How I'm taking a Leap of Faith to Work for Myself

I have always known in my bones that I was meant to run my own business.

Every time I find myself working for someone else, I have this persistent niggle that I should be out there, doing something that's really me.

But because employment provided needs financial stability, I have kept taking jobs. The crutch of having funds deposited consistently in your bank account is something I know everyone can relate to. It keeps pesky worries of being evicted at bay. So I totally understand when people say that they want to start their own business, but money is their number one objection to taking the leap. This post is not to convince you to throw caution to the wind and "just do it". I am simply sharing my story of how I have stepped into choosing to take this opportunity to work for myself.

Here is a little of my back story.

I was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. I will forever be a proud Jamaican, but I had a heart for Australia and immigrated here on my own in 2011. I felt that I had to work in order to support myself financially and integrate somewhat into Australian society. Since 2011, I've had a several jobs that have exposed me to a variety of industries and kinds of work - I am very grateful of every one of those experiences. But none of them felt like home or had the magical combination of a good work environment and work that matched my skills of writing and being a creative. Nonetheless, the desire to not have to to ask my family in Jamaica for money was motivation for me to keep up the search and keeping giving full-time employment a go. In addition, I knew I enjoyed the opportunity being employed provided of social engagement. I was hopeful that I would someday find somewhere I belonged.

In the fifth year of my this journey, I started this blog. Having always been a writer, it seemed like a natural but challenging way to share my life adventures. Once I figured out the technical bits and got into the rhythm of writing, I found that it was naturally me - the exercise of a gift that was truly mine. But for the next year, I didn't give it too much attention. I blogged only about once a month and kept pursuing full-time work, which continued to have lukewarm results. You would think that by now I would finally get the hint from the universe.

They say that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Well, after a contract came to an end in August 2017, I finally decided to check myself out of the psyche ward. It was time to accept who I really am - a free-spirit not meant to be caged by 9 to 5s.

I decided to build a life for me by me. That meant pursuing my passion of writing and taking a break from the 9 - 5, which is scary as hell!

On one hand, I am so happy to be doing something I love everyday but on the hand, I don't really know how this is going to be financially viable. The questions and doubts never seem to go away and I am still figuring how the financial sustainability side of it all.

But I feel lost in the right direction. For the first time, I feel on purpose. I feel free and I'm really working my ass off: Writing posts, fixing up the website, testing marketing, learning from other bloggers etc. I'm working longer hours than ever but it doesn't feel like work - I almost can't bear to be away from my laptop.

So here I am: unplugged from the norm. I'm writing everyday, on this blog and on a book due out later this year, and I love it. My spirit feels expanded. I no longer feel this nag, that there is something else I should be doing.

I am doing it.

But I can't let the bliss keep money in my blind spot. So I am actively looking into ways I can earn some kind of steady income. After all, I don't know how long it will take for this venture to be self-sustaining and I can't blog, if I'm homeless. So I have registered with a few temp agencies and am exploring business ideas to using other skills that I have. For anyone considering taking this leap, I would recommend having a ready money solution: savings or a part-time job to keep you from dissolving into daily panic attacks.

Deciding to go out on your own and do what you love, rather than working for someone else is a massive leap of faith. And even when you jump and are in mid-flight, doubts and confusion still assail you. Certainly, this is going to be the most challenging personal development experience I've ever had. I will have to be persistent even when it looks like nothing is happening, keep my thoughts and self-talk in an encouraging place, and stay motivated and optimistic despite the ever-edging risk of failure and financial hardship.

So, I am trusting that God will provide for all of my needs, as he has promised. I'm trusting that that this niggling feeling has always been the very Universe whispering to me and it somehow will keep me in flight.

#followingyourpassion #howtoworkforyourself #howtostartyourownbusiness #howtoquityourjobandstartyourownbusiness