Are You a Good boss? The Business owner Paradox

Discover the paradox of entrepreneurship: while seeking freedom, many self-employed individuals become their own toughest bosses. Learn how to set realistic goals, maintain work-life balance, and treat yourself with compassion to thrive in your business.

— In This Article —

Embracing the Joys of Being Your Own Boss

The common story is that we choose entrepreneurship because we "want to be our own boss." We are no longer happy with the corporate life contract and want the freedom to do things differently.

I agree; I love owning my own business, being in charge of my day, and being responsible for my choices. However, the paradox is that when we are self-employed, we often become a monster version of the boss and life we were expecting to escape from in our corporate jobs. The dreamy, fun, exciting phase fades quickly, leaving us with a new reality that is much harder than we expected.

What happens is that we become a tough boss because that is the only way we know to get things done.

How to Avoid the Business Owners Paradox, and Be a Good Boss To Yourself

The question is, what kind of boss are you to yourself?

When we become self-employed, we set unrealistic expectations on ourselves—rules, goals, and targets that we would never have accepted as an employee or that we would never want to impose on an employee.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Are you this boss to your self-employed business self?

🎯 Unrealistic sales goals
🎯 60hr work weeks & weekends
🎯 Assignments beyond your skill level
🎯 No vacations
🎯 Below minimum wage pay
🎯 Terrible performance reviews
🎯 No respect for work-life balance
🎯 Silo working, lack of team support

Some of these are part of startup life, but that doesn't mean they need to be in place 100% of the time.

Can you commit to making some small changes to be a better boss (to yourself)? Why not start by giving yourself a day or even half-day off on holidays? 

We all need those days for resting, connecting and restoring energy. If you don’t schedule them and stick to them, I can almost guarantee they won’t happen or they will be forced on you through illness and burn-out.

When we start and grow our business, we need to put in the hours and likely accept lower pay, but this needs to be accompanied by extra compassion for the stage of business we are in.

We are in a new job that requires a lot of training, learning, and patience. Being harsh with yourself doesn't accomplish anything good.

Can you commit to being a kinder, gentler, more supportive boss—to yourself?

It will help more than you know. ❤️

Written by Tina Bar

eCommerce Strategist and Mindset Coach