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Deb Neuman Deb Neuman
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When working for someone else doesn’t work

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A friend of mine has a dilemma. She has a job with great pay and awesome co-workers, and she enjoys her work. Yet she’s miserable. I know her well enough to diagnose the problem. She’s an entrepreneur. As much as she likes her job, living by someone else’s rules and schedule is making her nuts. Not to mention working to advance someone else’s business rather than her own. I suggested to her that coming to terms with her entrepreneurial nature is the first step to finding the right career path.

It is possible for those of us with these traits to work for other people – providing the environment and culture allows our inner-entrepreneur room to breathe. But being in the wrong work environment can cause the entrepreneur to feel caged in. Of course, one option for my friend is to start her own business, and that is likely the direction she will take.

If you are struggling with your 9 to 5 job perhaps you are in fact an entrepreneur.

Here are 10 ways to tell:

  1. The concept of working in a cubicle makes you think of caged animals in the zoo.
  2. You would rather be poor and have control over your schedule and your day than have a fat bank account on someone else’s terms.
  3. You find yourself daydreaming at work about businesses you could start or ideas for new products and services.
  4. Performing the same task over and over again leads to total boredom and thinking, “Is this all there is?”
  5. You envy people you know who are in business for themselves.
  6. You can’t help but want to improve how things get done at work.
  7. You often say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” when you learn about a new business idea or invention.
  8. You were the kid who was able to sell zucchinis to the neighbors who also had an over–abundant zucchini crop in their garden!
  9. You changed your major more than three times in college and have had multiple interesting jobs and careers.
  10. When you ask yourself, “What’s next?” rarely is the answer related to working for someone else, but more about what can you do for yourself.

If you can relate to these traits, I suggest you accept the fact that you will never be “normal” when it comes to the work you do. You have the capacity to get out there and create something extraordinary. Whether it’s working for someone else in an environment that fosters entrepreneurial thinking or working for yourself, once you come to terms with who you are, you can get on with leading the life you were meant to lead and change the world!

1 Comment

  • Comment Link Elizabeth Miller Friday, 08 June 2012 06:08 posted by Elizabeth Miller

    Wow can I relate. Being in a medical related field for the past 22 years was making me crazy. Every day I would come home and complain that things were becoming more insane, and I had no say in what was right or wrong. I found myself doing things that I was instructed to do, that were clearly against what was the right thing for the patient. But, I made a lot of money.

    Now, as the owner of a small dog kennel, I am able to practice what I call "responsible pet practice" and educate owners in dog behavior, while staying at home and taking care of me. I set the hours, accept or not accept clients and make decisions based on what I think is the "right" thing to do for the client. The dog.

    I am not making a ton of money, but that doesn't matter after you have a roof over your head, clean clothes to wear and a job to look forward to instead of dread.

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