Photo by Prateek Katyal on Unsplash

It’s the dream, right? A workplace that puts you first, values your ideas, and doesn’t treat you like a cog in a machine. Well, here’s the kicker: if you want that dream job, you might just have to create it yourself.

I believe we will see more micro-entrepreneurs in the years to come. More people who become contracted rather than employed or will build small businesses.

I see it every day in my line of work: more companies choose to work with contractors instead of employing.

But to run your own thing, you’ll need to unlearn everything the corporate world has drilled into you.

It’s time to shed those corporate habits like an old suit that no longer fits.

Here’s how to prepare yourself for this terrifyingly liberating journey:

1. Unlearn Rigid Thinking

Corporate world: “Stick to the rules! Follow the manual!”
Your world: “Rules? I’m writing them as I go.”

Forget “we’ve always done it this way.” Your survival as a founder depends on thinking creatively and questioning everything.

2. Embrace Flexibility (and Enjoy the Chaos)

Corporate world: “Everything is structured and predictable.”
Your world: “One day I’m the CEO, the next day I’m fixing the printer.”

Flexibility isn’t just a skill—it’s your new religion. When you run the show, you’ll deal with everything from strategy to stocking managing your taxes.

3. Say Hi to Uncertainty

Corporate world: “Follow the plan, meet the KPIs, collect the paycheck.”
Your world: “Plans change. KPIs evolve. The paycheck is...pending.”

You’re no longer “doing a job.” You’re building something from scratch. Every decision you make will have direct consequences—and there’s no finance department to fix them for you.

4. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Corporate world: “Someone else handles the tough stuff.”
Your world: “Guess who’s handling the tough stuff now?”

Mistakes will happen. Things will get messy. You’ll question why you ever thought this was a good idea. And then you’ll fix it—and feel like a superhero doing it.

There are some good things we can bring from the corporate world with us though: processes, discipline, workflows and systems, risk mitigation and contingency planning, to name but a few.

So, if you’re tired of waiting for a company that “truly cares,” take the leap.

Build your own.

Just be prepared to ditch the corporate safety net and embrace the chaos of being your own boss.

And hey, at least you won’t need approval for that decision. :)

If this vibes with you, feel free to subscribe for more corporate drama and steps to start living a life on your own terms.

If You Want to Work for a Company That Really Cares About You, Build One Yourself

Un-learn the Corporate Ways, Embrace an Entrepreneurial Mindset (the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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