that freelancing is actually nothing new and goes back to at least the early 1800s in the English language.
Being Entrepreneurial
Overall, experts like these are here to show us different ways of looking at things. For instance, taking on an entrepreneurial mindset instead of relying on a single employer can make us more independent. Getting comfortable with freelancing, handling things solo, and managing budgets for both good and bad months might actually give us more stability. Compared to betting everything on one job and having no backup plan when things shift, working for ourselves, if done right, can actually be more secure.
Others go even further and say there would even be enormous benefits to teaching entrepreneurship in schools. Because a type of work that helps us foster and train analytical thinking, and flexibility, as well as the ability to persevere, work independently, and seek out creative solutions can be valuable to any type of working.
"As educators, parents, and community leaders, we have a responsibility to champion programs that foster durable skills and entrepreneurial mindsets. These are the tools that will empower the next generation to not only navigate but thrive in an uncertain world," states for example Uncharted Learning.
"Even if [students] don’t pursue entrepreneurship," the site continues, "the skills they gain—problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability—set them up for success in any career path."
"Even if [students] don’t pursue entrepreneurship, the skills they gain—problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability—set them up for success in any career path."
Opportunities
Meanwhile, companies have been reducing their workforce and letting employees go. Concurrently, there are growing opportunities online and in technology for learning how to start a business and sell products and services, allowing us to engage in something fulfilling or worthwhile and gain a sense of pride. Additionally, there are more opportunities for individuals to provide freelance services. While it is widely recognised that self-employment can be risky for some, and starting a business isn't suitable for everyone, could new perspectives coexist with traditional ones?
Mary Contrary
Mary Contrary is a natural-born perspective creator. Her stories give us a different perspective on life than we might have ourselves. In any case, Mary never shies away from being a little contrary. That's what makes life interesting, she says. Mary lives somewhere that's not exactly nature nor a village, and in the evenings, she enjoys watching the bat show with her dogs.
