Self-Employment is Like Swiss Cheese

The more holes there are, the less cheese... and only you have to eat it.

The cheese is your work, while the holes are the extra things that you can throw in your schedule because you are self-employed, but detract from your work time.

Too many holes, and you don't get any work done. If there are no holes, you might be eliminating the reasons you wanted to work for yourself, and it's not Swiss cheese anymore.

(Well, maybe technically it is, but not the imagine of Swiss cheese as society views it, and as we will use for our analogy.)

I was struggling with how many holes to put in my cheese. Some friends of mine asked if I could help them move a bunch of items for their volunteer organization. They offered lunch and a swimming pool too!

Food and swimming? I was in! But wait, I needed to get work done. Or did I? No one was holding work over my head. I wasn't accountable to anyone per se, nor letting anyone down. Maybe I was letting myself down? My goals?

Ugh.

I eventually agreed, realizing that because I did not feel behind in work, I felt free to move and eat and swim.

Now, the rest of the week is filled with my work goals that I am EXCITED about.

We shouldn't live our entire lives based on feelings. Feelings change and deceive.

HOWEVER, since you are the only one who will be eating your Swiss cheese, you can make it how you like it, and you're allowed to include your feelings into those decisions.

Do you want more cheese? Will it help you reach your goals faster? FEEL free to say no to the holes. Work comes first. (Within reason of course... don't lose your relationships over work.)

Did you become self-employed so you could be more flexible, and enjoy more holes in your cheese? Go for it. Don't let the world tell you how many hours a week you must work. Do whatever you feel like. (While still making some headway into your goals and earning money, of course.)

Maybe add a few extra holes one week. Does that make you feel panicked and behind on your projects and goals? Then, focus on more cheese the next week.

Feel free to "do you." Enjoy your self-employment and eat whatever kind of cheese you want(: