Have you ever been sitting at your desk, daydreaming of the time you don’t have to follow someone else’s rules? Of the time when you don’t have to wear a suit to work every single day, including a formal tie, regardless of the temperature? Of the time you can decide to start work earlier and finish earlier too in order to catch a gig two hours away or an away football match? So, what’s stopping you becoming your own boss and creating your own working conditions? It isn’t the most direct of paths to success necessarily, but you’ll learn a lot along the way and ultimately, you’ll be responsible for everything! Don’t forget, it takes an incredibly motivated, self-disciplined person to be their own boss and to succeed at it.
Influence
This is your opportunity to fulfill your own personal vision of how a business should be run and the values it holds. So, whether you have a history of carrying out anthropology degree jobs or you have been working on the till in a local supermarket, consider what you have learnt and how that will help you shape your business’ aims and principles. Remember that having your own business can also allow you to support your local community too. If there is a charity whom you feel strongly about, why not offer some kind of help to them. The ball is firmly in your court; doing good and promoting your business at the same time could be a fantastic opportunity!
Working hours
As mentioned above, you have the flexibility in creating your own working hours if you set up your own business. Of course, it won’t be as easy to say straight away that you’re only going to work three days a week and between the hours of 9am and 3pm. You are going to have to put in a lot of hard graft, but if you are dedicated enough, then you’ll find it will be worth it.
Dress code
Sitting in a suit working from home sounds a bit daft, but if it helps your productivity to feel professional, there is no reason why you can’t. It seems a bit excessive and a strain on the dry cleaning bills, but only you know what’s best for you. Most people won’t choose option 1, rather opting for a more casual approach. Just remember that if you are going on a conference call, make sure you don something that will project the image you are hoping to convey. Linen suit is always a best choice for meetings.
Work environment
If you feel most productive whilst listening to Metallica, is that a problem? Absolutely not! Choose the theme tune to your day and create the perfect mood with whatever suits you at that exact moment. Being force-fed Radio 1 day in day out is probably overkill, but if that’s your cup of tea, why not?
What’s more, if you want to create yourself a home office that is painted in neon pink with Star Wars posters and Lego models, there is nothing preventing that. If it’s an environment in which you are going to work efficiently, effectively and productively, who cares?
