Approximately 15 million people in the United States are self-employed. Annually, self-employed individuals hire a combined total of around 30 million workers, which means around 30% of U.S. residents are either self-employed or working for a self-employed business owner. 

These statistics show that a large number of men and women are thriving in the business world without traditional employment, so there’s hope for you if you plan to pursue self-employment. Kick your worries about nontraditional employment to the curb by utilizing these 3 suggestions.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Pursue Your Passion

Don’t replace your current gig with a business venture that bores you. When you start your own business, you have the freedom to do whatever you want - well, as long as you follow the state and federal legal guidelines for small business owners. Some business owners focus on distributing tangible goods, while others rely on services to generate revenue. You can sell handmade headbands, delight your community with gluten-free goods, or offer writing services to retailers.

If you aren’t sure what you’re passionate about, make 2 different lists. The first list should have qualities and skills that you possess, such as:

• Knowledge of computer software 
• A strong grasp of grammar 
• A friendly personality 
• Physical strength 
• Familiarity with popular marketing techniques
  

The second list should contain things you like to do. If you can’t think of anything you like to do, make a list of things that you hope to do one day. You may find that you enjoy reading books, baking, spending time with your kids, or scrolling through Facebook. Yes, Facebook counts as a passion if you spend a lot of time on social media. In fact, you can market yourself as a social media maven and help local businesses create status updates, use hashtags on social media or reply to customer complaints.
Also read: How to Quit Your Job and Start Your Business in 90 Days

Read Self-Employment Success Stories

Have you heard of Kimra Luna? You may have seen her vibrant hair and funky fashion in your news feed before, but do you actually know her story? Kimra went from struggling to support her family on welfare to maintaining a multi-million dollar business.

Does that mean you’ll rake in millions if you launch your own business? No, but there’s a good chance you’ll still be happier than folks with traditional jobs. Almost 40% of self-employed folks say they’re completely satisfied with what they do for a living, and just 5% of business owners aren’t satisfied with what they do. For comparison purposes, less than 30% of employed individuals say that they’re completely satisfied with what they do.

Surround Yourself by Supportive People

You’ve probably heard the way some employed individuals treat people who are self-employed. You may have even made some harsh comments yourself before you learned what it really takes to start a small business. If and when you share your decision to launch a business, you may encounter some of the following comments:

• But how are you going to pay the bills? 
• You’re never going to make it. 
• Have you thought about going back to college? 
• Don’t you want a real job? 
• You have a family to support, so why aren’t you being practical?
  

 Also read: How to Start Your Own Business Without Money

Must be nice to not have to work anymore.

Don’t let comments like the ones above discourage you from pursuing your self-employment goals. If you can’t find support from friends or family members, join a Facebook group or online forum dedicated to self-employment or freelancing. You may also want to invest in a life coach or order one-on-one training sessions from a reputable business owner.

You are capable of launching and managing a successful business, whether you measure success in dollars or emotions. Silence your fears - and the criticism of loved ones who don’t support your plans - and go after your goals. You’ve got this.

Author Bio:
Larry created ReadyBrain.net to help give people the mental workout they need to have a healthy brain. He believes exercising the brain is just as important as exercising the body, and enjoys writing about mental fitness games, puzzles, and other resources.