Self-employment

Thank you very much for the congratulations on the trademark registration and the lovely messages you have sent me via the contact form. As you have already noticed, I am currently unable to write a new blog every week – but for a very pleasing reason. Thank you for your numerous messages after each blog. It is more important to me to address each of your concerns, thoughts, and questions with care rather than spending time researching the blogs. And you are, of course, right that many similar questions are being asked, and it might be easier if we discuss topics together in a forum. The problem here is that I currently don't have the resources for that. By this, I mean the administrative tasks, such as ensuring everything remains civil and the technical support. But please continue to write to me, give me feedback, and let's inspire each other to bring out the best in ourselves.

After the last blog, which was about turning a hobby into a side job, the question was often asked whether I could delve more into the effort and benefits, or the pros and cons of self-employment alongside a main job. This blog is about the little things that no one tells you when you want to take the step into self-employment, but that could have a huge impact on your life.

The reality is that no one has been waiting for your business idea, but it is equally true that there are people who think just like you and will love and celebrate what you do. It can take months or even longer for them to notice you, provided you use appropriate advertising measures, which nowadays are most likely social media. Time and perseverance are essential, and your attitude towards the project is important. I have seen many come and go who gave up after 1-2 months. Everyone says they are doing it just for themselves, but they are lying to themselves. See the project as an opportunity to develop yourself further. You will acquire new skills, gain new experiences, and celebrate successes. For example, I was very pleased to learn how to use drawing programs, how to build a homepage, and even dry matters like setting up a payment infrastructure. Of course, the first order was the crowning achievement, but what I have learned cannot be taken away from me.

Another very important point is to see self-employment initially as a side job rather than putting everything on one card. Of course, it can be correct for some projects that you have to do something all or nothing. However, many do not mention the many risks. No matter how successful you are as a self-employed person, it is more difficult to get a rental contract or loan because it is considered "not secure income." Unfortunately, it is a reality that self-employment does not receive the proper recognition, and the whole system in which we live makes life difficult for the self-employed. From my point of view, it is better to take things slowly. Your project will grow more slowly, but if the idea is good, it will grow.

Even though it is called SELF-employment, you don't always have to reinvent the wheel yourself. There are enough people like me who have already taken the step and can assist you with questions. In my experience, implementing it alone is simpler, but cooperation can also be a possible path. Here, however, it is very important to agree on how many resources each person will invest in the project to avoid misunderstandings. Like in a marriage, you should also consider the worst-case scenario. What happens if someone doesn't fulfill their tasks, you have different opinions, someone runs out of money, an imbalance arises, how will things be divided if someone wants to leave, someone is unreliable, and so on? Also, check if your perceptions of the everyday challenges of self-employment are similar. For example, what does stress, pressure, a lot/little money, accuracy, reliability, etc., mean to you?

Finally, Matze's practical tips: It is definitely fun to build something and see how it grows. It must feel like a contribution to work-life balance; otherwise, something is wrong, and you should reconsider everything. Starting a new project is also comparable to getting a dog. Do it only if you are willing to gladly accept the not-so-great moments along with the beautiful ones. Just as your dog becomes your best friend and part of your family, your project will become your baby that you love more than anything…. stay tuned.