YW Blogcast 64 - How to Be Your Own Boss

The millennial generation is known for a lot of things–tech savviness, high student loan debt, a reluctance to spend forty plus hours a week in a windowless cubicle working for a boss you don’t particularly care for. The millennials and the generations to follow have the entrepreneurial bug and it shows no signs of disappearing.

There’s this idea that working for yourself is the way to go, and ultimately it’s not a bad one. By taking charge of your strengths and interests, you’re responsible for your own future–your own wealth. In a still struggling job market, the idea of being your own boss can be an appealing one.

What many fail to recognize is the responsibility, time, and dedication that such an undertaking requires. If you’re considering starting a business, you’ll need to be a good boss–but first you’ll need to be a good employee. There are a lot of other things you’ll need to be, too–and here’s a look at some of them.

To the responsible go the spoils

Sure, it may sound a little obvious, but you’re going to need to be a highly responsible person to be your own boss. People that are concerned only with marketing themselves will struggle in a boss role–it’s responsibilities first, branding second. Your personal brand isn’t important if your business can’t deliver.

You’re also going to need to be extremely committed. This can mean canceling plans to tend to the needs of your business, giving up weekends, and suffering a less than ample bank account for a few years. You’ve got to believe in your business with your whole heart and be willing to do whatever it takes to make things happen.

You’re naturally optimistic

(Or at least optimistic about your business.) People who are the boss (of themselves and others) have to have a generally positive attitude, even when things aren’t going too well. Other employees, if there are any, may get down about the process–as the owner, you can’t. People are greatly impacted by the attitudes of others, so maintain a good one.

Your company is probably your passion project, but that doesn’t mean it exists to serve your needs–ultimately, you’re serving your customer, whoever they may be. You can’t whine about things that happen to your business, be they fair or unfair. Work to lead by an example of positivity and hard, tireless work.

Similarly, your attitude about how to get ahead should be a positive one. If you’ve got a good idea for a business and you’re willing to work hard to be successful, you want to be the kind of boss (if only for yourself) that succeeds because you are achieving and not bullying. Power may come with your position, but it probably won’t be the thing that you’re after. You’ll listen to the ideas of others, educate yourself, and move forward with optimism and leadership.