Anyone Run Their Own Business?

[EveHarrington]

Just curious.

PTSD royally kicked my butt and ended my previous line of work. The idea of returning to the work world was always incredibly stressful for me.

I currently need a high level of flexibility. Working for someone else could perhaps provide me with some flexibility, but probably not the level that I need in order to thrive. My symptoms spike without warning. Sometimes it's crippling morning anxiety, sometimes it's crippling nighttime anxiety. Sometimes I shut down for days/weeks/months.

Being accountable to a "boss" figure has always been very stressful to me. It feels crippling.

Working for someone else spikes my insomnia to the point where I won't sleep------at all. And yeah, things go haywire. (To be fair, it's been like this for every job I've had beyond fast-food jobs I had when I was young----this was pre-PTSD so I'm being completely honest when I say the sleep stress thing is not likely to change. I have had all kinds of medical care in this area with specialists so I don't think it's going to get much better although things have vastly improved from when I was at my worst.)

I am trying to make a go of it now. It's something I've been doing for years but not to the level I'm proposing. I won't have much of a steep learning curve because I know this "world"-----it's just a matter of doing it to a higher level, with a greater time commitment.

I know that working for yourself has different stressors, but given the alternative, I think this is a much better option for me. I actually feel good knowing that I am being proactive and have control over my future.

People have been saying for years that I'm awesome doing (this). I should have listened to them before! Lol.

Does anyone else work for themselves and have their own business? Are you happy with your decision to work for yourself? Is it better for managing your symptoms? Anything else you want to share?

 

[NaeNae75]

Just curious.

PTSD royally kicked my butt and ended my previous line of work. The idea of retur...

I own a few businesses, in fact...I love it. There are days I don't want to get out of bed, but they are few and far between. I make a great living doing what I love. Let me formulate a better answer, and I'll get back to you.

 

[watundah]

I lost my job in corporate America after 15 years and now do art and photography. I don't make much money but I love my freedom. I'm also on my first year of trying and learning a lot along the way. If you have a passion for something, chase the dream. I've never regretted not looking back.

 

[NaeNae75]

I own a few businesses, in fact...I love it. There are days I don't want to get out of bed, but they a...

I grew up with parents that ran their own business, so the sacrifice/dedication it takes is sort of second nature. Consequently, I don't find it very difficult.

I own a grading/excavating company (since 2012) but I've been in that field of work for 25+ years, a trucking company (small), a property management company (to manage my own properties...so far 3) and my farm. It seems like a lot, but really they are all set up to work with/for each other. I have it set up this way because of insurance and liability...i.e. to protect my assets for different things in case one of the businesses ever experiences an accident.

I think the hardest part is finding really good help. I'm a union company, so my people get paid well, but still take advantage of my kind nature. So, the hardest thing for me is to reprimand/ dismiss people. I do have a couple of really great guys though, too. They are worth platinum to me! So if you don't have to manage people, that may be easier for you.

There are stressors, but I do think they are manageable. But keep in mind, you will still have customers/clients, so the "boss" thing doesn't really go away. I just sort of consider them my boss, somehow.

Setting the business up isn't very difficult, depending on what you're planning on starting. It didn't take me very long to get everything up and running. My PTSD can be a factor, but not too much. My dad works in the same field as me, so generally he's who sets me off... when I can avoid him, I generally do better.

I really like to work, it keeps my mind off of most things. So, because of the amount of work I put in, I'm generally really happy. I really love what I do, so it's very rewarding. I'm pretty proud of my work and my work ethic.

I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have.

 

[Crow]

I started driving for uber & lyft. It's a side job for extra income. I did own a tour company but my symptoms are too unpredictable. So now I manage a 9-5 with a lot of accommodation and then do 15-20 hours driving. A whole nother pay check a month and I work on my schedule as my energy allows. Roughly averaging $20 an hour with uber.

 

[scout86]

Does anyone else work for themselves and have their own business?

Yes

Are you happy with your decision to work for yourself?

Absolutely!

Is it better for managing your symptoms?

Maybe? (Probably)

Anything else you want to share?

The downside of being your own boss is that 'everyone' is your boss. What I do gives me lots of flexibility and control over my life. But it also requires me to make and keep appointments. I'm pretty good at keeping them, once their made. Sometimes I'm not so good at returning phone calls. What that's meant is I've sort of trained my clients to use email., as much as possible. And, the people who really get PO'd when I don't call them right back find someone else. I figure I can do that, as long as I don't do it too much. (I also have to work a little at not beating myself up for being a miserable excuse for a human being for having a problem returning phone calls.) And, I'm working at returning phone calls better on all those days when I REALLY don't want to talk to anyone. The business is just me, so no employees. I've had people ask if I'd take on an apprentice. Didn't take much thinking to decide the answer to that was 'no'. Too complicated. For me anyway.

All in all, it works a lot better than a 'real job' and I'd definitely say it's worth considering.

 

[Abstract]

Eve, Its the best thing I ever did.

I hope this works out for you and helps you manage things better. I'm guessing it probably varies from person to person how much it helps but suspect it suits a lot of us.

In truth I would be fired if I didn't work for myself. I also don't know what I would have done as working for an authority figure seems to set off all sorts all the time. And I have an uncanny knack of picking out truly nasty pieces of work as bosses.

At the time I broke away I was very unwell/very symptomatic and had just managed to drag myself back into work part time. Because I had to. Quite frankly I felt terror at the prospect of working for someone and that gave me the impetus to move forward. At the time I also had a t that was way out of her depth and didn't understand what was happening for me and didn't understand trauma. That made things worse. Her answer to my difficulties was that I was obviously fine if I could open a business. She didn't understand that the alternative just wasn't an option.

I didn't try to do it all the best way possible. I set it up to protect me from stress and triggers as much as I could. The flexibility has been a lifesaver and I'm grateful I could still earn something despite where I've been these last few years. I've had to reign myself in and not attempt to do more than I can as I know where that would lead. Been there many times. Moderation and self care has always been hard for me too. Apparently I'm good at some aspects of what I do and that has protected me and kept things going despite my inconsistency, unreliability and other related issues. Accounts and related stuff and getting them done on time is a challenge. I try to accept the fines and take it one step at a time. Sleep has been a big problem as long as I can remember and nothing worked. Then I'll fall into hypersomnia type episodes and will miss appointments etc. I try to tuck my pride in my pocket and keep reminding myself I am doing the best I can. Sometimes I even believe it.

Things (symptoms) are much improved more recently and I'm not finding it quite so challenging. Regardless it has been a lifeline and I hope that is the case for you too.

 

[Abstract]

Goodness @scout86 are you me?!

I just don't take calls and I'm afraid I do miss meetings. I also have trouble with answering emails so communication is shoddy at best. My behaviour is probably seen as bizarre in my industry. I've had to work really hard at acceptance. Basically everything you said applies to be totally. Except for keeping appointments!

 

[scout86]

@Abstract, I'm in a trade where people almost expect a certain amount of eccentricity, so the bizarre part goes unnoticed a lot (I think!). But I kind of HAVE to show up. Which gets me out of the house on some days when I'd rather not, and I suppose that's good.

 

[Freedomfighter]

Just curious.

PTSD royally kicked my butt and ended my previous line of work. The idea of retur...

Yes and yes, I run a business and working toward a second one. Hope that one day I can do that full time. There is no comparison, entrepeneurship is great. Besides my patience with people in this country that only watch as others are abused, that lie, that cheat at their work is running out.

 

[EveHarrington]

The boss thing-------

All eggs in one basket.

You can be fired for wearing the wrong color sweater and not much can be done about it. Of course they'll lie and say it's something else. And of course they know if you fight it you'll lose, so you won't. So essentially your entire well being is in the hands of other people. People who have the power to destroy you in one fell swoop. Diabolical people are everywhere and they don't care about taking you out if you don't serve their purposes.

If you work for yourself, you diversify the risk. One client gets mad, it's not the end of everything as it would be with a job where you work for someone else. THIS is TERRIFYING.

Working for myself means I can refuse to deal with difficult people. You cannot do this if you work for someone else. I have years of practice of cutting off people when the difficult crap starts. It doesn't hurt me in the long run and saves me lots of headaches. I have a very low tolerance for BS. I was dealing with a difficult person recently and told a number of people the story. Most thought I should have done this or that, continuing to engage. One person who knows the business well said I did the right thing by ceasing to engage as people who are difficult repeatedly and difficult from day one will be difficult and problematic until the end, costing time and money. Fortunately the difficult ones are few and far between, so this doesn't happen often.

 

[watundah]

@EveHarrington I once worked at a place that tacked on an invisible "annoyance fee" of 20-25% for the difficult customers who they knew would take more time, complain, etc. ;-)