Traveling the world, infinite money and working from a tropical island. If the YouTube influencers are to be believed, self-employment is "the way to go.
As I had shared recently, I left employment about a month ago to embark on an adventure with Danny. And, fair is fair, it's not all about roses.
Unlike all the great stories, I want to share my honest opinion on how I experienced my first month. Curious about my story? Then read on.
Lifino currently consists of two permanent employees, Danny and me. We also have three freelancers working for us who support us remotely. Because everyone works from their own location, you often find yourself alone during the day, without many people around you.
I can be pretty well alone, but sometimes I still miss the presence of others. This is not only because I am curious about what my colleagues have been up to over the weekend, but also because the opportunity for knowledge sharing is somewhat limited anyway because you work remotely.
In a future blog I will share more about how I stay up-to-date in the field of online marketing.
Pension and administration, personally I always find it dry. From my previous employer this was all neatly arranged for you. Every year someone was hired to update you on the latest developments regarding your pension. A meeting was also scheduled in which you were explained about defensive, neutral and offensive pension investments.
Enthusiastically you leave the office and convince yourself that you are really going to look at this in the evening. But in the evening, this enthusiasm diminishes and you replace this task with something that seems more important at the time. Guilty.
Being self-employed doesn't take care of it all for you, so you really do have to take on that responsibility yourself. And if your interest does not lie there, a simple task can feel like evening work.
Maybe this blog sounds negative, but that is not the intention. I'm just trying to add a little more realism to the romantic picture. Still, it brings many wonderful things, such as freedom, fulfillment and a learning process that you won't get at many employers.
The sense of responsibility is different. After all, you are the one ultimately responsible. This also brings pressure. Struggling doesn't really sound like an advantage, yet I see it that way. In this month, I have already run into many lamps. Questions that I could normally ask my colleagues or my supervisor, I now had to solve on my own.
I have learned an enormous amount in a short time and that is very important to me. I also enjoy my freedom and get a lot of satisfaction when clients are happy with us. Now I also had that when I was still employed, but honestly, this feels more special. You get up every day to build something that belongs to you and that together with your brother. This makes me happy.
Did you enjoy reading about my experience? Then keep an eye on my LinkedIn page. I plan to share more.
"In mid-2019, we knocked on Lifino's door for a new program for our company. They developed a system that our team of 30 uses daily to view client data, tax reporting, record hours, and more.
We have been working with Danny and his team for 5 years now. We really appreciate the commitment and good suggestions! The program saves us about 30% in time. We are super satisfied with it!"
CEO, RAAD International
"Lifino listens carefully to your needs to create something that best suits your business.
The aftercare is also excellent; regularly they ask if everything is still working well and to their liking. And the price is fine too!"
Owner, Our Home Island
"The guys at Lifino have been excellent in helping us increase sales of our online shops Healthy Bakers and Happy Bakers.
Clear communication, quick access and effective marketing strategies."
Manager, The Master Bakery
