It’s Time to Go All Out

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”
-Helen Keller

I have now applied and paid for my very own small business license.  I’m an official entrepreneur.

And it feels strange.  On one hand, the thought of being a bona fide small business is exhilarating.  Like starting a new job and being handed a game-changing project on the first day.  But on the other hand, it’s also damn scary.  “I’m in charge?  Me?  I can’t be in charge – I can barely control my chocolate intake.”

Yup.  I’m in charge.  I’m in charge of my income, my hours, my job satisfaction, my website, my task list, my accounting, my office parties…my own success.

See?  Damn scary.

For a lot of people, getting a business license, especially considering how easy it is now, is just another step; it’s something that they just ‘do.’  But for me, it’s a defining moment that changes how I see myself.  By becoming my own small business as officially recognized by Washington State, I am now more than an employee on some HR roster.

When I was in college, I never considered being my own business.  Like many, I figured that once I graduated, I’d find a fairly steady job and build my career.

But more companies outsource their creative work now.  There are few full-time copywriter positions nowadays. And to say that the competition for those that do exist is fierce is like casually mentioning that the sun’s surface is a tad warm.

I know that going freelance is right for me.  And it’s exciting.  I have a lot to learn but I know I can do it as long as I don’t look at the whole picture (as in, never look up the mountain to see how far you still have to climb).  And I feel more in control of my own destiny rather than have a single employer who can pull the plug at any moment.

But it’s also continual “Holy rusted sewer grate Batman!” moment.  How about you?