Internet People 10. The Mindf*ck of Going From Corporate to Self-Employment
Aug 12, 2024
A candid look at leaving corporate life to go self-employed, including early uncertainty and real-world mistakes. Topics include energy management versus time management, building momentum with small steps, and avoiding glorified overwork. Practical advice on boundaries, collaboration, shipping imperfect work, spotting marketing traps, knowing when to pivot, and sticking with slow progress.
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Manage Energy Not Time
- Manage your energy rather than your time when you're self-employed because unpredictable capacity will make rigid schedules fail.
- MJ Mayes learned to observe peak windows and avoid booking back-to-back sessions that drained her for days.
Build Momentum With Tiny Next Steps
- Prioritize momentum over motivation by doing the smallest next step repeatedly to build progress.
- MJ recommends 5–15 minute starts (e.g., fold three towels, five minutes of research) to overcome inertia and compound progress.
Hardship Is Not A Badge Of Honor
- There's no virtue in making work unnecessarily hard; long hours and visible suffering aren't badges of honor in self-employment.
- MJ noticed she kept choosing draining low-pay sessions out of pride until she reevaluated sustainability.