7 Signs You’re Ready to Be an Entrepreneur

I was recently able to speak with one my best friends, who recently moved to London in order to work for a multinational public company. She’s talented, accomplished and hardworking.

But she called me full-on emotional, anxious, and angry. “They are restructuring the company, they are cutting jobs. My job is in jeopardy.”

I suggested that she consider applying for the same job in other companies, which could offer multiple benefits from remote working to stock options. I suggested that she use her talent, ideas, and creativity to become a freelancer for different clients, with contracts. She could pursue her dreams of happiness and success. She could have more freedom and money.

“You don’t get it.” She replied. “I don’t want to be anyone. I want work for the most prestigious companies in the globe.

Perhaps I don’t get it. However, I don’t understand why hardworking and talented people like her would want to squander their potential in politics and hierarchy for fame. What is the point of letting their companies ruin their day, limit their career options, define their value, and fill them with stress?

Related: 7 Signs it’s time to transition from employee to entrepreneur

It’s not a bad thing, there are great people who recognize their worth and actively choose to support the employees’ mentality. They’re okay with it.

If you are fed up with corporate life and feel like it is limiting your choices in life, then it’s likely that it’s time to make a change and leverage your skillset.

Here are seven signs your employee mentality is over.

1. You are in love with the idea that you can work anywhere and whenever you wish.

After the 2020 pandemic, flexible work hours and independence from your location became the norm. Your employer was able to see that your location didn’t impact productivity. Instead, a 9-5 workday could exhaust you.

While many companies allow you to work from home and offer flexibility in your work hours, it is important that you report your exact location.

But, if you have an entrepreneurial mindset, it is possible to live in any location or time you choose. The only way to do that is to own your freedom and create your income stream rather than expecting a paycheck.

Related: Remote work is here to stay: Are you ready for a new way of life?

2. Meetings can be a time when you are merely daydreaming and not participating.

On average, employers spend at least 3 hours per week in meetings. However, 30% of them report that they spend more than 5 hours each week.

Instead of participating actively in the meeting, you are pondering how to avoid it and instead focus on what you can do instead. Although you know that you could be using your time more productively than attending company meetings, there is nothing you can do.

You must be present if someone older requests your presence. Now you see how to escape the wastefulness of your time and make money while you have it.

Related: Your time is money, so stop wasting it

3. You detest titles and hierarchy.

The employee mentality can lead to a fixation on titles. Pride, boasting on Linkedin and gossiping about other’s abilities are all ways to fool yourself. You also jealously spread your best wishes to those who have the C-titles.

If you are a business proprietor, you don’t like job titles. You want people working for you and not against you. A title doesn’t define your worth. Anyone can claim to be the CEO or executive member of a five-person company on Linkedin.

What does it even mean?

Corporate jobs often have more restrictions, less time for relationships and less time with your children before they reach adulthood.

C-titles in corporate leadership also means less time for self-care, wellness, and personal skill development, which can lead to less time to live life to its fullest.

4. You are testing side hustles before or after work.

You have an employee mindset. When quarter to six is over, you know it’s time to close your computer and move on to the next part of your day.

While it is important to maintain a work-life balance, business owners must constantly test new concepts and create side income streams. Although you can’t rely solely on one client or idea or salary, it is important to be open to trying new things, taking risks and failing as well as learning from your mistakes.

Similar: 4 Creative Side Hustles to Fight Inflation and Make Extra Cash

5) Don’t be afraid to build relationships through outreach.

You are afraid of cold pitches as an employee. Because rejection and neglect are common, you don’t like it. If you are selling something, don’t try to reach out to other people unless that’s the case. In that case, outreach is a transaction and not a relationship.

You know as an entrepreneur that connecting with, advising or just interacting with others is a key step in building a personal and professional brand.

Don’t underestimate the power and importance of community and networking. You aim to make daily connections with at least two people from your industry. You will be amazed at the extent of your reach and how helpful your network has been in just one year.

6. It is possible to make passive income online and earn money.

You don’t care about building passive income online or investing when you have an employee mentality. Even if it is true, you are too enthralled by the idea to invest or build a passive income online.

Contrary to popular belief, entrepreneurial tendencies encourage you to explore passive income options and flip your world upside down in order build an online income.

Creator’s Economy is neither a too-good to be true scenario nor a scheme that will make you rich quick. You’ll love the challenge of creating a reality that is accessible to all, with no barriers to entry. You’re aware that if you spend x amount of your time creating a passive income stream, it can produce 10x results in the future.

They are aware that they have to find the things they love creating and then work daily on them.

7) Continuously expanding your knowledge and skills to increase your value

Your skills and experience are exchanged for work hours. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, offer their skillset, ideas, or businesses as a service to solve problems and deliver value.

You don’t charge by the hour, word, or month. You only charge for the benefits and utility of your solutions. Answer questions and provide results. Because your expertise directly impacts the value and results that you deliver, you strive to improve and enrich it every day.

Final thoughts

You might not be ready to quit the rat race. If you see any of the signs above, you may be ready to take control over your career and create a path you are able to control.