Need help transitioning from disposable office minion to self employed war general.

I shuffled free from my mortal corporate coil back in August. I've branded myself as a content management consultant specializing in the automotive field. Currently I have one client and I'm trying to network to find more. I realized within the last few years I really do live for the fight and get bored when I'm put into maintenance mode. That's why being a consultant seemed like a good idea.

Right now I'm trying to figure out health insurance for my family (which is almost a part time job in itself). My self employed friends all told me to take whatever I earn and divide it into thirds. One third is for the IRS, one third is for your self-paid benefits, and the last third is what you can keep to pay bills.

Things seem to be going pretty well so far, but some things are starting to bug me. I got in my car the other day and there were cobwebs in it. I don't leave the house for days at a time. My wife LOVES me being home to help around the house, but sometimes I feel guilty trying to work in my office when I hear all hell break loose upstairs (I have two boys ages 2 and 5, use your imagination).

So how long does it take to deprogram the last 15 years I spent as an office drone? I don't quite miss doing my weekly status reports, but there was some solace in the routine. In some ways my work is much more efficient now, but in other ways I feel like I waste more time.

Cant Help...I welcomed my corporate overlords a few years back. I accept the dominion they wield upon me.

Now where is that cover letter I prepared for my TPS reports?!?....

I don't know - but it was nice today. I took my laptop, put it in a saddle bag and worked from a coffee shop 55 miles from my house that has good wifi. I'm about to go ride the 55 twisty miles home.

You don't need to stick around to listen to children scream if you don't want to. Magic words: "I'll be back as soon as I can. I have to meet a client..."

I have a buddy who is self employed. He always struggles with the idea of hiring another person to assist him, as it would make his days much easier and allow him to grow his business, but he also doesn't like the idea that he pays someone to learn a skill that the other guy who just walk away with. He closely guards the details of his business, because in reality anyone could do it. Many times he has just wanted an office person, but he doesn't have an office. He just wants someone to do the paperwork, answer the phones, make orders, etc, so they can't steal the business. The majority of the skill is learning how to do the installation of the product he sells which I learned the basics of in about two weeks.

We are very good friends, the guy was in my wedding; but when I asked him if he'd like to setup shop someplace else...and I could run that "branch" of their brand, he got protective and started throwing out figures to see if I'd bite. "For $35,000 I'd let you use our name and I'd teach you everything there is to know," and I said "how much more is there to know?" He got offended.

His industry is one of those deals where population size makes a big difference. He can only do so much before he saturates the market. He needs to grow outside of his geographic area and be able to transition to new markets as his reputation builds, and that'll mean giving some of that control to more independent people.

I proposed to him that I pay him to teach me his business. He would work as a consultant, and if I chose to use his "brand" I'd pay him $5k a year for that. This really interested him, but he didn't like the idea that I could build an empire from his training or his brand. We never came to a good business plan that satisfied both of us (him being the business man, me just wanting freedom) but I imagine some day we'll start the conversation again.

Another thing I asked him was if he could handle making 20k, but basically work as little or as much as he wanted and the company would still grow, if most of his employees made twice that amount. He didn't like the idea of NOT staying actively involved in business, referring to it as his "baby". Thats where we really differ I think, I like the idea of earning a meager income while engaging other pursuits while he'd rather make tons of money and work 60hr weeks.

From talking with other business and self-employed folks, they either grew into family affairs where both the owners and his spouse were involved (can'o'worms) or they begrudgingly employed others simply to have people to manage and interact with.

Maybe a part-time job with a flexible schedule or see if you can find someone who'd like to share a brand/llp with you?

Its easy. I multi task. I make as much work as I can do itself as quickly as I can, then I ignore it for as long as I can. I was notorious for not working while I worked. Most impressively I built an rc car I imported from Japan with no instructions. I usuallyi played PC games ony laptop too.

Whew! From the tag I thought you were going to join ISIS.

Your content is much better. I couldn't make self-employment work and went back to the corporate world. I have a high regard for someone like you to start your own business. Stick to it! Focus your time on revenue generating work! You cannot help around the house, you are at work!

The problems I've seen from people who are self-employed are A) the boss is a dick, and never gives any time off, or B) the boss is a slacker, and never works hard enough to make real success. Some people find the balance. Many cannot.

[edit] The other part of the success story is in contacts and networking. You will not - repeat - not get anywhere without a thick roster of people who are willing to return your phone calls or emails. In the 2 most successful small businesses I've worked for, 1 partner new how to get the job done and the other partner new the business and everybody in it.