How To Avoid Falling For The Freedom Illusion (3 Lessons For Entrepreneurs)
Nov 18, 2024
Entrepreneurship can seem so mysterious when you’re starting out.
And it’s easy to just see the glamorous side where "I do what I want, when I want, how I want, with who I want."
But is that even true? Is that what being an entrepreneur is all about?
“Nobody wants to talk about this side. Everybody wants to talk about vacations.” Kim White
Yes, entrepreneurship comes with a lot of freedom, and that is fabulous. But there are some important lessons to learn about the unglamorous side of freedom.
Lesson 1: With Great Freedom Comes Great Responsibility
“It’s an illusion that freedom is that I get to do anything I want.” Kim White
Freedom doesn’t mean having no responsibilities. As an entrepreneur, it actually means taking on more responsibility.
The truth is you have to be self-disciplined enough to show up when there isn't a boss telling you to be somewhere at a certain time.
You have to be aware of your clients' needs, and what their timelines and goals are.
You have to check what shifts you have to make in your personal life to make sure you are where you’re supposed to be in business.
The first lesson is to make sure you’ve got the right understanding of freedom so that you can build a thriving, and long-lasting business full of good relationships.
Lesson 2: Freedom Includes A Lot Of Behind-The-Scenes
“How do people who are entrepreneurs get to go on these lavish vacations, look like they're never working, and still have a business that's running?” Jill Olish
The truth is that these entrepreneurs usually have plans and systems set in place before they go on vacation.
And there’s sometimes even a team behind them to do a lot of the work. They're able to pass off tasks and delegate time-sensitive projects. You don't see that. And it’s rarely front and center on their social media.
“At the end of the year we take off a couple of weeks. But I remember when I started taking off one day was a big deal. It would be a train wreck for me. I had to learn how to delegate and have a team, and those are part of the costs of freedom.”
The second lesson is that freedom does not magically appear when you start your entrepreneurial adventure. It comes from a lot of effort-ing.
Knowing what happens behind the scenes will help you achieve the specific kind of freedom you want in your life.
Lesson 3: Freedom Is Not All About Vacations
People post so they look successful, but what is the real story?
“I thought that going on vacation was a sign of success so I worked like crazy so I could go on vacation but then I needed a vacation from the vacation because it was exhausting.” Kim White
Be aware that what is shiny isn't always what it seems. Vacations are one example of this. But it could be anything that is held up as a symbol of freedom and success.
Lesson 3 is that you need to make sure what freedom looks like to you so that you aren’t pulled into other people’s pictures of freedom (especially those pictures all over social media).
Are you trying to figure out if the entrepreneurial adventure is something you can do? If you’re looking in from the outside and trying to make that decision, it’s going to be very hard because the glamorous side is what you usually see.
You need to know the unglamorous truths. You need to see behind the scenes.
Our Groundwork Brigade is a community of like-minded entrepreneurs finding freedom in the entrepreneurial adventure, and sharing their behind-the-scenes along the way.
It’s a safe space to learn how to build a relational business using irresistible marketing strategies, tailored to your individual needs, in a group setting, with lots of accountability and support.
If you missed the conversation between Kim and Jill on their podcast Buckets and Boom Gates, you can catch it here.
To connect and find out more about Kim or how to create a sexy business for a sexy life, you can reach her and the My Sexy Business Team at www.mysexybusiness.com.
And to connect with Jill Olish go straight to her website www.mamaoutspoken.com and you’ll find her there!
